Russian military dominance over Syria is problematical, especially in view of the Russian military air fields and naval bases there. Basically, these enable Russia to control or at least threaten much of the Mediterranean and also reach much closer to the critical oil fields and oil/gas transport lanes (both sea and land — the latter both present and proposed) upon which Europe depends.
Having said all that, the very most dangerous element in Syria today is the IslamoNazi Iranian military force, which — unlike Russia’s, is actively threatening to take over all of the middle east on its way to invading its socalled “great Satan” USA, etc.
Syria itself? Nobody much cares — as the article reflects quite well. Syria as a military base for aggressive (and crazy) regimes like Iran? Yes, it is important, very very important. That makes it important. Ways and means must, imho, be found to expel Iran’s military forces from Syria (and yes, Iraq) ASAP. (and then to destroy Iran’s nuclear bombs and ICBM capabilities completely — our great USAF can do that well, imho, if permitted to get it done.
Syria itself? I pretty much agree with the author.
One thing many here fail to comprehend is that Russian control over Middle East means no Chinese control over the same area. One of the biggest blunders of early Putin’s policy was to handle Bush the keys from Central Asia. It caused numerous negative consequences for Russia and US handing the keys to China is one of these Russia failed to negotiate to this day.
US doesn’t need Middle East at this point. It has own energy in abundance.
Well it’s been long known and obvious Putin needs entrance to the Mediterranean Sea and he’s been there for decades without a threat to Europe. Putin’s interested most to run his oil lines as these ‘hard wire’ natin states....and when he gets stopped he just builds around those nations and partners who will let him.