[SampleMan]

The real reason that Russia is resisting strong international action against the Assad regime is that it fears the spread of Islamic radicalism and the erosion of its superpower status in a world where Western nations are increasingly undertaking unilateral military interventions.

Which totally explains why Russia acts as Iran's protector and backs Islamic groups against Israel...Oh, wait. The NYT, as usual, are mediots.

[knarf]

Gog, Tubal,

[WellyP]

Russia wants to prevent Israel from linking their super giant gas and oil field to Europe's southern pipeline reducing Europe's dependence of Russian gas supplies.

[curmudgeonII]

Even though the current Syrian government does us harm by its relationship with Iran, if the rebels win the next government will be a good deal like that currently in Egypt and will surely come down very hard on the Christians and other non-Muslims in Syria.

[varmintman]

Not mentioned is the question of Christians in Syria and the fact that the muslim governments we’ve supported have not done Christianity or Christians any good. I’ve been waiting a long time to hear some politician say the first word about protecting Christians out there in the world and so far the only one I’ve seen do that is Vladimir Putin.

[gandalftb]

The Times article is wrong. Here is the Russian Base at Tartus:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_naval_base_in_Tartus

Tartus is essential to Russia, their only refueling and warm water port outside of Russia.

Ten Russian ships home port there:

The cruisers Moskva and Peter The Great, 4 nuke subs, and 4 support ships. Yet the Times says there are only 50 Russians working there, the Times fell for the Russian disinformation campaign.

Backwater port??? Here it is:

[Tailgunner Joe]

Isn’t it obvious to you yet that Russia is in the process of stabbing its Syrian allies in the back just like they did in Libya? The same fate awaits any fools stupid enough to ally themselves with Putinist Russia. Ask yourself, why did Russia not veto the Libya no-fly zone at the UN? It’s because Medvedev calculated that Kadaffy would end up costing them more than he was worth. Now Putin is officially back in charge so he has to act like he is tougher than Medvedev, when really he’s not. Russia’s Libya and Syria policies are just Putin and Medvedev’s classic “good cop, bad cop” routine!”

[anton]

Without Assad, it would be the Muzzie brothers and some screwball Imam in charge. As much as I despise Assad, I guaranty that even George McGovern would be calling in air strikes on the population if there were 10,000 fools with RPG’s IED’s and mounted rocket launchers running around in say Baltimore. If it takes the Russians to keep Syria’s weaponry away from the Islamists, good for them.