“...but for what reason remains unclear.”
Good solid fetch upside the head. With maybe a white-elm club.
The Russians are declaring their SUPPORT for Bashar al-Assad, and their opposition to ISIS. Assad may be an SOB, but he will be the RUSSIANS’ SOB, not our boogie man.
Putin and the Russian Federation would like very much to damp down the Syrian civil war, which is quickly degenerating into total chaos. It is clear that what remains of any credibility in the capability of the entity once known as “the United States of America” to maintain control of the situation, has been completely shredded in the past six year or so.
Interesting sidelight to the story - Iran would very much also like to assure that Assad stays in power, thus making Russian and Iran de facto allies, if any such thing may exist with Iran in respect to everybody else in the world.
They do have consequences
I think Russia and Iran have already been allies for a long time.
Also- if the Russians control Syria, the Saudi natural gas pipeline doesn’t get built and Gazprom retains it’s dominating position on the European energy market.
After which, Sergey and Vlad enjoyed a good laugh...
And Obama hates anyone that goes against his ISIS allies and creates stability in the region.
Caviar for Assad, you dummies. What did you think it was?
Putin is more a faithful ally than Obama is. Now that’s a fucking disgrace for and to America.