From the posted article...
"The Syrian mess has gotten messier because Vladimir Putin, with all the unpredictability of the morning sun, has invaded Syria on behalf of Assad and Putin’s more important ally Iran — Assad’s longtime string-puller. The Russian strongman’s claimed purpose is to fight the Islamic State — a pretext no more real than was the supposed need to protect indigenous Russian populations that Putin cited in invading Georgia, Crimea, and Eastern Ukraine.
Putin, with China’s indulgence, is obviously attempting to fortify a sphere of anti-American influence across the Middle East."
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/425030/syria-putin-assad-obama-republicans
Russia taking over the Middle East and attempting to retake Eastern Europe while many dopes and/or pro-Russia trolls here, cheer them on, ping!
Russia has been crystal clear from the onset that their goal was to ensure the survival of the Syrian Regime and it's associated institutions of governance.
They stated they would do that by attacking ISIS and OTHER TERRORISTS.
From what I can discern they have not slipped from their originally stated objectives.
Yet, worldwide, we see Western press and politicians ranting about how Putin isn't REALLY there to fight ISIS, but to prop up the Assad regime.
The idiocy on display is laughable were it not so dangerous. Russia stated BEFORE the first plane arrived that their objective would be to prop up Assad. Loudly. In every available media channel and in every international political forum they had access to.
And yet now the West squeals like the Russians deceived them.
These guys are losing touch with reality. We are in a very dangerous time.