Why Russia Protects Assad

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

I found this interesting blog post which explains Russia's motives in protecting Syrian government. Keep in mind that its a blog post not a news article. It is written by Dr. Dmitry Gorenburg of Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies in Harvard University.

[Molon Labe]

One of my favorite strategy blogs.

[Skybird]

Just adding that the Syrian civil war - I call it that - also is a proxy war between Turkey and Iran, with Turkey supporting the opposition, and Iran supporting Syria.

Strange how fast Turkey has switched sides. Just two years ago Assad and Erdghan were closest buddies, with Erdoghan saying Assad is impossible to do anything wrong because as a Muslim he is impossible to do something wrong. Circular logic, eh?

I recommend to stay out there and not to support any side. The opposition is anything but democratic and liberal , but also gets massively financed and suzpported by Salafist movements, and ultra-conservative circles from Saudi Arabia and Quatar (not the official goivernments - these again have different interests, with Saudis and Turks banging heads over dominance in the region as well. It's always so damn complicated down there).

And for Israel, a Syria with Assad is preferrable, too - they know what stability in threat situation they have with him. With the opposition coming to power, the threat indicator for Israel once again would climb, after recent concerns over Egypt and Tunisia and the confrontations with Turkey.

However, I think Assad in the long run cannot survive.

Just two years ago Assad and Erdghan were closest buddies, with Erdoghan saying Assad is impossible to do anything wrong because as a Muslim he is impossible to do something wrong.

If as you always say Erdoghan is a fundamentalist flavour of the sunni persuation then Assad can only be described by him as a heretic from an unmuslim offshoot of a heretical sect.
Then again Sky does have a habit of taking what Erdohan says and doing a chicken little without even knowing what the sky is.

Circular logic, eh?

From the master of circular logic and "rational" thought.

I found this interesting blog post

Russia is doing the same stuff all the other big 5 do, they just see Syria as their pie.
It should be condemned as equally as when any of the other world powers do it.

[the_tyrant]

Originally Posted by Tribesman

If as you always say Erdoghan is a fundamentalist flavour of the sunni persuation then Assad can only be described by him as a heretic from an unmuslim offshoot of a heretical sect.
Then again Sky does have a habit of taking what Erdohan says and doing a chicken little without even knowing what the sky is.


From the master of circular logic and "rational" thought.

Stop with the ad hominem attacks man, we are her to debate the merits of the article, not the merits of skybird

[kranz]

Originally Posted by the_tyrant

the merits of skybird

you must be kidding...