re: Why does the ruling class want Assad gone?

quote:

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We have a winter on the gas pipeline. Ruling class wants Middle East natural gas to come into Europe through Syria and Turkey. Assad is friendly with Russia and Russia doesn't want competition with its natural gas sales so Assad doesn't want pipeline.

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Also, Russia is very rich in natural gas, but not nearly as much so in oil. They need to make sure they have a reliable source for oil. By controlling the pipeline, Putin can keep his stranglehold on the gas supplies to Europe (where Russia has almost a complete monopoly on natural gas) while securing his domestic oil supplies. Russia needs that gas to keep its leverage over Europe economically, and it needs that oil to keep its leverage militarily. Without that oil, if Russia ever goes to war with Europe, she will run out of fuel for her tanks and aircraft fairly quickly. With these secure supplies, it would be much easier to supply a mobile army.