re: U.S. considering using force to protect Syrian rebels hit by Russia

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If you think Syria is the "End Game" for Russia, you are wrong. Putin has openly expressed his desire to restore the Soviet era sphere of Russian influence. If the USA allows Putin to push out of Syria, pro-russian parties in Eastern Europe will gain strength.

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You bring up a good point with Russian aspirations of regaining what it lost when the Soviet Union collapsed. While I don't think it's an issue in the near term, I do think it will become a very real issue in the long term. As things stand right now, Putin believes, rightfully so, that he's got free reign to do whatever he wants. That's why Russian forces are marshaling in Syria today. If he is successful in the Middle East and establishes the Russia/Syria/Iran axis there that becomes the dominate force in the region, this will only serve to embolden him for later on down the road turning his attention to Eastern Europe.

And to be honest, between our own force cutbacks in Europe and the cutbacks in the European NATO members, right now today there's not a lot standing in his way from doing anything he wants to do in Europe.