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What does Russia get out of propping up the Assad regime?

Posted on 4/8/17 at 5:15 pm
Posted by Slippy
Across the rivah
Member since Aug 2005
6626 posts
Posted on 4/8/17 at 5:15 pm
A Mediterranean port? Not much of a port, and it's not like it's adjacent to anything in Russia.

I just don't see how Russia can continue to defend the indefensible. There is no doubt on the part of our intelligence community that Assad did it, and 90% of the world's nations agree.

What does it say about an action when the only governments not condemning it are Syria, Iran and Russia. Has Kim Jong Un chimed in?
Posted by TN Bhoy
San Antonio, TX
Member since Apr 2010
60589 posts
Posted on 4/8/17 at 5:16 pm to
It lets them prick NATO and gives them influence in the Middle East.
Posted by GeauxLSUGeaux
1 room down from Erin Andrews
Member since May 2004
23444 posts
Posted on 4/8/17 at 5:17 pm to
A pipeline from Qatar/Saudi Arabia if Assad is ousted means that's Russia loses money and influence over Europe since Europe gets a lot or most of their natural gas from Russia.
Posted by LSUTigersVCURams
Member since Jul 2014
21940 posts
Posted on 4/8/17 at 5:32 pm to
Well for one thing they have a yuge naval base there.
Posted by Strannix
District 11
Member since Dec 2012
49158 posts
Posted on 4/8/17 at 5:34 pm to
Assad doesn't let the pipeline through, which is what Russia depends on, simple really.
Posted by jcaz
Laffy
Member since Aug 2014
15906 posts
Posted on 4/8/17 at 5:35 pm to
Oil and a strategic base for power projection.
Posted by airfernando
Member since Oct 2015
15248 posts
Posted on 4/8/17 at 5:38 pm to
Europe wouldn't need Russia anymore, which would annihilate Russia's existence.
Posted by Navytiger74
Member since Oct 2009
50458 posts
Posted on 4/8/17 at 5:41 pm to
Primarily, influence in the region. The conflict in Syria/Iraq is the best-selling show in town right now and there are some chips in play with the regional heavyweights. The GCC powers and Turkey (Western aligned) are anti-Assad, so Russia backing Iran and the Shia is kind of a natural fit. And it's not completely bare-bones. There are some historical ties there.

My views on it are a bit complicated. I'm extremely distrustful of the Sunni powers we call friends (really with the exception of Jordan) and think that [continued] engagement with Iran could pay dividends in the not-too-distant future. Furthermore, I believe, in general, that we're better off with detestable secular leaders than with faith-driven fanatics of any kind. But Assad is a real PoS. He brought most of this on himself.
Posted by Screech
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2011
301 posts
Posted on 4/8/17 at 6:00 pm to
Russia needs warm water ports. Syria provides that.

They have a port and submarine base in Sevastopol on the Crimean peninsula which is why they annexed Crimea. They have a huge underground (inside of a mountain) submarine factory and base there in Sevastopol. The Soviet Union built almost all of their subs there.
This post was edited on 4/8/17 at 6:05 pm
Posted by Antonio Moss
Baton Rouge
Member since Mar 2006
48354 posts
Posted on 4/8/17 at 6:17 pm to
1) The port of Taurus - a super important military installation
2) Stability in their backyard. The spread of Sunni extremism affects them more than it does us.
3) Economic gains
Posted by deltaland
Member since Mar 2011
91204 posts
Posted on 4/8/17 at 6:38 pm to
An oil pipeline from Iran
Posted by Lima Whiskey
Member since Apr 2013
19551 posts
Posted on 4/8/17 at 10:04 pm to
quote:

There is no doubt on the part of our intelligence community that Assad did it, and 90% of the world's nations agree.


If we had evidence, we would have released it.

In this case we believe it's highly likely that the Syrians used chemical weapons, but we don't "know" that in any real way.

And our belief is colored by our biases. We're primed to believe that the Syrians would do such a thing, to the point where we won't even ask if that scenario makes any sense.

quote:

A Mediterranean port? Not much of a port, and it's not like it's adjacent to anything in Russia.


The Russians believe that we have torn the region apart, and created threats to their own security. So this an effort to stop that, to end regime change, and stabilize the Middle East.

They're also concerned about the international jihadi movement, especially given their own home grown troubles. They want to destroy ISIS for it metastasizes and threatens Russia directly. They don't want ISIS franchises popping up in Chechnya.

This is also a chance to show that they're a great power, it's a chance to bolster their international prestige.

It's a chance to tweak our noses as well. That's certainly part of it.

It's also a question of honor. They're standing by an ally.

The basing facilities are probably the least important reason for intervening.
This post was edited on 4/8/17 at 10:09 pm
Posted by coondaddy21
Louisiana
Member since Oct 2012
3222 posts
Posted on 4/8/17 at 11:23 pm to
I believe it has to do with a pipeline, oil and a considerable amount of revenue for Russia and its ability to strengthen its status in the world.
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