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

quote:

---

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

---

Those are benefits, but I think you overstate them a bit.

quote:

---

1) The port of Taurus - a super important military installation

---

Strategically? I wouldn't call it that. What key Russian interest does it address. I mean we have our 5th Fleet and CMFC (with the Brits, Aussies, Canadians, etc) in Bahrain, and that's considered super important. If we lost it, however, I honestly don't see how our core capabilities would be unacceptably degraded.

quote:

---

2) Stability in their backyard. The spread of Sunni extremism affects them more than it does us.

---

Russia's Sunni problem is already in the house. I don't think they're worried about the backyard

quote:

---

3) Economic gains

---

I keep hearing this, like us in Iraq (both wars). I haven't seen those gains realized in any direct sense for them or us in any war in the Middle East.