Russia and Syria

This is what Sibel Edmonds was arguing would happen after the Boston bombings

Why Russia Will Almost Certainly Back Down In Syria

Geoffrey Ingersoll

Business Insider,

13 June, 2013

Russia's spokesman for international cooperation in fighting terrorism 

Alexander Zmeyovsky said that Russia is "gravely concerned" about U.S. reports of Assad's chemical weapons use in Syria, according to The Voice Of Russia.

Earlier today, the Obama administration advised Moscow that it should "pull its support" from the Assad regime.

As we've already reported, there are Russian troops in Syria, and should a fight take place, those troops would be in harm's way.

Now Washington has kindly advised Moscow that a fight will take place, and, for fear of appearing aligned with chemical weapons use, Russia will likely make its exodus.

"Should the 'red line' of chemical weapon use be crossed, I think Russia will just want to be completely removed from the situation, and make sure that they retain influence in a post-Assad Syria," Ingrid Pederson, an expert in Near East and Russian geopolitics, told Business Insider.

"Russia is very self-interested and continuing to back Assad at this point does nothing for them and in fact could hurt their image with those who may come to control Syria after Assad falls," Pederson concluded.

As if to hint at the possibility of Russia leaving Syria, Zmeyovsky "stressed" that Moscow's primary concern was that any intervention aims at immediately countering the proliferation of Assad's chemical weapons.

It's no secret that the U.S. has been constructing contingency plans for the Assad regime's collapse, as well as the event of Western military intervention. Those plans reportedly give much consideration to securing Assad's chemical weapons stockpiles.

Zmeyovsky's emphasis on that point is, at the very least, an acknowledgement of American planning for removal of Assad.

Russia not to ship offensive

weapons to Syria: lawmaker

Xinhua,

13 June, 2013

MOSCOW, June 13 (Xinhua) -- A senior Russian lawmaker said Thursday that Moscow would not ship offensive weapons to Syria.

"Russia does not intend to stir it up ... As for the armament deliveries, we will by no means convey offensive weapons," Mikhail Margelov, head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federation Council, upper house of the Russian parliament, told reporters after talks with visiting Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Zeev Elkin.

Holding an international conference on Syria was the only way out of the long-lasting conflict, he said.

But Elkin said the Israel is still worried, since "weapons that can be considered defensive in Russia may turn into offensive ones in the Middle East."

Assuring Israel was not providing "any assistance or support" to the Syrian opposition, the diplomat said his country would consider participation in the international conference if invited.