Russia Moves To Shield Syria

[Purveyor]

14 Nov 2011


Russia today condemned the Arab League's decision to suspend Syria and accused Western countries of inciting opposition to President Bashar Assad's rule.

Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov attacked the suspension as "incorrect" and also reiterated Russia's opposition to new penalties on Iran over its nuclear programme. He claimed that some nations were encouraging tension to impose additional sanctions.

The intervention came after a weekend of apparently state-sponsored violence in Damascus when protesters stormed the Saudi and Qatar embassies and attacked Turkish and French diplomatic posts across the country, prompting Saudi Arabia and Turkey to withdraw non-essential diplomats and their families.

Although there were no reported injuries, windows were broken in the Saudi compound and sections ransacked. The mob replaced the Qatari flag with the Syrian banner after breaking into its embassy compound.

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http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-24009584-russia-moves-to-shield-syria.do

[Uncle Joe]

1. Why does, Russia believe that anyone needs inciting after being ruled by dictatorship

for over forty years?

For all things there is a season, and the Arab Spring season is now, this is a people's movement away from tyranny and dictatorship.

Thanks for the thread, Purveyor.

[DavidDvorkin]

2. Some people on DU seem to believe that, too.

[SkyDaddy7]

3. Very true!! nt.

[AmericaIsGreat]

4. Wow, what a surprise

My home country once again blaming everyone but those who should be blamed. Leave Iran and Syria alooone! Just leave' em alone! Russia's government is a fucking joke and should never be taken seriously on this matter. Selling arms is their only interest, so to voice opposition under the guise of non-interventionism and diplomacy is totally disingenuous.

[yurbud]

5. it could be that Russia believes there's more than a little astroturf revolution going on

and it's about the West getting hegemony on Russia's southern frontier, and controlling all the oil reserves and pipeline routes in the Middle East and Caspian Sea Basin.

Any country would be concerned if foreign powers were trying to cut off a major source of their income.

[jakeXT]

6. They are protecting their naval base in Tartus obviously, it's not like Bahrain allowed a revolution

while being a home to the 5th fleet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tartus#Russian_naval_base

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Support_Activity_Bahrain

[Little Tich]

7. Russia has decided to throw their lot in with the Assad regime,

without any moral considerations whatsoever. This means that Russia will stand by Assad until the end regardless of consequences. This is not good for Syria, nor is it good for Russia if Assad is ousted and the new regime feels that Russia was wrong in supporting the killing of so many Syrians. Russia is on the wrong side of history here whatever happens in the future.

[Knight Hawk]

8. What?

Do you actually think Russia EVER has "moral" considerations?