[Chico23231]

I agree with your last paragraph 100% but...

So Russia and Iran are not working in concert to strategically push there own interest against the west and Israel? It's not about carving up the Middle East...That's your most naive statement.

Believe me, if Putin remembers the fall of the Soviet Union eastern block, then he remembers the failures in Afghanistan. He looking to gain a political foothold within the Middle East again. Syria and Iran are his in. They are hammering out a massive arms deal with the Iranians now. Sending troops into Damascus is a clear escalation...Russia sends a message to the U.S. And Israel we are military aligned with Iran, Syria Assad regime and Hezbollah. The U.S. Needs to recognize this...its crystal clear