Two Russian navy ships are heading to Syria with marines on a mission to protect Russian citizens and the nation's base there, according to reports. Gleb Garanich/REUTERS
A Ship Leading to Escalation in Syria -- Alexander Shumilin, Moscow Times
On Friday, NBC News, citing U.S. military and intelligence sources, reported that Russia is sending a military ship based in the Black Sea to the port it rents in Tartus, Syria. This was confirmed by Russian diplomatic sources, NTV reported Friday. The official reason for the call was to protect "Russian property and interests" in Syria. Air Force General Vladimir Gradusov also said there may be plans to send other military ships to Syria to help evacuate diplomatic personnel and other Russian citizens from Syria if the conflict escalates.
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My Comment: I have trouble believing that Russia will intervene with it's military on the side of the Assad family in Syria's civil war. To be effective .... it would mean the deployment of thousands of troops and tons upon tons of military supplies, coupled with the realization that without an exit strategy .... Russia may end up staying (and fighting) a civil war and conflict that could last for years. Nope .... this deployment is for another reason.
What's my take ..... this deployment is for a "just case scenario" .... to evacuate Russian military and diplomatic personnel in the event that Syria collapses .... and to also evacuate the Assad family. Further proof comes from the Russian media itself who have for the past month been busily quoting government sources within the Kremlin that it is only a matter of time before the Assad government collapses. If all of this true .... it then tells me that in the eyes of the Kremlin the collapse of the Syrian government is only a few months away .... if not sooner.
