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Russia supports the Syrian regime because it contains the only Russian overseas naval base [1]. This is the same reason Russia anexed Crimea, which is now conveniently a Russian naval base.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_naval_facility_in_Tart...

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Regardless of the reason, or reasons (there are many reasons Russia supported Assad, strategic military reasons being one of them as you mentioned), that was my point: That Russia had legitimate reasons to support Assad. The interests of Russia simply did not align with the interests of The United States. This happens sometime in the world, but taking that further and claiming it was somehow to hoist malicious intent on the United States is where the stretch was made and where you enter the dangerous rhetoric zone.

My argument is that the only reason Russia supports the Assad regime is for the benefit of its only foreign naval base. I don't claim that there is any malicious intent on the United States as far as that action is concerned.

Read into the intent too much, apologies. I don't agree that is the only reason, but certainly a reason among many.

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