Syria and Iran Warm to Russia

Sure--and why wouldn't they.
Following in Russia's footsteps, Syria wants Lebanon and Iran wants everything else.

Soccer Dad pointed me to an article that goes into this in more depth:

Analysis: Assad's Shopping List

...Assad's trip to Moscow comes at a particularly opportune time. Russia is in the process of completing what looks like a successful, contemptuous defiance of international will over its actions in Georgia. In the Caucasus, Moscow has thrown down a direct challenge to the US-dominated post Cold-war international order.

Syria, meanwhile, is part of an Iran-led regional bloc which seeks to issue a similar challenge in the Middle East, albeit on a smaller scale. But Assad is not in Moscow purely to compare notes with the Russians. Rather, his trip has a list of clear and practical objectives.

Naturally, Russia has no intention of staying completely on the sidelines:

What lies behind Russia's growing interest in arms supplies to the Middle East? This is part of a larger picture - Russia's return as a player on the global diplomatic stage. The Russians would like to leverage their supply of arms to Iran and Syria into influence, forming an alternative address for diplomatic mediation - or for help in challenging enemies. Either way, Russia intends not to have its voice ignored. The days when all other countries automatically accepted US predominance on issues of Middle East statecraft have passed.

What's old is new again.

Israel's concerns include Hamas, Hizbollah, Syria, Iran--and now Russia: suddenly it's getting kind of crowded.

Technorati Tag: Israel and Russia.