Russia, their number one client in the Middle East is Syria; that is their foothold in the Middle East. They want to have influence there.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
Syria is geographically and politically in the middle of the Middle East.
I think Syria is in a particularly sensitive geopolitical position in terms of the politics of the Middle East.
It is no exaggeration to say that Syria holds the key for nearly all of America's foreign policy goals in the Middle East. As Syria goes, so goes the region.
Russia is emerging as an essential diplomatic and security partner for the U.S. in Syria, despite the Obama administration's opposition to Moscow's support for President Bashar al-Assad.
Russia isn't likely to have any more military success in Syria and Iraq than has the United States.
Damascus is the center of world terror. All these organizations, Jihad and Hamas, their headquarters are in Damascus. Syria supports Hezbollah.
Iraq... has also had contacts with al-Qaida. Their ties may be limited by divergent ideologies, but the two sides' mutual antipathy toward the United States and the Saudi royal family suggests that tactical cooperation between them is possible.
I can only say it is not for us to decide who should lead Syria. It is for the Syrians to decide.
Syria is hosting the most dangerous terrorist organizations.
Saudi Arabia is the country that in the end will determine the ability of the Arabs to reach a compromise with Israel.