Russia Sending Warships to Syria

[darrmad]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/11/wo...ar-syria.html/

MOSCOW — Russia said on Tuesday that it had dispatched a flotilla of 11 warships to the eastern Mediterranean, some of which would dock in Syria. It would be the largest display of Russian military power in the region since the Syrian conflict began almost 17 months ago. Nearly half of the ships were capable of carrying hundreds of marines.
Multimedia

Video Feature
Watching Syria’s War

Photographs
In a Rebellious Part of Syria, a Makeshift Hospital
Related

Annan in Tehran for Talks on Syria Peace Plan (July 11, 2012)
Russia Prods Syria’s President Assad With Message of Growing Impatience (July 10, 2012)
Times Topic: Syria

Connect With Us on Twitter
Follow @nytimesworld for international breaking news and headlines.
Twitter List: Reporters and Editors
The announcement appeared intended to punctuate Russia’s effort to position itself as an increasingly decisive broker in resolving the antigovernment uprising in Syria, Russia’s last ally in the Middle East and home to Tartus, its only foreign military base outside the former Soviet Union. The announcement also came a day after Russia said it was halting new shipments of weapons to the Syrian military until the conflict settled down.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by darrmad

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/11/wo...ar-syria.html/

MOSCOW — Russia said on Tuesday that it had dispatched a flotilla of 11 warships to the eastern Mediterranean, some of which would dock in Syria. It would be the largest display of Russian military power in the region since the Syrian conflict began almost 17 months ago. Nearly half of the ships were capable of carrying hundreds of marines.
Multimedia

Video Feature
Watching Syria’s War

Photographs
In a Rebellious Part of Syria, a Makeshift Hospital
Related

Annan in Tehran for Talks on Syria Peace Plan (July 11, 2012)
Russia Prods Syria’s President Assad With Message of Growing Impatience (July 10, 2012)
Times Topic: Syria

Connect With Us on Twitter
Follow @nytimesworld for international breaking news and headlines.
Twitter List: Reporters and Editors
The announcement appeared intended to punctuate Russia’s effort to position itself as an increasingly decisive broker in resolving the antigovernment uprising in Syria, Russia’s last ally in the Middle East and home to Tartus, its only foreign military base outside the former Soviet Union. The announcement also came a day after Russia said it was halting new shipments of weapons to the Syrian military until the conflict settled down.

If this is true, then Russia's timing of this action is "perfectly timed", as if America would be too politically paralyzed to respond properly.