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Source: http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/berman200502180741.asp
The Bear Is Back: Russia's Middle Eastern Adventures
(National Review) Ilan Berman - Under the guidance of President Putin, the Kremlin is reviving efforts to reestablish a regional role in the Middle East at the expense of American strategy. In January, Syrian President al-Assad embarked upon a diplomatic visit to Moscow designed to upgrade the historic strategic ties between the two countries, where the Kremlin agreed to write off almost three-quarters of Syria's $13.4 billion Cold War-era debt. On the heels of Assad's visit, the Kremlin played host to new Palestinian chairman Abbas, who asked that Russia increase its involvement in the mediation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.