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Source: http://nationalinterest.org/commentary/russias-endgame-syria-7190
Russia's Endgame in Syria
(National Interest) Ariel Cohen - Moscow has become increasingly pessimistic that the Assad regime can survive. In June, Russian military officials were reported to be entertaining the possibility that it will be necessary to send the "naval infantry," as marines are known in Russian, to Syria to protect infrastructure and evacuate approximately 30,000 Russian citizens. As much as Moscow would hate to see the Assad regime go, Russians are realizing that power transition is the only way to avoid even more tragic outcomes. That's why last week Moscow hosted representatives from the opposition Syrian National Council. The writer is senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation.