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Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/30/world/russia-buildup-seen-as-fanning-flames-in-syria.html?_r=0
Russia Buildup Seen as Fanning Flames in Syria
(New York Times) Helene Cooper and Michael R. Gordon - Russia's military buildup in Syria will probably prolong the life of the government of President Assad, Pentagon officials and foreign policy experts say, but is unlikely to be a major factor in the campaign to defeat the Islamic State, and could further inflame - and lengthen - the conflict. Reconnaissance flights by Russian drones in the last week have all been over areas controlled by opponents of Assad while avoiding territory controlled by the Islamic State. "The government only controls 20% of its territory, has a huge manpower shortage and has stoked a sectarian war with a majority Sunni population," said Andrew J. Tabler, an expert on Syria at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "Those are hard odds to overcome. The Russians can use their deployments to prop up the government for now. But over the long term, it will suck Russia into the quagmire."