I would like to point out that Russia has a geopolitical interest which is usually overlooked, not shared by the U.S., and often opposed by the U.S.: the defense of fellow Orthodox Christians.
Much of the continued tension between the U.S. and Russia stems from the Clinton war in support of Muslim terrorists against Orthodox Christian Serbia, and the fact that the Bush administration has continued to play the European secularists game of vilifying the Serbs.
This geopolitical interest also has effects on Russian policy in the Near East and Middle East. As we have seen in Iraq, democratization of Ba'athist regimes leads to the flight or martyrdom of Christians as restraints on Islam imposed by a secularist (albeit tyranical) government are lifted.
In Syria, the Ba'athist government treats all its religious minorities well: it has to, the religious majority, the Sunnis, are the group likely to overthrow it, so keeping all the minorities on board, including the Christians, is the way the Assads stay in power.
Since the 'model' democratic secular Turkish Republic forbids Christian clergy from functioning in Asia Minor, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch is now based in Damascus, where it enjoys the protection of the secularist government. It is therefore natural for Russia to be friendly with a regime which protect the interests of the Orthodox.
I would like your thoughts on the alliance of the Orthodox Church with the "Palestinians" in Israel and the disputed territories.
Is that because Israel is felt to be religiously intolerant of the Church too?