[trebb]

The more effective the dealing with the Norks, the more Iran loses - even Putin is extra interested because dealing with the Norks will have effects on his hegemony aspirations with Syria and Iran...thank Trump for the clarifying picture.

[Cronos]

Putin's dealings with Iran and Syria are exactly what the Tsars did in the 1800s:

1. iran is not a threat to Russia
2. Shias are NOT a threat outside the Middle East -- all of the terrorist attacks on the west and on Russia and India and Philippines etc. have been done by Sunnis, mostly sponsored by Saudi Arabia
   
3. Russia's aim is capturing the Dardanelles, capturing Constantinople - this has a historical, spiritual and very practical (control of the Black sea) angle to it.

putin will play Erdogan, while Erdo destroys his military (he arrested most of the senior leadership), then ends Turkey's membership in NATO, then destroys Turkeys economic rising and splits the country. THEN Russia will invade Turkey

Syria? iran? They are allies in dismembering Turkey for Russia.