![\"Israel\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.thejerusalemgiftshop.com\/israelnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/putin-netanyahu-flag.jpg\")
<\/a>Israel\u2019s \u201cFriends in Strange Places\u201d<\/p><\/div>\n
There\u2019s an American Country and Western song, \u201cI\u2019ve got friends in low places\u201d. The constantly changing scene in the Middle East reminds me of that song every day. The recent and sudden (at least to the White House and mass media) upgrade and activity of Russia in the Syrian War shows how quickly previous alliance and assumptions about leadership can change. After trying to influence Israel\u2019s elections, snubbing the visit of Prime Minister Netanyahu and boycotting President Putin, Russia has moved advanced weapons, aircraft and ground troops into support for President Assad of Syria. Russia has the legal advantage of having been invited in to assist a legitimate but brutal government, while America has worked to undermine that government by supplying ground forces and air mission support. It is regularly acknowledged that American weapons are moved into the eager hands of Al Quaeda and other officially listed terrorist groups. Russia\u2019s purposes in intervening in Syria are outright: support for a client state, adding another warm water port for its expanding and modernized blue water Navy, and confronting a continually vacillating and weak United States. Russia is now in a position to even dominate Iran to an increased situation. Arms sales at over $21 billion are in progress, the money coming from the assets released by the Obama \u201cdeal\u201d. But the bright side of this has been the direct talks between Putin and Netanyahu. Russia respects Israel\u2019s abilities, determination and dependability and will most likely use its control and power to keep Hezbollah in check. Iran seems to be moving into a more client-state relationship as well. Russia respects the strength Israel consistently demonstrates in a way that it no longer regards the United States as presenting.<\/p>\n