Moscow lacks the resources to replace America and will find in Syria a quagmire

Simon Sebag Montefiore-Moscow lacks the resources to replace America and will find in Syria a quagmire, but Russians feel that a great imperial Russia has always been a player in the Middle East — and boldness counts for much in this wild world.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/09/opinion/putins-imperial-adventure-in-syria.html?ref=opinion&_r=0