Syria Tries to Make Gains with Russia over Tension with the West.

Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad is in Moscow visiting its leaders and discussing the Middle East issues and biltateral relations AKI . Assad is going to take advantage of the current tensions between Russa and the West vis-a-vis Georgia. Syria has taken Russia's side over the conflict in the Causcuses and accuses the West of trying to "encircle" Russia. Russia has accused Israel of aiding Georgia and will use Syria to put pressure on them.

To agitate the West and Israel, Russia may give Syria a better arms deal perhaps, anti-aircraft missile systems in order to gain more leverage in the Middle East. Israel has fears that this conflict will hurt Israeli-Russian relations and Russia by increasing its leverage will only strengthen Israel's enemies. Iran is probably having a field day with this tension. It will certainly buy them more time with their nuclear program, although at the same time, Iran itself will have issues with Russia's increasing influence in its back yard, which itself would be a major threat to its regional interests and national security.