Tit for Tat? Russia Could Station Missiles in Syria

Syria could host batteries of Russian missiles in return for Russian military technology and the reopening of a Soviet-era naval base on its Mediterranean coast, the Times of London reports. President Bashar al-Assad flew to Moscow today to discuss a deal, which may be Russia’s response to the US-Poland missile defense agreement also signed today.

With the Georgian crisis raging, the warming relationship between erstwhile Cold War allies could be Russia’s first steps in creating an anti-NATO alliance. “Georgia began the crisis and the West accuses Russia,” Assad said. “Syria suffered the same thing; attempts to destabilize the country, distortion of the facts and double standards.” (More Syria stories.)