Russia has mixed motives in Syria

Russia has mixed motives in Syria Ordinary people are not much interested in Syria’s humanitarian situation, but a major defeat of the rebels is seen as a sweet victory over the west
http://link.ft.com/r/QM42II/XBWKQ0/9ZA4GU/QNJOWY/XBE2NJ/QR/h?a1=2013&a2=6&a3=19