Most Russians Oppose Sending Troops To Syria. Slim plurality support sending arms.

[pampango]

More than two-thirds of Russians oppose sending troops to Syria to prop up President Bashar al-Assad’s government, while a majority approve of Moscow’s use of diplomatic and political channels to help its embattled ally in the Middle East, according to a respected independent pollster.

At a time when the Kremlin has been ramping up its military presence in Syria, its largest deployment outside the former Soviet Union in decades, the poll by the Levada Center found that only 14 percent of Russians believe Russia should provide “direct military support” for the Syrian government by sending in troops.

The Levada poll said that 69 percent either firmly oppose or probably oppose deploying troops to help the Syrian leadership, while 67 percent back Russian “political and diplomatic support” for Assad’s government.

It said that 43 percent support providing Damascus with weapons and military consultation — as Moscow has been doing throughout a more than four-year conflict that has killed some 250,000 people — while 41 percent oppose it.

http://www.juancole.com/2015/09/russians-oppose-sending.html

I would not have guessed that only 43% of Russians support providing weapons to Assad with 41% opposed.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

1. If only they lived in a democracy.

[raccoon]

3. You forgot the sarcasm tag. nt

[SidDithers]

2. No, those Russian troops are just vacationing in Syria...nt

Sid

[leveymg]

4. Quite a contrast to the unanimous vote in favor by the Russian Parliament.

What to make of that discrepancy? Reminds me of the Iraq War Resolution vote.

[geek tragedy]

5. sadly, the IWR vote was reflective of sentiment in the country--the country had war fever. nt

[leveymg]

6. All that misdirected 9/11 sentiment - a once in a while opportunity.

If I recall, there were a bunch of apartment houses blown up in Russia just before that. But, Russia was then in no position to do anything about it, particularly with the US standing behind the Saudis, which Russia knew was sponsoring AQ and the Chechens and Dagestani terrorists. Call it state supported terrorism by proxy. We got a taste of that, as well, and could again.

[NuclearDem]

7. Russian MPs' desires to have as few bullets lodged in their backs as possible.

[leveymg]

8. I think that might have been a real concern in 1937. Stalin and Berria aren't around, anymore.

Your conception of the way the world works is somewhat out of date.

[NuclearDem]

10. It sure seems to have been a concern for Nemtsov.

[leveymg]

11. One thing that hasn't changed is a direct challenge to the Czar.

That has been enough to get you killed by the Okhrana going back to 1712.

Nemtsov wasn't just any Member of the Duma:

Previously Nemtsov held the following political positions: Nemtsov was the first governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast (1991–97). Later he worked in the Government of Russia as Minister of fuel and energy (1997), Vice Premier of Russia and Security Council member from 1997 to 1998. In 1998 he founded the Young Russia movement. In 1998, he co-founded the coalition group Right Cause (1998) and in 1999, he co-formed Union of Right Forces, an electoral bloc and subsequently a political party. He was elected several times as a member of the Russian parliament. Nemtsov was also a member of the Congress of People's Deputies (1990), Federation Council (1993–1997) and State Duma (1999–2003). He also served as Vice Speaker of the State Duma and the leader of parliamentary group Union of Right Forces. After a 2008 split in the Union of Right Forces, he co-founded Solidarnost. In 2010 he co-formed the coalition "For Russia without Lawlessness and Corruption", which was refused registration as a party. Beginning in 2012 Nemtsov was co-chair of the Republican Party of Russia – People's Freedom Party (RPR-PARNAS), a registered political party.[13][14]

Of course, Russia isn't the only place in the world where opposition leaders and reformers have been assassinated.

[KamaAina]

9. Who cares what they think?