Russian Special Forces have arrived in the Syrian port city of Tartus according to opposition forces, and confirmed by Russia's Defense Ministry.  The Syrian port of Tartus happens to be the only naval base Russia has outside the former Soviet Union. Without it, Russia has no direct access to the Med or the Atlantic without making a really long out of the way voyage, so it goes without saying they really desire to keep it. Response so far seems muted as a Security Council source told ABC News that the arrival of members of Russia's military in Syria was a "bomb" of a development, sure to have serious repercussions, yet U.S. State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said the U.S. government had not heard of the reports of Russian troops in Syria and declined to comment. Yes, it does make you wonder what's going on in the Kremlin these days. Besides election fraud that is. (Read Full Post)