“Assad is trying to buy time with the weapons: so long as Russia is opposed to his downfall, it will be hard for the West to do that.

According to sources in the US, Russia also stands behind Annan’s plan to achieve a settlement in Syria. Russia will do anything to extend Assad’s regime. Moscow, they say, has an interest in remaining involved inside Syria also after the regime falls. Hence, the Russians are doing everything – including selling weapons – to establish circles of power on Syrian soil also for the day after Assad’s disappearance.”