Quote: Additionally, I don't see any 'smart' country officially uniting with Iran. Syria / Jordan may funnel fighters into the counry or vice versa, but that is just asking for more trouble
Don't Russia and China get a large amount of oil from Iran?? isn't that why Russia is really not working too much with us on sanctions and such? While not smart countries per say, both would be scary if they decided to throw in on the side of Iran and the oil that's there.
From a military aspect, Russia's military has been neglected since the collapse of the Soviet Union and China, although a large military, does not have a 'real' capbility to project the power as we do.
From an economic standpoint, yes, that is probably why both are dragging their feet in the situation.
Remember though, for most of the population they are pro-US, where as the governmetn is not.
