W.H.: Russia ‘Would Be Wise To Consider Recent History’ Before Taking a Wider Role in the Mid East

CORKE: “Is it accurate then to say that the president is comfortable with the idea that Russia will take a larger, broader role in the region even as the U.S. sort of steps back in particular in Syria? Is that accurate, is that inaccurate?”

EARNEST: “I think Russia would be wise to consider recent history before they take a wider role in the region that is focused on imposing a military solution inside of Syria. Recent history makes pretty clear that they will not succeed in that regard and they certainly will not success any more than the United States was able to impose a military solution in Iraq in the last decade. And they certainly won't succeed any more than the Russian effort to impose a military solution on Afghanistan three decades ago. So I think this is the backdrop to the Russian military activity that we see inside of Syria today.”