The Soviets and then Russians did a very good series of deals flogging their air defence systems to all sorts of countries. Syria for instance is a prime exampl

The Soviets and then Russians did a very good series of deals flogging their air defence systems to all sorts of countries. Syria for instance is a prime example - though get involved there was avoided, rightly or wrongly. If Syria and North Korea have proved anything to the world it is the messier you make any potential intervention the safer you are from intervention, and thus can do what you like to your populace.