Name:   MartiniMan - Subject:   Putin Leaves Syria Date:   3/15/2016 3:20:17 PM

I think the oil prices remaining low is part of the answer.  Russia depends heavily on oil revenue and I am sure they are feeling the adverse effect of the low prices and with OPEC pumping away didn't see any change coming soon.  I also think they accomplished their objective of being a player in Middle East politics in lieu of the west.  Once the source of financing for U.S. domestic oil production dries up (pun intended), which was the main goal of OPEC letting proces drop so rapidly and remain there, they will begin to curtail production again and prices will start to rise.  The Russian economy is a wreck and they are demographically doomed like China and the last thing Putin wants is some sort of popular uprising.

Will be interesting to see how long Assad survives if they do pull out and don't come back when his power is threatened.