War

[Skuzzy]

It is not about fear.  It is about being smart.

Forcing Russia's hand is not smart.

[Devil 505]

I'm not saying we should go on a forward crusade. Our stance was black and white. We listed our allies, we flew operations supporting them. When weapons were dropped on them, we attempted to deconflict prior to shooting. My stance is, as you said, we're even, and we should continue our operations, as we have been doing, barring aggressive actions from enemies.

GS is advocating we CEASE our standing operations in support of forces we support against ISIS. THAT would be backing down out of fear.

And Russia has a similar deal with the legitimate government of Syria and is granted usage of their airspace. We are not. Our allies may be the victims and more worthy support, but they are the rebellious faction in a civil war. Our position is not as tenable as we would like it to appear.

What would have happened if that Syrian Su-22 was a Russian Su-34? Should we have splashed it too? Because the next bomb targeting the rebels could be from one.

[Kanth]

If it's all about the sovereign nation deal, then I'd like to see how they are going to deal with Iran shooting ballistic missles into Syria.  Lets see how quickly Russia jumps on them for that.

I'd rather not have war on this, I think it's for the best if it holds steady.   I'd like to see us out of the middle east entirely TBH.
We've been there since I was last there and things are not fixed and IMO they NEVER will be, not by us.

Simple! Don't violate the airspace of the sovereign nation known as Syria.

[Oldman731]

(what is the American interest in the Syrian civil war anyway?)

Heh.  What is Russia's?

It's just the next century's Great Game.  Always has ended badly, always will.

- oldman

[Zimme83]

If things goes really hot the Russian forces in Syria will be wiped out in a matter of hours, they have ~10 fighters in Syria so the numbers aren't exactly on their side. Neither Syria or Russia will seek confrontation w the coalition.

Whats a bigger problem is that west is totally ignoring Everything but Is, Syrian army is racing towards the Iraqi border while Iranian militias in Iraq increasing their Control. My guess is that they are trying to establish a land corridor from Damascus to Tehran...

[ghi]

All major cell providers are experiencing widespread outages;  Russian emp ? 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2017/06/19/sprint-verizon-and-att-outages-monday/103016290/


http://downdetector.com/status/verizon/map/

http://downdetector.com/status/t-mobile/map/

http://downdetector.com/status/sprint/map

http://downdetector.com/status/att/map/

[Nefarious]

My guess is that they are trying to establish a land corridor from Damascus to Tehran...

I heard this today on PBS news hour by an analyst. From other sources I have read is there some attempt at establishing a natural gas or oil pipeline between the two nations and the Saudis do not want it to happen.

[Zimme83]

The pipeline is to be considered as a Conspiracy theory. It was a public uprising that turned into a civil war that turned into a regional conflict that turned into a...

[mthrockmor]

Natural gas pipeline is a key issue, not a conspiracy theory. And, the tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia is being played out by proxy. If this devolved into WW3, history will judge a similar, sloppy mess as WW1.

Boo

[ghi]

"Armed Russian jet comes within 5 feet of US recon jet"
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/06/20/breaking-news-armed-russian-jet-comes-within-5-feet-us-recon-jet.html

video recorded in June 6th?!  Su-27 approaching  B1B bomber. /Baltic Sea
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLvB-EMoFWw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2Br2cfeKDY

[Kanth]

Yes,  I think that's pretty standard though.

As proved by the previous video.

meaning it's not something that's happening newly due to the shot down Syrian airplane.

[NatCigg]

good point ghi.  somebody will have to back down.  when will the turnip and potato get together to make a deal?

i mean, so what if we threw some missiles at them? cant they understand?  are we still playing war games for resources?

 

[GScholz]

Heh.  What is Russia's?

It's just the next century's Great Game.  Always has ended badly, always will.

- oldman

The Syrian government asked the Russians for assistance. The Assad family and the Russians go way back, and Syria is to Russia what Saudi Arabia and the House of Saud is to the U.S. Syria is Russia's closest ally in the ME. And to be quite frank the Assads are no worse than the Sauds.

The Russians are welcome in Syria by the Syrian government. No one else is.

[Zimme83]

Assad is merely a puppet, his army was defeated long ago, now its Hezbollah and Iran that does most of the fighting. Assad have very Little Control over the situation...

[GScholz]

GS is advocating we CEASE our standing operations in support of forces we support against ISIS. THAT would be backing down out of fear.

Supporting "forces" (insurgent factions in a civil war... and there are NO moderate factions only different shades of terrorists) that are in direct military conflict with the legitimate government of the country where the fighting is taking place AND Russia... That's not only legally and morally questionable, but a recipe for WWIII.