RAF Given Green Light To Shoot Down Hostile Russian Jets In Syria

IBT ^ | October 11, 2015 | By Romil Patel

[Strategy]

As relations between the West and Russia steadily deteriorate, Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots have been given the go-ahead to shoot down Russian military jets when flying missions over Syria and Iraq, if they are endangered by them. The development comes with warnings that the UK and Russia are now "one step closer" to being at war.

RAF Tornada pilots have been instructed to avoid contact with Russian aircraft while engaged in missions for Operation Shader - the codename for the RAF's anti-Isis work in Iraq and Syria. But their aircraft have been armed with air-to-air missiles and the pilots have been given the green light to defend themselves if they are threatened by Russian pilots.

[MarvinStinson]

Sounds like World War Three.

[CondorFlight]

The follies that led to World War I repeat themselves.

Sooner or later a Russian plane is going to be lost (even if only to accident).

And then what?

[Cowboy Bob]

I need to buy me some oil futures...

[McGruff]

Might be a wise investment. Think I'll fill up my car more often.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

It does, and who will rescue Limey this time?

[Darksheare]

They couldn’t start this crap in the Yugoslav back when SACEUR Wesley Clark told British General Mike Jackson to fire on the Russians at Pristina airbase, so they’ll try again.

[Leaning Right]

Oh. So now RAF pilots get to determine on their own whether or not to start a world war.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Blimey !

[silverleaf]

RAF jets should not be operating in Syria

I believe this directive applies to operations in Iraq( where Russian jets should not be operating att pending Iraqi govt approval)

Please check sources

It’s stll lunacy

Obama off golfing on his second mini ‘ vacation” in 2 weeks, leaving minor militaries to play with matches

[100American]

Internet false report, no confirming alternates at this time or major media interest...

Just advising, they are probing the Russian Military Threat angle hard, makes BammyBoy look manly...

yeah right

[Tupelo]

And so it begins. ?

Sometimes when you have the green light, someone else runs the red light and things get messy. I hope the Russians respect that red light.
But probably not.

[Huskrrrr]

“..if they are endangered by them”

Might be to late by then.

[Leaning Right]

Sooner or later a Russian plane is going to be lost (even if only to accident).

Yep. Remember the movie The Bedford Incident? A US Navy destroyer is shadowing a Soviet sub.

US captain: "If he fires one, I'll fire ONE!"
The US weapons officer takes that as a command, and fires one depth charge.

The Soviet sub responds with a nuclear-armed torpedo and all hell breaks loose.

[spetznaz]

Then nothing. Why? If a Russian plane is shot down, Russia will not retaliate as they are not in a position of strength that enables them to do so. Not that Russia is absolutely helpless, but rather that relative to NATO they are very weak and wouldn't emerge victorious in a real shooting war. Thus, Russia will bluff, and bluff with serious intent, but they know that if that bluff was ever called they would not be able to respond. Thus, even if a plane was shot down, and it was shot down by NATO,the Russians would probably claim it was mechanical failure.

The bear is not weak ...it is just not as strong as it wants others to believe, and more importantly not as strong as NATO. Furthering the bear analogy, it is like a grizzly prowling in the woods (Russia) and several human hunters armed with powerful rifles on the other side of the ridge. Yes, the bear does have teeth and claws, but it simply cannot prevail against the hunters.

If a Russian plane is shot down, Russia will do nothing about it.

[spetznaz]

Then nothing. Why? If a Russian plane is shot down, Russia will not retaliate as they are not in a position of strength that enables them to do so. Not that Russia is absolutely helpless, but rather that relative to NATO they are very weak and wouldn't emerge victorious in a real shooting war. Thus, Russia will bluff, and bluff with serious intent, but they know that if that bluff was ever called they would not be able to respond. Thus, even if a plane was shot down, and it was shot down by NATO,the Russians would probably claim it was mechanical failure.

The bear is not weak ...it is just not as strong as it wants others to believe, and more importantly not as strong as NATO. Furthering the bear analogy, it is like a grizzly prowling in the woods (Russia) and several human hunters armed with powerful rifles on the other side of the ridge. Yes, the bear does have teeth and claws, but it simply cannot prevail against the hunters.

If a Russian plane is shot down, Russia will do nothing about it.

[amorphous]

Tally Ho!

[amorphous]

Bloody Hell!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Where’s Group Captain Mandrake when we need him ?

[Jack Hydrazine]

David Icke said last summer everyone would get sucked into this conflict. Looks like he was right this time.