Posted on 03/29/2018 7:43:43 AM PDT by Navy Patriot
Defense Secretary James Mattis revealed Tuesday that U.S. forces nearly bombed Russians fighting on behalf of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sometime in the past week, but a call with Moscow's own armed forces defused the situation.
Mattis said he believed Russian military officials when they said they were not giving orders to private Russian citizens battling the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) and rebel groups as part of a coalition of pro-Syrian government militias. Following an incident last month, in which the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS killed a large number of these pro-Assad fighters, including Russians, Mattis said another clash was recently avoided after Marine Corps General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, contacted Russia's top military leader, Army General Valery Gerasimov, via a deconfliction hotline.
"There were other Russian elements like this moving across the deconfliction line, which is the river, as you know, into an area that we'd agreed with the Russians they could operate in, as they had allowed us to operate basically to the west of the river, up at Tabqa and around Raqqa. We'd agreed for them being slightly east of the river at Deir Ezzor," Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon.
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
"These were forces (containing Russian Nationals) moving into more advanced positions, too close. Deconfliction discussions between our chairman and his Russian counterpart, General Gerasimov [took place] and those elements (containing Russians) fell back. So we (US Forces) have also drawn off slightly in order to maintain a deconfliction between the elements there," he continued.
These are Russian GRU troops out of uniform. No different than Ukraine.
Supporting one Syrian faction over another, particularly one which is likely to go islamic, is not something to risk
a confrontation with a nuclear power.
The US needs to get out of the squabble in Syria.
Where is Washington when we need him? (’stay out of foreign entanglements’)
Bomb the hell out of the Russians!
It’s the Turkish troops we should be “accidentally bombing
Ping..
Israel is probably going to have to clean house whenever they decide enough is enough and soon.
Former nations like Syria & Lebanon are on notice. Turkey, Iran, and Russian? Well we know how they end.
We’re supporting Al Quada in Syria. It’s called al Nusra. We’re continuing Obamas-Hillarys plan. If our “guys” win, the Christians of Syria will be slaughtered, because Assad has protected them from jihadists. We’re on the anti-Christian side. Russia has chosen the protect-Christians side
Having gotten “partially” pregnant under Obama, the US has made deals, for better or il, and is stuck with them. If we abandon people we said we would help it may cost us dearly in unexpected ways in conflicts yet to occur. Trump must make the best play with the cards he has been dealt. One thing he hasn’t done, though, is blame Obama. That would be admitting defeat and simply blaming it on somebody else. He won’t admit failure and may still salvage a positive outcome.
Assad is protecting Syrias Christians from jihadists. Our war to oust him by supporting al Quada fighters is basically anti- Christian crusade. Hillary and Obama launched it. Trump needs to stop it, but it has powerful neocon supporters like McCain and Lindsey
“Assad is protecting Syrias Christians from jihadists.”
We’re supposed to believe that lie?
LOL
The people were supporting are Islamists. If they win and topple Assad, Syrias Christians will be genocided. Obama and Hillary launched this anti-Christian crusade. Trump needs to get us out of it. But McCain and his ilk want us to keep at it
Agree - too many seem to forget that under Clinton/Obama/Bush the world was allowed to change where even “insignificant” nations can have serious global impacts - if we abandon those who have promises and close our eyes, then the snowball will pick up speed until it causes real and serious damage.
Re Mattis On Russia.....
US Marines have crossed paths w/Russia b4!
Way Back...early 1900s/wwi era...
Got it rat-holed somewhere!
Gunnyg@PlanetWTF?
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Christianity Today:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/july/syria-christians-assad.html
Syria’s Christians Back Assad
“In late May, International Christian Concern, an evangelical ministry to the persecuted church, released to Christianity Today an anonymous open letter ... calls for help from the larger Christian community. It says in part:
• “Christian service has flourished remarkably in Syria. We regard Syria as a model Arab country when it comes to freedom of worship.”
• Radical Muslim groups are “responsible for the disturbance” in the country. “Christians are the first to be persecuted when we talk about governmental change.”
• “We are seeking [Christians’] help to prevent what happened in Iraq and Egypt from happening in Syria. Christian service in Syria is in danger now.”
Thanks for the link, but I hesitate to buy into it.
Assad is a Muslim, period. They hate Christians. Since when is it even logical for a Muslim to want to protect Christians? Unless it’s fake news or liberal diversity propaganda. Or Russian propaganda, since he’s their guy to prop up for Tartus.
He’s a thug, and soon IMHO, a dead one. I hope the IDF make quick work of him soon.
National Review:
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/syrian-civil-war-assad-christians-oppose-efforts-depose-him/
Deposing Assad Could Hurt Syria’s Christians
by NICHOLAS FRANKOVICH
June 23
In Syria, most Christians and other religious minorities, primarily Alawites and Druze, support Assad, certainly according to conventional wisdom. Polling data such as they are indicate that a majority of the total Syrian population, not just religious minorities, backs him in the civil war. “Even the Sunnis” will take Assad over “the extremists,” Antoine Audo, the Chaldean Catholic bishop of Aleppo, told reporters in Geneva last year. He estimated that 80 percent of Syria’s Christians would vote for Assad in an election. Syria’s bishops, both Catholic and Orthodox, are adamant in their defense of the secular regime, which they see as the only practical bulwark against greater chaos or the establishment of a Sunni regime that would be hostile to Christianity.
In a proxy war between a U.S.–Sunni alliance and the Russian–Iranian alliance in Syria, the U.S. would be fighting not only Assad, Putin, and Rouhani but, it would appear, also the Christians remaining in or returning to Aleppo, encouraged by the Syrian government’s recapture of the city last December. What persecuted religious minorities perceive to be their self-interest in the Syrian civil war complicates the argument for deposing or weakening Assad.
Aleppo celebrates Christmas as Assad visits Damascus convent
http://www.euronews.com/2016/12/26/aleppo-celebrates-christmas-as-assad-visits-damascus-convent
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family visited a convent north of Damascus on Christmas day.
It is his first public appearance since his regime forces won back the northern city Aleppo from rebels.
These pictures from Syrian state television show Assad meeting nuns and orphans dressed in Santa costumes.
The Syrian Army took the last rebel-held enclaves last week, as rebels and civilians were evacuated.
This ceremony is the first peaceful Christmas mass in Aleppo’s St Eilas Church since rebels took control of East Aleppo four years ago.
Let the Mad dog eat.
Found it! On me old USMC History&Traditions, Etc pages...mut be 12-15 years old at least!
Mail me if interested.
Dick G/aka: GyG!
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“We’re supporting Al Quada in Syria.”
Has not been the case since the first month of the Trump Administration. Turkey has picked up the bill for some of them, others have been left to fend for themselves.
Not only has US (covert) support been withdrawn, but so has a big chunk of the support they used to get from the Gulf Arabs.
Turkey is one of the top 20 largest economies though, and growing strongly (>7%). They also have a broad and deep defense industry. They can maintain a significant surrogate force of mercenaries on their own.
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