Posted on 07/06/2018 2:08:32 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
- Russian military veterans urged the government on Thursday to acknowledge it sends private military contractors to fight in Syria, in a bid to secure financial and medical benefits for the fighters and their families.
The statement breaks years of public silence about a secret operation involving thousands of Russian civilians fighting in Syria on the side of President Bashar al-Assad whom Moscow has been helping militarily since September 2015.
“For three years already, we have been receiving complaints and appeals from Russian citizens who were injured in Syria and cannot undergo medical treatment in Russia,” said the statement, signed by retired Colonel-General Leonid Ivashov, retired Colonel Vladimir Petrov and Yevgeni Shabayev, a Cossack leader.
“Soldiers and officers of these combat units have no social, medical or financial support from the state ... We demand that the status of combat participants in private military companies be recognised,” the statement said.
The Kremlin denies such an operation exists.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Civilians / Veterans. Can’t have it both ways. Poorly written propaganda.
In February, U.S. forces killed several hundred Russian mercenaries in Syria, and it's because Russia didn't factor their presence in their prior communications with us.
Civilians / Veterans. Can’t have it both ways.
Tell that to the Kremlin.
The whole idea of using mercenaries is to avoid the costs using troops entails. We have companies that provide this service.
We killed them but Russia didn’t respond. Getting weird. Contractors must be volunteers so there should be no anger at the Government when they’re shot. Maybe a picture of their dead carcass would change minds. Pressure works.
No. They should be pressing the US government to come clean as to who the US is supporting!
Technically, mercenary fighting is not legal by Russian law, but as of today July 6th:
“The Kremlin will consider legalizing mercenary groups”
https://meduza.io/en/news/2018/07/06/the-kremlin-will-consider-legalizing-mercenary-groups
Enough families in towns scattered across Russia have lost loved ones in Syria, and of course it’s sad when they don’t get official (military) burials. Most understand what’s happening, but not to the point of mounting a challenge - so it’s a big deal that these military vets said anything at all. Mercenaries were drawn to Syria due to lack of employment opportunities at home.
- sergeantdave, not saying Reuters deserves a reward for their reporting, but these realities are also repeated by the likes of Jim Mattis, Mike Pompeo etc...
Mike Pompeo: Russia ‘Doing Nothing’ to defeat ISIS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpOVcC6co2U
Jim Mattis on Russian Mercenaries in Syria: “I ordered their annihilation”
http://freebeacon.com/national-security/mattis-russian-mercenaries-syria-ordered-annihilation/
“private military contractors”
Isn’t that the same as:
Academi is an American private military company founded in 1997 by former Navy SEAL officer Erik Prince as Blackwater, renamed as Xe Services in 2009 and now known as Academi since 2011 after the company was acquired by a group of private investors
?
The Russia-one I am aware of is called "Wagner group" mainly funded by oligarch and Putin associate Yevgeny Prigozhin. Maybe he was inspired by "Academi."
I believe the Kremlin is quite aware that mercenary activities are illegal in Russia, but I’ll remind them if you like.
Looks like Russia has her share of leftist military “officials” too... I wonder if he’s their own John Kerry.
Poorly written propaganda.
the little green men are real after all
Puttie’s got some ‘splainin’ to do
Though one can argue their Syria military campaign rather resembles an American Neo-Conservative intervention. Albeit without the "democracy" tagline.
The Kremlin is often criticized by the liberal opposition for its foreign military campaigns but rarely faces objections from Russia’s military elite, which is generally happy that Moscow is in a standoff with the West. - Maria Tsteksova
The military elite rarely stands up to the Kremlin, that's why it's a big deal they said anything at all.
Wish you could reply to what’s posted instead of frothing over your imaginings. I never used the words “liberal” or “Kerry wing”...but that’s okay. I’ve got you figured out. I’m sure others here do as well.
Likewise.
You would not recognize me, but knowing thou art Legion I will hold my doubt in abeyance.
Matthew 4:6
In other words you're familiar with Russian para-military structures but not American ones, even when they're described to you...which foreign country are you posting from?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.