Did U.S. weapons supplied to Syrian rebels draw Russia into the conflict?

Washington Post ^ | 11 Oct 15 | Liz Sly

[elhombrelibre]

BEIRUT — American antitank missiles supplied to Syrian rebels are playing an unexpectedly prominent role in shaping the Syrian battlefield, giving the conflict the semblance of a proxy war between the United States and Russia, despite President Obama’s express desire to avoid one.

The U.S.-made BGM-71 TOW missiles were delivered under a two-year-old covert program coordinated between the United States and its allies to help vetted Free Syrian Army groups in their fight against President Bashar al-Assad. Now that Russia has entered the war in support of Assad, they are taking on a greater significance than was originally intended.

So successful have they been in driving rebel gains in northwestern Syria that rebels call the missile the “Assad Tamer,” a play on the word Assad, which means lion. And in recent days they have been used with great success to slow the Russian-backed offensive aimed at recapturing ground from the rebels.

[Sequoyah101]

Did you add the cost of our military presence and all the other cost?

I know where the cheap oil is. I’ve been drilling for it for four decades.

[ozzymandus]

Amerikkka”s fault.

[elhombrelibre]

That’s the thinking of the left, and it’s little different than the Freepers who want to blame everything on the USA while praising their man Putin, or at least that’s how the Putinista FReepers are. They’re like the left that blames America first. They get their news from RT and don’t seem to ever think that a big win for Assad, Iran, and Putin is bad news for the free world.

[Enlightened1]

Oh I don’t know...,

Does a fish swim in water?

Does a 1 legged duck swim in a circle?

Does a Bear crap in the woods?

[Enlightened1]

Here is how the sides are lining up.

It is the following.

Syria, Russia, Iran and Iraq. Possibly China too

vs.

ISIS/FSA/Al-Qaeda/Mujahideen Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qtar, UAE, U.K., France, Germany and the United States

[elhombrelibre]

Well, I know what side you’re on.

[Tau Food]

You're correct about the alignment between Russia and Iran. Both are supporting Assad.

You're wrong about the UK, France, Germany and the USA being aligned with ISIS or Al Qaeda.

Be patient with yourself. It is a complicated region.

[elhombrelibre]

"The alliance, the Democratic Forces of Syria, includes the Kurdish YPG militia and Syrian Arab groups, some of which fought alongside it in a campaign that drove Isis from large parts of northern Syria this year. The Arab groups in the alliance are operating under the name the Syrian Arab Coalition, which the US has pledged to support."

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/12/eu-russia-halt-airstrikes-syria-military-intervention

[elhombrelibre]

"In a related development, a Kurdish militia that has been fighting Isis in Syria with the support of US-led airstrikes has joined forces with Arab groups in an alliance that may be a prelude to an attack on the jihadists’ base of operations in Raqqa."

"The alliance, the Democratic Forces of Syria, includes the Kurdish YPG militia and Syrian Arab groups, some of which fought alongside it in a campaign that drove Isis from large parts of northern Syria this year. The Arab groups in the alliance are operating under the name the Syrian Arab Coalition, which the US has pledged to support."

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/12/eu-russia-halt-airstrikes-syria-military-intervention

[Talisker]

FYI, Muslim Arabs are trying to exterminate the Kurds. You want to believe they’re fighting together against Assad, go right ahead.

[ozzymandus]

I've noticed a new tactic of the Putin groupies is to call anybody who criticizes Putin an “ISIS supporter” or (unbelievably) a “traitor”. This has happened to me.

[Enlightened1]

ISIS/FSA/Al-Qaeda/Mujahideen are all the same radical Islam groups.

If the FSA (Free Syrian Army) is the “Pro American, Freedom Loving, Christian loving, For Women’s Rights, etc...” Army then please show me all the photos.

That should be easy to do since every phone has a camera these days.

All I have seen is Butches everywhere, chopping babies heads off, raping women, children and actually eating the hearts of their victims. As far as I am concerned that are Savages.

Please show me this peace loving, freedom loving, Christian Loving, Women Rights FSA you clams exist.

Now if you are talking about the same FSA that John McCain met up with.... Well that is ISIS.

[Enlightened1]

[Enlightened1]

[elhombrelibre]

No surprise there. They're either real lowbrows or pure Putinista scum knowing they're lying for Putin.

By the way, see this one.

"The new alliance includes the YPG, various Arab groups including Jaysh al-Thuwwar (Army of Rebels) and the Arab tribal Jaysh al-Sanadeed, and an Assyrian Christian group, according to a statement announcing its establishment."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/12/us-mideast-crisis-syria-kurds-idUSKCN0S60BD20151012

[elhombrelibre]

"The new alliance includes the YPG, various Arab groups including Jaysh al-Thuwwar (Army of Rebels) and the Arab tribal Jaysh al-Sanadeed, and an Assyrian Christian group, according to a statement announcing its establishment."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/12/us-mideast-crisis-syria-kurds-idUSKCN0S60BD20151012

[Tau Food]

Lindbergh (American) and Goering (German Nazi).

When you study WWII, you'll find out that the USA was not aligned with Germany. It's just a picture, not an alliance.

[Enlightened1]

Oh is that the EXCUSE the McCain camp is using?

Oh so you are saying McCain was not talking about giving them Armaments?

Whatever helps you sleep easier at night.

[Tau Food]

I don’t know anything about McCain’s excuses for anything, but you’re not going to pass any history tests if you believe that the United Kingdom, France and the USA have formed an alliance with Al Qaeda or ISIS. There are probably people who wish that was true just as there are probably people who think that the USA was on the wrong side in WWII, but wishes aren’t facts.

[Enlightened1]

McCain is clearly meeting with the ISIS leader. That’s who McCain and the media says is the pro America, Freedom Loving, Christian Loving, Women Rights FSA....

Do you really not believe your own eyes?

Do you really mean to tell me you believe the certified on the record lying politicians and media?

Here they are again just today arming ISIS.

Please see the following thread,

http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3347834/posts