Pentagon backs Turkey’s version of events, blames ‘incursion’ of Russian jet

The Washington Times ^ | 11/24/15 | Rowna Scarborough

[Enlightened1]

The U.S. military on Tuesday labeled as an "incursion" the Russian fighter jet that was shot down by Turkish aircraft over the Syria-Turkey border.

Army Col. Steve Warren, the top military spokesman in Baghdad, confirmed the Turk's version of events in saying they repeatedly warned the two Russian SU-24 pilots to back off.

Col. Warren used the word "incursion" to describe the Russian flight, but also said the command was studying radars and other data, such as radio chatter, to make a definite conclusion.

The incident happened at the border," Col. Warren said. "These things are not as clean as they are in the movies."

Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent years has deployed his fighters and bombers close to the air space of NATO countries, such as Turkey and the U.S., as a way to try to rattle the allies.

This is the first time he has paid a price in having one of his jets shot down and perhaps the pilots killed.

Mr. Putin is backing Syrian President Bashar Assad, which is opposed by the Turkish government. Ankara is helping rebels opposed to the regime.

The U.S. sent F-15C air superiority jets to Turkey to help it patrol and defend its air space. Col. Warren said no F-15 was in the vicinity.

This "purely took place between the Russians and the Turks," he said.

Col. Warren has made no secret of the U.S.'s displeasure with Russian bombing campaign in Syria. They assert Mr. Putin is mostly bombing moderate rebel groups opposed to Mr. Assad and devoting little time to the Islamic State terror army.

[pleasenotcalifornia]

Perhaps Russia has more than a few cruise missiles leftover to launch against Turkey. Do the Russians have neutron atomic bombs?

[scooby321]

All those candidates that called for a no fly zone look like idiots

That includes Hillary

[pfflier]

There should be ample intelligence to sort out the story. We just won't get to see most of it.

The US and Russia both would have eavesdropping intelligence about the radio communications from both sides.

There is, no doubt, satellite surveillance of the area particularly after the Russian airliner shootdown.

What will show the truth is Russia's response. Typically they bluster and take a hostile posture as their first reflex. If Russia backs down (goes quiet) within the next few days, I think the evidence supports Turkey's claims.

Make no mistake, Turkey still has a problem either way. Russians never forget and will exact some form of retaliation.

[canuck_conservative]

"These things [at the border] are not as clean as they are in the movies."

That's why it makes great sense to fire a missile first, down the aircraft and get the pilots killed, then sort it all out later.

/s

(way to go, Turkey)

[Bogie]

Hillary is the worst.

[Genoa]

Link for this??

[nclaurel]

By those US backed rebels that Odunga speaks so highly of- low life savages to shoot parachuting pilots. Guess the new gay military sees that as ok.

[pgkdan]

Is this Colonel reporting true facts? . . . or following orders from his commander-in-chief.

Were he a truth teller he'd probably already been forced to resign.

[Daffynition]

Turkey.

Does this mean Thanksgiving is cancelled?

[bert]

If Russia attacks Turkey from behind, will Grease help?

[Genoa]

Turks are now claiming the pilots are alive

OK, just saw the Reuters link at Drudge for the pilots-alive statement. The Turk official sounds clueless, though, with second-hand info. I saw a video of a downed pilot and it looked like a dead one.

[Biggirl]

It has started already.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

I think one salient point needs to be taken into consideration. There are no ISIS strongholds near the Syrian border!! This area is controlled by people friendly to our side and fighting against ISIS. So think about this for one second, what are Russian planes doing up in that area? They can only be there to attack rebels fighting against ISIS. Why do so many people on free republic want to believe everything Putin and Russia says? People, get real!! Putin is not to be trusted. He is a dictator and no friend of ours!!

[dfwgator]

Muslims fight each other all the time, doesn’t mean the folks fighting ISIS are any better, sure they may be our “allies” now, but what happens if they win, will they still be our “friends”?

[Daffynition]

Syrian rebels gloat and chant *Allahu Akbar* over the body of dead Russian pilot after Turkey shoots down Putin jet for violating its air-space.

These are the rebels Putin has been bombing. It doesn't look good. I don't believe Putin will be restrained, in this matter.

[tanknetter]

Not sure where your picture came from, but the flaming aircraft in the middle frame is a member of the Su-27 family, while the one that was shot down was an Su-24.

[catfish1957]

Emergency NATO session is needed to boot Turkey out immediately.

[Daffynition]

From the link in the article. See for yourself. ;I

[catfish1957]

Putin is not to be trusted. He is a dictator and no friend of ours!!

And the muslim slime in that area are? Yeah right.

[The Toll]

Putin is not to be trusted - so say the Saudi rapist butchers.