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

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

[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.