Posted on 11/29/2015 10:04:41 PM PST by Mariner
Russia is striking back after a "stab in the back by an accomplice to terrorists" by changing the "game" in Syria.
Moscow's retaliation is not just about severing economic and diplomatic ties. It is pursuing a policy that could tie Turkey's hands in Syria.
Ankara never received international backing for a safe zone across its border, but Russia has now ruled that out.
The deployment of S-400 anti-air missiles means Russia has effectively imposed a no-fly zone over Syria.
And now, Moscow seems to be moving closer to a group that has been the US-led coalition's main ground force in Syria - a group which Turkey, itself a member of that coalition, calls "terrorists".
The Syrian Kurdish forces (YPG) is a US-backed Kurdish group that has pushed the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) back from areas along the border with Turkey.
(Excerpt) Read more at aljazeera.com ...
Right up to Turkey's border.
Since the deployment of the S-400's, Turkey has not sent one plane across the Syrian border. Nor outside their borders anywhere.
They know they are now a target.
I’m betting that the reason Xero hasn’t targeted the tanker columns is because the drivers are probably Turks. Russia should nail the trucks in Syria as retaliation. When the Turks whine they can reply, “How can we know the nationality of ISIS’ truck drivers. You aren’t SUPPORTING these ISIS barbarians, are you?”
Civil Wars are always so complicated because they are usually proxy wars for their neighbors and the greater powers of the globe.
Certainly, neither the Saudis, Turkey or Obama and the US Government view ISIS as a grave threat. In fact, the Turks are doing business with ISIS for smuggled oil, and Obama and Saudis feel ISIS is just a tool to be used to achieve other (murky) strategic goals in the region
Our members of Congress have been aware of this Turkish-ISIS connection for some time. Why have the in effect supported it?
Turkey tonight reportedly CLOSED the Black Sea to Russian ships. This is a HUGE escalation that could easily lead to war.
That sounds like the kind of thinking that a businessman would come up with.
Agree.
Obama has only been giving token support to the Kurds.
OBL was such a tool at one time.
Reported by whom?
Turkey’s proxy war in Syria, which may be part of Erdogan’s push for neo-Ottoman empire, is now in serious jeopardy. So is his family business of ISIS oil smuggling, losing hundreds of millions of dollars in potential earning. He has to contend with Putin if he wants to continue to advance his agenda. I figure Russia and Turkey would collide at some point. Turkey now stopped being subtle and neither does Russia.
Source?
There's NO WAY Turkey could close the Balck Sea to Russia. But they could close the Bosporus Strait.
For a little while.
But that strait is covered under the Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Turkish Straits of July 20, 1936.
It would be a clear act of war on Turkey's part and would offer legitimacy to any Russian military action to re-open them.
NATO WILL NOT SUPPORT THIS.
“Turkey tonight reportedly CLOSED the Black Sea to Russian ships. This is a HUGE escalation that could easily lead to war.”
Turkey and Russia have similar populations. It might be a pretty even fight
I'd call that going a little far with the attributions. They probably feel they can't curtail Xero much in Syria without him using it to do damage. They give him money he shovels it to ISIS. They cut the money and he blames them for a lack of funding to fight ISIS. So without the media exposing our closet jihadi President, what can they really do?
Russia is letting her currency depreciate. Its economy is shrinking. However, this may not be enough to restrain Russia. Putin is more or less running war-time economy now.
I don't mind Russia taking down Turkey/ISIS and doing severe damage to Gulf oil country nutjobs who are sponsoring all kinds of Jihadis, before Russia and Iran bleed enough and have to retreat. This could be good for Ukrainians. Russia has to cut back on her venture in Ukraine as well as his encroachment into Eastern Europe.
I like the way you think! Both Russia and Iran are oil driven economies so the best way to fight them is through oil. Even Saudi Arabia and much of OPEC would be on board with this to counter Iran.
FRegards
Agree with the decriminalization of exporting oil and gas. But Who pays the subsidies required to cause privetly owned property to be sold at below market rates?
Similar, plus or minus ~70 million?
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