Posted on 09/10/2015 12:07:08 PM PDT by Mariner
Moscow (dpa) - Russia on Thursday dismissed US concerns of a military buildup in Syria, saying that its servicemen have been in the country for many years to help with the military equipment that Moscow provides to the government.
"There are Russian military servicemen in Syria. ... Their presence is connected with supplies of weapons for the Syrian army, which is bearing the main burden of combatting the terrorism of the Islamic State and other extremist groups," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, according to state news agency TASS.
He told reporters that Russia sends planes carrying humanitarian aid and contract-based military supplies to Syria, in "full accordance with international norms."
Lavrov said it was a "colossal mistake" for the United States to not involve the Syrian military in a US-led coalition to fight Islamic State, which has gained significant territory in Syria and Iraq over the past year.
The US has denounced Russia's military supplies to Syria's regime, saying the support enables President Bashar al-Assad to avoid negotiating for a political solution to the conflict, which has dragged on for more than four years and killed a quarter of a million people.
(Excerpt) Read more at dpa-international.com ...
All I can figure is that Syria has promised permanent basing for combined assets in exchange for survival.
And Russia's interest in Iran is commercial...with the exception that they present political and materiel issues for the US should they need to call in that favor.
Or, did they actually become the good guys?
When you ponder that question, picture Donetsk.
Russia dismisses Obama because they know he’s a weak little pansy who won’t do anything to them. He let the bully push him around in Ukraine. Now the bully is pushing him around again.
Russia acknowledging their presence prevents all other countries from attacking Syria. I don’t think it would be good for a UN bomb to kill a bunch of Russians.
It’s interesting how last time I remember, in Afghanistan back in 04, we had Russians working contract jobs at Kandahar Airfield. We we’re on really great terms back then.
Also don’t worry about Iranian nukes while you are at it.
Check and Mate.
Correction:
Moscow Dismisses Obama.
Yep...
Ditto for Syria.
Putin is to weak to be called a 'bully', Obama is not.
That “Bowing Campaign” has begun to pay off the only way it could.
Red on Red.
The US should have emerged from Iraq with a forward operating base there. The Russians are doing what we should have done, so naturally, we bitch about it.
Why wouldn’t they dismiss it. It’s like being barked at by a toothless dog.
Historically, the Russians haven’t been great champions of order and stability, unless it’s domestic.
All I can figure is that Syria has promised permanent basing for combined assets in exchange for survival.
Syria gives Russia access to warm water ports to the Mediterranean Sea. Other than the Crimea, which Russia has now taken back, and for the very reason of having a place to park their ships in a warm water spot, they also have access via Syria to the same. Russia will never let Syria out of their sphere of influence because of its access to the Mediterranean Sea.
In the interests of International Peace and Security. And, humanitarian relief.
That could drive ISIS south to the Anbar redoubt.
The Russians would then have a sea-land bridge to the Levant and the Med via the Caspian.
Iran and Syria would receive a formidable protector able to project a modern force and sustain the logistical train.
I do not know the present Russian regime’s Realpolitik intentions in Syria, but Russia has had a historic role in protecting Christians in the Near East. The secular Baathist governments of Saddam Hussein in Iraq and Bashar al-Assad in Syria protected Christians from the Islamists.
Agreed, and it's not necessarily a BAD thing to bring some modicum of stability and civilized law to that part of the world.
But it's emerging as a substantial geopolitical loss for the US.
It’s also a geopolitical loss for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a huge win for Russia, something the Czars and Soviet Premiers long dreamed of. They believe their support of Iran and Syria will yield a huge payoff. Next up; they will get Iraq, or at least northern part, in their orbit. Look for them to also renew their ties to Egypt.
One thing we can count on while 0bama is president is the Russians having a green light, and they know it. It’s “flexibility.”
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