Posted on 09/10/2015 7:19:18 PM PDT by Mariner
Beirut, Lebanon — Mounting evidence suggests Russia is significantly increasing military assistance to the embattled regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in what is seen as a bid to solidify Moscow’s position in one of few Middle Eastern countries where it still has influence.
The move, analysts say, capitalizes on a low-risk opportunity created by the United States’ reticence to get more closely involved in the Syrian conflict, which has lasted for more than four years and claimed the lives of nearly a quarter million people.
The reports of a Russian military buildup in northwest Syria have raised alarms in Washington. Over the weekend, Secretary of State John Kerry telephoned his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, to warn that Russia’s military assistance “could further escalate the conflict.”
(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...
i am unsure what Russia is doing but I hate to say that I trust Obama/Kerry even less. What are we to make of this?
cuz it’s in syria that they have only 1 navy port in the Med.
If Russia wants to take on the responsibility of driving ISIS out of Syria that sounds ok to me.
The middle east is going to get even worse before it gets better if oil prices stay lower.
I just want us to go all out for energy independence here in the US.
Russia will ensure the survival of Assad in Syria, and thereby establish a permanent military presence.
In direct opposition to US and NATO policy.
The spookiest part is that there will be US and Allied combat aircraft flying combat missions in the same airspace as Russian combat aircraft.
Shooting each others' bad guy.
Sounds like another conflict from south east Asia from almost 50 years ago...
I hate to say it, but I’m on Russia’s side on this one.
“by the United States’ reticence to get more closely involved in the Syrian”
I think we are pretty well involved in Syria and other Middle Eastern countries.
Why do dogs like their you-know-whats?
Why? Because they can! Nobody is going to stop them. USA caved to Iran, we sure aren’t going to stand up to Russi. This piece on the chess board was put into play - the first piece in the region in decades - and Putin is going to take it down. We screwed the pooch on this one big time but Obama has telegraphed weakness for years all Putin needed was a reason to move, and now he has one. If Assad was resistant then Putin would not move but we let boy Assad twist in the wind, half way wanting him removed and then half way wanting him to stick around to fight ISIS and this gave Assad a no-lose proposition as far as we are concerned. Putin won’t annex Syria he will just occupy it, with the consent of the Alawites. Boy Assad probably has a diary given him by his father on how to play Russia against the US.
What will be most interesting to watch will be Turkey.
BTW with Russia occupying Syria what does this do for the Kurds? Puts them in play too, though their aspirations are now substantially reduced and I bet they are livid. And they will take what they can from Russia as a result, even though Russia will probably be the spoiler to their hopes for now they will drift away from our sphere because we let them down. All just my opinions...
Dangit!!! S/B.....
Why do dogs lick their you-know-whats?
If Russia wants to take on the responsibility of driving ISIS out of Syria that sounds ok to me.
Russia proping up Assad has got nothing to do with ISIS.
Russia wants to cut the possible gas pipeline route through Syria to Europe to maintain their monopoly.
It's simple, Russians don't abandon their allies, something the USA always does when Democrats get power. Assad is in danger of complete collapse, and Putin will do what he can to save him. Unfortunately Assad is the only alternative to ISIS or Al Qaeda, so I wish the Russians well in this case.
My gawd, she walks like a chimpanzee and he looks like one too behind her. And him eating a snow cone!!!!! Oh crap, I should not have said that.
Though they do have access to the Med from the Black Sea it is at least 1.5-2 days sail. Having a friendly port just miles from the richest natural gas finds south of Moscow (belonging to Israel and Cyprus) and 12 hours by fleet from the Suez canal has strategic benefits. Watch Turkey. NATO member, but probably already deep into double-dealing. While I doubt Russia will overty attack Israel or Cyprus, they want influence over natural gas policy. Israel/Cyprus will play the spoiler to the Russian NatGas monopoly supplying Europe. There is plenty of market for everyone, but Russia much prefers the power of having Europe dependent and Israel/Cyprus can have enormous GDP gains from opening supply lines from the south. So, leverage over Israel from troops parked in Syria is a strategic gain for the Bear.
And is it a coincidence that Bibi is visiting Downing street today?
“Russia proping up Assad has got nothing to do with ISIS.
Russia wants to cut the possible gas pipeline route through Syria to Europe to maintain their monopoly.”
Interesting and probably true. And if true, it is also just as true that the western and Saudi created rebel movement had nothing to do with Assad, it was to build a Saudi and western controlled pipeline.
[Why do dogs lick their you know what] Perfect timing, just perfect. Immediately after dfwgator posted the above about dogs, the very next post by monkeyshine was this.
“Why? Because they can! Nobody is going to stop them.”
Way to go guys on absolutely perfect postings by you both.
Hats off !
I do not think that a gas pipeline through Syria is the reason. It looks like Assad is leaning toward abandoning most of the country, and retreating into the Alawite homeland around Latakia on the Med. Since the Russian’s naval base at Tartus is also in this region, Putin will help Assad create a Fortress Alawite in this region. With less area to defend and both Russian air and ground forces to backstop them, Assad can hold out here for years, if not decades. Putin gets to maintain his naval base in the Eastern Med in the bargain. I do not see Russia conducting any offensive operations against ISIS for the simple reason that Russia cannot maintain the logistical means to accomplish this mission. They do not have the sea lift capability that the US has, thus all their war fighting has been in areas neighboring their own country(Afghanistan, Georgia, Ukraine).
Looks like something that the Soviets got into 25-35 years ago.
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