Posted on 09/11/2015 8:34:40 AM PDT by Mariner
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia called on Friday for Washington to restart direct military-to-military cooperation to avert "unintended incidents" near Syria, at a time when U.S. officials say Moscow is building up forces to protect President Bashar al-Assad's government.
The United States is leading a campaign of air strikes against Islamic State fighters in Syrian air space, and a greater Russian presence would raise the prospect of the Cold War superpower foes encountering each other on the battlefield.
Both Moscow and Washington say their enemy is Islamic State. But Russia supports the government of Assad, while the United States says his presence makes the situation worse.
In recent days, U.S. officials have described what they say is a buildup of Russian equipment and manpower.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Absolutely. Along with Bradley “chelsea” Manning. There is a housecleaning, and world cleaning needed because of this a-hole.
Our govt. is no longer filled with true patriots. And that is about to change, prayerfully hoping.
“Just take out the airstrips.”
Russian cargo planes are all designed to land “off road”
All they need is a field or compacted strip of desert
And if they can’t catch that aircraft?
You think Russia just says, “Oh well...”, and lets it go at that?
Would Israel let it go if Russia did intercept their aircraft?
Even if this didn’t turn into a massive confrontation at the moment, the two would be bitter enemies from that moment on.
We have a very vital interest in what is happening in Syria.
Excellent points. The two anti-jewish interests are at work in tandem it seems.
Israel being treated like Poland between the nazis and the soviet commies. This is not good.
Pray for Israel.
Their prior operational capacity was “undercover”- as in Crimea/Ukreaine. Quite possible they would foolishly run a covert false flag. Destructive person, Stalin.. I mean Putin.
The “Arab Spring” under guidance from the muslim brotherhood.
Thanks John...
A shrewd political move (now that the US has been out flanked) would be to cooperate with the Russians AND Assad in the destruction of ISIS.
That gives us political leverage to demand Russia leave when the deed is done.
What if they are working together? Because, they are. And therefore the targeting (with Brennan at CIA and other muzzies in place, who could also be commies, btw) will be directed at... whom? Israel by “accident”.
Scary crap, this.
We created a real mess in Syria. I don’t disagree with that.
Sure we should be against ISIS. Just announcing our resolve on that matter would have gone a long way toward avoiding what is taking place now.
ISIS knew Obama wouldn’t do diddly.
Your thought that Syria is bad, and ISIS is worse, is right.
Honestly, the best thing we could do right now is withdraw our support from the anti-Syrian forces, and get to work destroying ISIS, with vigor.
Russia would quickly lose a reason to be in Syria.
It would stick around, but it might also pull out in time.
Obama drew them in masterfully. It’s a major destabilizing factor in the Middle East now.
I always knew something bad was up as soon as I heard the name “Arab Spring”
It was a planned and contrived “spontaneous” event (like “Occupy [your town here]” and all its PAID morons crapping on police cars)
Russia, even Putin, does not destroy for the sake of destruction.
They have a political objective and everyone wishes they knew what it is.
I suspect they seek to drive a wedge betw2een the US and Europe by stabilizing Syria and inviting the refugees back. Maybe even providing the transportation for their return.
Showing the uselessness of exclusive US alignment.
Showing the world they cannot count on the US to provide security.
I do agree with that. Get rid of ISIS.
BTW: Call a summit. Agree with Putin. Let him have his moment. Cooperate, and let Russia decide on it’s own that the operation in Syria is no longer needed.
I will say, that anything Obama urges will be laughed at by Russia.
We would be best off if he’d just keep quiet.
It's the only sane, political route.
Thanks Mariner. Glad we agree.
BTW: Never happen...
Obama has to appear the master, even if he’s too green behind the ears to qualify as a peanut.
You're right. He'll screw it up and demand Russia pull out immediately. In conjunction with McCain and Graham he'll try to look like a real man. Additional sanctions.
Of course Russia will not pull out.
Ask yourself. Is Syria worth one American life?
They are thinking of “you know who” to the south of Syria. Imagine the regional anal sphincter factor when Russia decides to “temporarily” occupy the Golan Heights as a “tactical measure to interdict terrorist supply lines” or other such”canards”!
With that out of the way, the West needs to realize - as we remember 911 - that militant Islam is a major threat across the globe. Whether it is Boko Haram and Al Shabaab in Africa, or Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines, or any of the various 'scion of Al Qaeda' that have sprung up around the ME, the fact is that ISIS is the most cogently effective Jihadi group to emerge. They did something that Osama never thought possible ...have an actual fledgling caliphate, hold land, take taxes, and have sustained success. They are consolidating power in Iraq, Syria, and parts of North Africa. In West Africa Boko Haram has pledged allegiance. Other groups may soon follow.
Basically, you are looking at GlobalJihad.org
Now, the West's process of regime change - be it removing Saddam, or removing Qaddafi, or removing Assad - has been shown to be unworkable. We almost lost Egypt as well. Removing 'bad men' without having a viable alternative is foolish. Simple!
Thus, if Assad and Russia smiting ISIS is unpalatable, then the only thing is for the West to do something about it. Smite ISIS. Drive them to their doom and smash them so hard that the genetic memory of Jihadi is imprinted with what happens when the West decides to act.
Unfortunately, it appears that the West is not willing to do much. At least so far. Which reminds me of the story of the good Samaritan (there's a reason he is called a GOOD Samaritan). Before he came along and helped the injured man, two men who were 'holy' passed him without offering aid. Only the GOOD Samaritan decided to do anything.
While Russia is not 'nice' and Assad is a veritable monster, the thing is if the West will not do squat then it better not complain when others fill that void (for good or ill, as countries always have their own interests and I'm sure Russia is not doing it for CSR or goodwill). If the West will not step up, then it really shouldn't be screaming and shouting.
It would be like the two holy men chastising the good Samaritan for assisting the injured man they themselves had just walked past.
What's ironic is this ...someday the West will rue that it never squashed ISIS back when it would have been simple to do so. A saying from my native land is that 'the best time to kill a crocodile is when it is in its egg.'
However, it appears the West prefers fighting off 18 foot scaled leviathans rather than smashing soft crackly teeny weeny eggs!!!!
The Russians won’t “play nice” with ISIS like Obama has been doing. They play for keeps, not headlines.
Since rumors began about 3 weeks ago of direct Russian involvement, the rebelling Damascus suburb surrendered/signed a “Ceasefire” after a ‘Special Forces Raid” against the rebel leadership there.
This happened last weekend.
They are allowed to go to Lebanon with personal weapons, but have to leave all of the heavy weapons and missiles behind.
Seems as if Putin is about to take on the job that Obama refuses t do.
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