Posted on 01/14/2016 9:29:00 AM PST by Trumpinator
I wonder if they crossed Obama’s red line.
Fawaz Gerges, a Middle East expert at the London School of Economics, said Russia was trying to send a powerful message to Turkey following the downing of their plane in November in the area, showing that they can exact revenge.
“Salma is really a major breakthrough, not just for the Syrian army, for Russia as well,” he said, adding that losing the town was a significant loss for the opposition.
“The rebels thought they could turn it into a spearhead to deal a mortal blow against the regime” into its Alawite heartland, he added.
Assad is fighting the Jihadists. I’m on his side.
What has happened to this world? It's Russia defending Christians and other minorities against US/NATO?EU forces that support radical Islamic terrorism.
What I hate is that the Russians are gaining battle field experince.
Syrian rebel = Al Qaeda
I remember how the Nazis did that in Spain.
Indeed, the Russians still know that war is about breaking things and killing people. The US PC rules prevent victories and drag out conflicts which probably get even more people killed.
Russia seems to understand that they are fighting Turkish surrogates. And they are fighting them to win. The large Turkish (Turkmen) minority in that region will face ethnic cleansing if they don’t get a peace deal in the next few months.
With the Kurds advancing across the last 50 miles of the Northern border with Turkey, only about ten miles of Turkish border (the Southern end of the North/South dogleg near the coast) will remain to the rebels for resupply. There are no main roads through there, and it is mountainous. The Syrian Army will likely further press from the South, and the Kurdish mountain people from the North - perhaps leaving it open for a while to drive a refugee flood through it.
It seems that soon Turkey and its surrogates will be facing a dire strategic situation - negotiate a peace or run out of ammo and be killed.
Once the Turkish surrogates are defeated, al Nusra (al Queda local) and ISIS will also have to cut a deal with the regime, or be driven out.
U.S. military is learning how to surrender and then apologize for any mistakes made.
Present day Russia is a Christian nation.
If you told me 5 years ago I would be rooting for Putin and Syria ...and that a presidential candidate (Bush) would be rooting for the head hunters...
JAG core is the most destructive enemy the US military faces..
Your right they did not, as Putin aka Mr Frugality, is hard pressed for funds and the pennies saved by not printing bough some extra munitions for said oil trucks, fighting positions, and bunkers.
“They probably forgot to drop these beforehand.”
Funny, the leaflet airdrop systems on the Russian jets just aren’t as reliable as those of the US.
Oh well, better luck next time.
I don’t hate the Russians. So what’s the problem?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
