Posted on 04/11/2017 11:24:20 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
THE biggest loser from last week's cruise-missile strikes on a Syrian air base wasn't President Bashar al-Assad. It was Vladimir Putin. The Syrian leader was punished, but Russia's new tsar was humiliated.
Even with an hour's warning of the attacks, Putin's military in Syria did nothing to defend its ally. For all of the Russian bluster in recent years, Putin couldn't stop the strikes. His military lacked the means to do so. And any attempt to interfere with the operation would only have revealed the inferior quality of Russian armaments - including their much-ballyhooed air defence systems.
This is vitally important, because Putin used his military leap into Syria to show that Russia was a reliable ally at a time when US policy was timid, incompetent and flighty under President Barack Obama. Russia looked strong. The US didn't.
But the wave of cruise missiles unleashed on Syria early Friday called Putin's bluff. And Russia didn't dare to lift a finger.
Much has been written and spoken about the attack's potential effect on North Korean calculations. Whether or not the strikes affect Kim Jong Un's behaviour, the strategic math has been altered.
But what really changed was Iranian perceptions. The cruel old men in Tehran have been counting on their alliance with Russia to help ward off US or Israeli blows. Suddenly, Moscow doesn't look so dependable.
Faced with recent defence budget cuts - thanks to US sanctions and low oil prices - Russia's defence industry is desperate to sell late-model weapons abroad.
It's the only way Putin can continue his military renewal, which is essential to his strategy....
(Excerpt) Read more at cqnews.com.au ...
I don’t think there was anything Russia could do against the Tomahawks. Ofc they could escalate but that would have been incredibly foolish.
Good post.
Russians had to run for their lives at three in the morning.
"Russian casualties have been notably higher that the Kremlin admits. And there is no end in sight, even as Assad proves an ever-more-difficult ally."
"And no, Russia has not been fighting ISIS. Putin has been waging war on the Syrian people, while letting America's superior targeting and more advanced weapons take on the terrorists - the US have been his tools and patsies on that count."
Iran was the biggest loser. If Assad goes, their Shia caliphate plans will receive a mortal blow. This was one of the many reasons for the strike.
But then there's the Sunni caliphate to contend with. The Trump admin. probably figures ISIS is too weak right now to take over Syria, and that a Sunni puppet is prime for installation. And if ISIS gets too uppity, they can be beaten back with air power alone, just like the Russians have been doing to them for a while now.
After Obama deliberately booby-trapped the region by creating ISIS on the Sunni caliphate side and freeing up $150 billion to the Iranians on the Shia caliphate side, the options are limited. ....unless one doesn't mind seeing one of the Islamic caliphates dominate the Middle East.
Russia better be damn careful or they might get what they are asking for. America is getting tired of jackasses around the world.
“And no, Russia has not been fighting ISIS”
If it’s not Assad, it’s ISIS. Everything else is McCaniac fantasy Lindsey.
As explained to us by Mrs. Clinton before the election...its called the Washington playbook.
The Russians either could not respond, or decided not to respond. Both answers have implications.
Given a well planned flight route, the TLAM probably was well hidden from radar and did not provide either the necessary radar return for detection or the opportunity to detect.
Whether or not the Russians decided to attempt to employ air defenses is another matter. If they had attempted to launch SAMs and failed, then the damage to Russian ego could have been far worse. But I suspect, even with warning, they never saw them coming.
We still rule the night.
I would caution that this has yet to play out. Certainly US / Russia relations took a big hit. The Syrian Rebels and ISIS applaud.
If we’re decimating ISIS how are we Russia’s tools?
The USA and our Kurdish and Arab allies are the ones beating ISIS. Check out who has ISIS on the ropes in Raqqa and Mosul. Clue: It’s not Assad and it’s not putinstan.
Excellent post!
WE aren’t.
I’m reading a lot of posts on the forum from folks who would be challenged by checkers.
Trump is playing advanced chess here. No wonder they’re totally lost on this.
Is Putin a good player?
Why sure, every world leader that annexes territory from a neighbor state is. Every world leader that instigates a civil war in his neighbor state, and arms the rebels is. Every leader that helps a known terrorist state develop nuclear weapons and ICBMs to deliver them with is. Every world leader that cozys up with a nation whose leader uses chemical weapons on his own people is.
This isn’t rocket science folks, but it might just as well be physics for some folks who don’t seem to have a fourth grade diploma when it comes to global dynamics.
Was the attack only focused on Assad? Well sure, to some lame fools. And of course, Assad is such a great guy. How could we? (Why I’m in tears at the very thought! /s)
Putin’s biggest card at holding power in Russia is what? Why he’s seen as a strong man. How strong is that man looking right now? Trump just bloodied the nose of his ally Syria. Trump just agreed to Monrovia joining NATO. Both of these things are something Putin didn’t want. He made that known in no uncertain terms.
Well folks, how big a strong-man is Putin looking like right now. Mr. I ride horses with no shirt is beginning to look like PeeWee Herman. I’m sure I need to spell this out for some folks (incredibly). This is a good thing.
Russia needs new leadership. DUH! Who knew?
Trump and his team have obviously determined he’s not worth salvaging, but if he is, it will be on our terms, not the terms of a megalomaniac.
If Russia has new leadership, what gets easier?
Dealing with Iran, China, Syria, and... China.
Okay folks. Sorry for my rude interruption into the Trump is the enemy of the people mindset on Free Republic today.
Back to your bashing of him, his family, his staff, the intelligence services, and the generals that agreed with him.
Who the hell needs anything Trump is trying to do. He needs to go. /s
Did I wake up in D. U.?
Some people sure did.
And yet our special forces team destroyed a party of approximately thirty yesterday.
Must have been a mistake right?
You can watch hours upon hours of ISIS fighters (aka Saudi Arabia) catching Russian bombs with their headtowels on Youtube you freaking KOOK!
>I don’t think there was anything Russia could do against the Tomahawks. Ofc they could escalate but that would have been incredibly foolish.
It’s pretty interesting that they didn’t use their S300 and S400 despite advanced warning.
>”Complicating matters for the mangy bear, Putin has begun to regret his Syrian entanglement. The Syrian opposition proved more tenacious than his advisers predicted and his military couldn’t afford to continue to use expensive guided munitions, so his air force had to resort to dumb bombs and the consequent atrocities.”
Without Russian involvement by now John McCain’s and Elhombrelibre’s terrorists buddies would have executed, raped, or enslaved every Christian and non Sunni Muslim in the country.
Is that an outcome anyone here wants?
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