Posted on 10/26/2019 7:57:49 PM PDT by Zhang Fei
Russia's Defence Ministry has criticised the United States' decision to send armoured vehicles and combat troops into eastern Syria to protect oil fields, calling it "banditry."
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper has said the move is aimed at keeping the fields from potentially falling into the hands of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) armed group.
The decision was the latest sign that extracting the US military from Syria is more uncertain and complicated than President Donald Trump has made it out to be.
On Saturday, there were several troop movements in Syria as the various players adjusted to the US decision to withdraw troops from the northeast.
A US convoy of more than a dozen vehicles was spotted driving south of the northeastern city of Qamishli, likely heading to the oil-rich Deir Ez Zour area, or possibly to another base nearby. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, also reported the convoy, saying it arrived earlier from Iraq.
A large convoy of Syrian government troops was also spotted heading toward the M4 highway. Syrian state news agency SANA said troops have entered the region of Ras al-Ain, deploying to eight villages along the highway and close to the Syria-Turkey border.
Syrian government troops had not set foot in northeastern Syria since 2012, when the government pulled out to focus on the war elsewhere in Syria.
The SDF, spearheaded by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), took control of the area when it allied itself with the US in its battle against ISIL in the region. Since its founding in 2015, it significantly expanded its control across northern and eastern Syria and has sought to create an autonomous federation there.
But after Trump ordered his forces to withdraw from Kurdish-held
(Excerpt) Read more at aljazeera.com ...
I can hardly wait for the caucophony of "How dare you!"s from the Greta Thunberg demonicRATS!
Come and secure Alberta oilfields.
Come and secure Alberta oilfields.
They have a point. Isn’t it? ‘Securing the oil’ from the rightful owners doesn’t smell right.
Isn’t Syria entitled to Syrian oil? I am still wondering what is the status of US forces in Syria and missed the declaration of war but ‘securing’ the smuggling operation worth $1+ million a day sure sounds like banditry to me.
The oil would go to ISIS otherwise. Syria/Russia could not successfully face them
At the right time, after Idlib is settled, the fields can be a bargaining chip for Kurds with Assad.
[I am still wondering what is the status of US forces in Syria and missed the declaration of war but ‘securing’ the smuggling operation worth $1+ million a day sure sounds like banditry to me.]
“” “” Syria/Russia could not successfully face them””” “
That is rather brazen line from Deep State propaganda. ISIS folded in months after Russian intervention but only expanded during years of US presence. There is no ISIS to speak of anymore.
” “” “At the right time, after Idlib is settled, the fields can be a bargaining chip for Kurds with Assad.” “” “
LOL. Should Texan oil be a bargaining chip between US and Mexico? There are some Mexicans in Texas after all.
The situations are unparalleled for many reasons and even if they were you didn’t really answer but actually did a thing yours call ‘whataboutism’.
Although ‘Russian occupation’ of Ukraine is a tired myth. Even Ukrainians with brains are laughing at it at this point.
Don’t believe it.
Anyway, Russia/Syria need their forces for Idlib. That’s the battle that matters. They’re glad we’re defending the oil fields while they take care of Idlib.
SDF won Deir Azzor from ISIS.
Hey Vlad, buddy....we produce more oil than you now. It would help us more to have less oil on the global market. Hell, we’d make money bombing the sh*t out of them rather than protecting them.
But we don’t depend on that stuff as much as you do, do we? We have the world’s biggest economy.
So, sorry...that dog don’t hunt. Now go ride a horse shirtless or something.
“” “” Don’t believe it.
Anyway, Russia/Syria need their forces for Idlib. That’s the battle that matters. They’re glad we’re defending the oil fields while they take care of Idlib.
SDF won Deir Azzor from ISIS.”” “”
Why people are gullible and receptive to media propaganda? That’s because it managed to convince public that factual matters are a subject of belief. And is why opinions are sold as actual reporting.
Also ‘defending the oil’ and profiting from it is the very definition of extortion racket.
“” “” Hey Vlad, buddy....we produce more oil than you now. It would help us more to have less oil on the global market. Hell, we’d make money bombing the sh*t out of them rather than protecting them.”” “”
Define ‘we’. Policymaking hijacked by vested interests long time ago. Some are interested in bombing oil, others in ‘protecting’ and stealing it. Whatever floats their boat.
Haie to be argumentative, but you have no idea of what you’re speaking on.
Believe whatever makes you feel good. The media makes it’s money on that.
It’s like having Patton as President. F-ing AWESOME.
Say what? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
This is all negotiated. Al Jeez is blowing smoke and stirring the pot trying to make something out of nothing.
Syria/Russia need all they can deliver for Idlib.
That’s the key area now.
Washington needs to explain in one detailed and articulate sentence why we have interest in this.
I remember food fights between US and Russian militaries on the issue since late 2015 in form of press conferences.
US criticism was worded like: ‘incompetent’, ‘indiscriminate’, ‘unprofessional’, ‘danger to themselves and civilians’.
Russian criticism in contrast was very straightforward and detailed. The main point was why US bombs power and water plants but with all the technological means available can’t see massive ISIS convoys riding around in the open and don’t target their sources of income.
US military de-facto participated in Syria since day one for near 10 years now, officially since 2014. ISIS only expanded during this time, the largest their expansion took place in 2015, and there were instances of US arming ISIS.
Russian intervention took place in late 2015. At that time Syria had months if not weeks before turning into another Somalia. ISIS collapsed nearly immediately. It wasn’t a viable threat to Assad regime by spring 2016 then Russia started to scale down operations but US didn’t. Russian withdrawal caused rivival of some ISIS elements and they took some towns leading Russia to intervene again and now they are nearly beaten again.
All of the above were pretty much evident at the time. That’s facts.
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.