Russia to join coalition against ISIS in Iraq?

Hotair ^ | 09/26/2014 | Ed Morrissey

[SeekAndFind]

So they say… kind of. According to state-run TASS, Sergei Lavrov met with new Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi during the UN General Assembly currently taking place in New York, and pledged to support them against ISIS:

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed Russia is ready to support Iraq in its efforts to fight the terrorist threat, first of all the one from the Islamic State (IS). Lavrov had meeting with Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday. …

“During the meeting, Lavrov confirmed Russia’s support for Iraq’s independence, territory integrity and sovereignty,” the ministry said. “Moscow is ready to continue supporting Iraq in its efforts in fighting the terrorist threat, and, first of all, the one from the Islamic State.”

“Haider al-Abadi thanked for the principal solidarity position of the Russian Federation with Iraq and its people and stressed Bagdad was aimed at further development of cooperation with Russia in various spheres,” the diplomatic authority said.

“They also discussed the current situation in the Middle East, focusing on joint fighting terrorism on the agreed international legal base.

The missive isn’t exactly clear on what kind of support the Russians want to give Iraq. Not every member of the US-led coalition is offering military support, of course, but Russia might have a particular interest in stamping out ISIS before they regenerate enthusiasm for Islamist unrest in the Caucasus. However, they pointedly did not include the US in their efforts, and made no mention of Syria at all:

The U.S. has been trying to build a broad coalition to tackle ISIS. Russia’s foreign ministry did not mention this Washington-led group Friday, saying only that Russia would protect Iraq’s interests. At least one foreign ministry official has previously said Russia would not join.

[realcleanguy]

Just like in Afghanistan, Russia is willing to come in and fill the void once the US has left in Iraq. Putin isn’t a fool, he’s banking on the US to bail out so Russia can have the foothold and control the governments. I wish this wasn’t going to happen, but left leaning administrations give up just about everything to the Russians each time

[MarMema]

Oh I don’t know. The Russians have had a much harder time with islamic terrorism than we have had and there are a lot of chechens in Iraq. Maybe they just want to do some payback.

[wolfman23601]

Putin needs Assad in power. That is his guy and it doesn’t surprise me that he would want to eradicate ISIS. Had Obama and the West not tried to interfere and provide support to get Assad overthrown, ISIS would not be what it is today.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: The Russians have had a much harder time with islamic terrorism than we have had and there are a lot of chechens in Iraq. Maybe they just want to do some payback.

I’m fine with that. Kill as many of them as needed... even as we keep a wary eye on the Ruskies.

[Califreak]

That’s kind of what I speculated.

I’m fairly ignorant of the politics over there

[KeyLargo]

Putin is friends with Assad and does not want Assad removed as Obama wants to do.

VIDEO: Will Putin’s Relationship with Assad Impact the United States’ Fight Against ISIS?

VIDEO INTERVIEW:

http://gretawire.foxnewsinsider.com/video/video-will-putins-relationship-with-assad-impact-the-united-states-fight-against-isis/

Russia Warns Obama’s “Two-Faced” Strategy In Syria Will Lead To “Huge Escalation In Middle East & Africa”

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 09/11/2014 23:00 -0400

If the West bombs Islamic State militants in Syria without consulting Damascus, LiveLeak reports that the anti-ISIS alliance may use the occasion to launch airstrikes against President Bashar Assad’s forces, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Clearly comprehending that Obama’s new strategy against ISIS in Syria is all about pushing the Qatar pipeline through (as was the impetus behind the 2013 intervention push), Russia is pushing back noting that the it is using ISIS as a pretext for bombing Syrian government forces and warning that “such a development would lead to a huge escalation of conflict in the Middle East and North Africa.”

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-09-11/russia-warns-obamas-two-faced-strategy-syria-will-lead-huge-escalation-middle-east-a

[palmer]

It is interesting that the main supporter of radical Shiites (in Iran) is against the radical Sunnis in Iraq. The next escalation is Russia versus Turkey or whatever passes for the Ottoman Empire these days. Not that Russia does anything except pursue their own interests, but support for the Shiites is a pretty good way to keep the Sunnis from getting too strong.

[SMARTY]

Exactly... AND Vlad won't be using any BS ROE’s... Killing these murdering animals is not something he was ever squeamish about.

[KeyLargo]

It is all about oil

Syria’s Pipeline War: “Operation Gas Pains”

by Chip Northrup on September 7, 2013

Update: the US and its allies (France, the UAE, Saudi, etc.) are entering this gas war on the side of the loyal Sunni partisans that have been bankrolled by the gulf states gas pipeline consortium (see below) against the the rogue Sunni partisans (ISIS) for the same Sunni gas pipeline – that their paymasters in Qatar have lost control over, because ISIS has stolen enough oil fields and sells $3Million a day on the black market to be self-supporting. As well as against the Shiite and Alawite proxies that have been fighting for Iraq’s pipeline through Syria. Clear ?

The US has finally been drawn into this conflict, conveniently on the Sunni side of the street – in tactical and air support of Saudi proxies fighting Assad and his Iranian backers – over a gas pipeline concession.

http://www.nofrackingway.us/2013/09/07/gas-pipeline-war-in-syria/

[KeyLargo]

“Russia’s foreign minister warned “against any attempt to narrow down the problem” to select groups, urging the world not to have “double standards in dividing terrorists into good terrorists and bad terrorists.”

[InterceptPoint]

Had Obama and the West not tried to interfere and provide support to get Assad overthrown, ISIS would not be what it is today.
++++
Now that is an interesting thought. I think you are right.

[Califreak]

Oh the old moderate vs radical BS?

[Mouton]

I think that is correct also.

[kabar]

Russia is backing Assad. ISIS is attacking Assad. Why not join an effort to eliminate ISIS?

Why this should be a surprise to anyone is beyond me.

[Blood of Tyrants]

My take on this is that Russia is all for doing anything it can to weaken Assad’s attackers in Syria.

[bgill]

It’s sad that Vlad is having to step in to help because he knows hussein won’t put a stop to his beloved muzzy bros.

[Rashputin]

Iraq is getting Su-25s while they wait on F16s from the US. They haven't had that particular aircraft before but they've managed to start making strikes with them within a few days of getting their first ones.

It's typical BS and spin to pretend there weren't already Russians on the ground and involved in Iraq as soon as the first Su-25 arrived if not before they arrived. They're probably training pilots and technical people to maintain the aircraft as well arranging security for their own people. To the best of my knowledge, Russia never puts it's personnel in harms way without having at least a minimum amount of security for them from their own forces.

Now, it may only be a platoon that guards the barracks air support and training people are in and it may be a whole company but my bet is there are already Russians on the ground and that they have, in fact, flown strikes against ISIS in those Su-25s they're delivering.

It isn't a question of whether or not Russia is joining Iraq in battling ISIS.

It's a question of whether the US is going to acknowledge reality and cooperate with Russians in the fight to destroy any and all radical militant Muzzies, or do what they've done everywhere else in the ME and target only terrorists the Saudis agree should be targeted for not being part of the same branch of Iz Lame Caliph Obama and the Saudis are collaborating with.

JMHo

[Thunder90]

The Iranians, with their allies Russia and China, will fill the void left after ISIS is destroyed. This is because we fail to put any boots on the ground.

[free_life]

Russians a stones throw from Israel....tick...tick...tick