No-fly zone would ‘require war with Syria and Russia’ – top US general

Russia Today ^ | September 22nd, 2016 | Unattributed

[Mariner]

Speaking to the US Senate, the Pentagon’s leaders blamed Russia for the Aleppo aid convoy attack, but admitted they “had no facts.” Only US coalition planes should be allowed over Syria, they said, though that would require war against both Syria and Russia.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter and General Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, faced the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday to report on the ongoing military operations and “national security challenges” faced by the US. They also asked the senators for more reliable funding, saying the uncertainty was hurting the defense industry.

“Not only our people – our defense industry partners, too, need stability and longer-term plans to be as efficient and cutting-edge as we need them to be,” Carter told the senators.

The lawmakers were far less interested in the war against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) than about the future of the Syrian government, Iran’s “malign influence,” and “aggression” by China and Russia – all ranked far ahead of terrorism on Carter and Dunford’s list of security challenges.

The Pentagon had “no intention” of sharing intelligence with Russia when it came to Syria, Dunford told the lawmakers unequivocally. Secretary Carter explained that the joint implementation councils envisioned by the ceasefire proposal negotiated in Geneva wouldn’t share intelligence, just coordinate efforts – but that they were a moot point anyway, since the ceasefire was effectively dead.

[depressed in 06]

A less impossible mission had aircraft carrier Iraq not been scuttled.

[1rudeboy]

Well, you admit that you’re confused, so you have that going for you. The Assad regime is killing people, ISIS or not. The U.S. favors the rebels (who are killing people), ISIS or not, and the Russians favor Assad, ISIS or not. It’s really not that complicated. Everybody’s killing people, and there are no clean hands in the entire mess

[ETL]

U.S. baaad, Russia goood.

These Putinista a-holes are sickening, aren't they? Yet they're allowed to hang around and push their pro-Russia, pro-Putin crap 24/7.

[1rudeboy]

The source is RT. Otherwise known as the Kremlin, for those confused.

[DesertRhino]

And Dunford the nutty Marine general is right. We can’t share intel. They support Assad, and our effort entire effort is about removing Assad. Isis and Al Nusra and all the rebels were created by us to remove Assad.

[sport]

Whatever you say. You are the sage.

[ETL]

Kremlin pays internet trolls to flatter Putin
Ben Hoyle - Moscow
October 11 2013

Russian investigative journalists and bloggers have uncovered an army of internet trolls paid to pour invective on the Kremlin's opponents and heap praise on President Putin.

Posing as job applicants, the reporters discovered the government hacks working at a small company called the St Petersburg Internet Research Agency. ..."

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/asia/article3891720.ece
____________________________

Russian Propaganda Is Taking Over Online Comment Boards

Pamela Engel
May 4, 2014

British newspaper The Guardian notes that recently, readers have been complaining of pro-Russia propaganda being posted in the comments section of articles about Russia and Ukraine.

One reader wrote to The Guardian:

"One need only pick a Ukraine article at random, pick any point in the comments at random, and they will find themselves in a sea of incredibly aggressive and hostile users (the most obvious have accounts created since February 2014 ... but there also exist those who registered with the Guardian before the high point of the crisis) who post the most biased, inciteful [sic] pro-Kremlin, anti-western propaganda that seems as if it's taken from a template, so repetitive are the statements. Furthermore, these comments are consistently capturing inordinate numbers of 'recommends', sometimes on the order of 10 to 12 times what pro-Ukrainian comments receive."

Guardian comment moderators believe this is an orchestrated campaign.

Russia has worked hard to make people believe that the country is supporting the Russian-speaking population in Ukraine and defending those people against some type of threat. These "comment mills" play into that strategy.

Last year, The Atlantic wrote about how the Russian government apparently pays people to "sit in a room, surf the Internet, and leave sometimes hundreds of postings a day that criticize the country's opposition and promote Kremlin-backed policymakers."

This practice isn't new, according to The Atlantic. But it can stifle open discussion about political issues in Russia, giving a louder voice to those who support the Kremlin.

http://www.businessinsider.com/putin-paying-people-to-post-pro-russia-propaganda-in-comments-2014-5

[AmusedBystander]

It doesn’t sound like this is going to end well.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“I wonder if Congress has a Constitutional role in such matters.”

Not if it’s declared a Skirmish, a Kerfuffle or a Melee.

Or the infamous, ‘Undeclared Conflicts’ of Korea and Vietnam.

I hate the world we’re living in. I. Hate. It. Deeply.

[SaveFerris]

[war against both Syria and Russia]

Just in time for the election; brought to you by Hillary and Obama.

[Psalm 144]

Speaking to the US Senate, the Pentagon’s leaders blamed Russia for the Aleppo aid convoy attack, but admitted they “had no facts.”

#################

Impressive testimony. Now GTFO of Syria.

[ETL]

Just in time for the election; brought to you by Hillary and Obama.

Yet it was the Soros-supported Obama administration that went out of their way to appease KGB/FSB Putin on such critically important matters as missile defense and nukes, including the Obama-Putin Iran nuke deal.

From Real Clear Politics, Sept 10, 2015...

"In a 2014 New Yorker interview, Obama said his goal was to create a 'new equilibrium' in the Middle East.

In the short run, at least, his signature diplomatic undertaking can be counted on to bring more violence to this volatile region.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, as the [Obama-Putin Iran deal] agreement is formally known, provides the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism an infusion of somewhere in the neighborhood of $100 billion of unfrozen assets and a great deal more of continuing revenues as businesses and governments around the world rush to profit from oil-and-gas-rich Iran's reintegration into the world economy.

The agreement relaxes the international isolation of the Islamic Republic and ratifies Tehran's status as a nuclear threshold state. And it relieves restrictions on Iran's acquisition of weapons, including ballistic missiles. ..."

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2015/09/10/iran_deal_throws_sparks_on_mideast_tinderbox_128034.html
___________________________________________________

Aug 2015

___________________________________________________

[ETL]

From the campaign trail, 2008...

Obama Pledges Cuts in Missile Defense, Space, and Nuclear Weapons Programs

February 29, 2008 :: News
MissileThreat.com

A video has surfaced of Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama talking on his plans for strategic issues such as nuclear weapons and missile defense.

The full text from the video, as released, reads as follows:

Thanks so much for the Caucus4Priorities, for the great work you've been doing. As president, I will end misguided defense policies and stand with Caucus4Priorities in fighting special interests in Washington.

First, I'll stop spending $9 billion a month in Iraq. I'm the only major candidate who opposed this war from the beginning. And as president I will end it.[i.e. not win it]

Second, I will cut tens of billions of dollars in wasteful spending.

I will cut investments in unproven missile defense systems.

I will not weaponize space.

I will slow our development of future combat systems.

And I will institute an independent "Defense Priorities Board" to ensure that the Quadrennial Defense Review is not used to justify unnecessary spending.

Third, I will set a goal of a world without nuclear weapons. To seek that goal, I will not develop new nuclear weapons; I will seek a global ban on the production of fissile material; and I will negotiate with Russia to take our ICBMs off hair-trigger alert, and to achieve deep cuts in our nuclear arsenals.

You know where I stand. I've fought for open, ethical and accountable government my entire public life. I don't switch positions or make promises that can't be kept. I don't posture on defense policy and I don't take money from federal lobbyists for powerful defense contractors. As president, my sole priority for defense spending will be protecting the American people. Thanks so much.

Article: Obama Pledges Cuts in Missile Defense, Space, and Nuclear Weapons Programs:

http://web.archive.org/web/20090412030633/http://missilethreat.com/archives/id.7086/detail.asp

"MissileThreat.com is a project of The Claremont Institute devoted to understanding and promoting the requirements for the strategic defense of the United States."
___________________________________________________

I will cut investments in unproven missile defense systems.

I will not weaponize space.
___________________________________________________

[ETL]

March 2012...

"Obama was talking with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev when neither of them realized that their conversation was being picked up by microphones. Here is what they said:

Obama: "On all these issues, but particularly missile defense, this, this can be solved, but it's important for him to give me space."

Medvedev: "Yeah, I understand. I understand your message about space. Space for you ..."

Obama: "This is my last election. After my election, I have more flexibility."

Medvedev: "I understand. I will transmit this information to Vladimir."

"This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility." That statement tells us much about the president's mindset.

The specific mention of missile defense is worrisome enough. Mr. Obama has retreated from the missile defense plan that was negotiated with European allies during the George W. Bush administration. Apparently, he is signaling Moscow that he intends to retreat further. The clear implication from the president's comments is that he cannot tell the American people before the election what he plans to do after the election.

In addition, there is the phrase "on all these issues," implying more is at stake than just missile defense."

Article: Obama plans double cross on missile defense
When it comes to keeping America safe, we shouldn't be too flexible:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/mar/29/obama-plans-double-cross-on-missile-defense/print/

[Mariner]

"Impressive testimony."

Senator Graham responded to that statement by saying that Russia is guilty of the attack even if they didn't do it. Because they support Assad.

[faithhopecharity]

1. since when does USA have the righ to impose a nofly zone on another country ?
2. since when does USA have the right to bomb and train fighters to wage war against another country?
3. how will we know when we’ve achieved “Victory” there?
when ISIS/ Iranian IslamoNazis /Muslim Brotherhood gangsters take over Damascus?
4. why are we allowing Obama/Kerry to import thousands of dangerous Moslems when its the Christians and other minorities there that may need refuge? (answer: O’s other goal is to undermine and subvert USA....)
5. if we are gonna wage illegal wars on countries, maybe we’d better pick them more carefully.....not selecting the ones that already have major military powers like Russia helping their defense (given Russia has military bases in Syria and offshore naval forces capable of action for Syria, too). I mean, what O did to Libya was dispicable but at least the Russians were not deployed there to defend it......just a practical idea.... I am NOT advocating senseless or mercinary-type wars against anyone

5.

[1rudeboy]

Alternatively, maybe I’m a vet of the Russian threads on FR, and familiar with the paleo/paultard/peacenik/putinista axis. And the Borscht Brigade who knows how to press their button.

[enduserindy]

I know some christians from Syria. They still have family there and visit when they can. They say the average Syrian has no love for Assad but understand the Sunni goat herding population is much worse. Under Assad they live normal lives it’s the “rebels” who would destroy civilization. They say it takes a tough guy to lead a country in that neck of the woods.

[sport]

And you do your job very well.

[AC Beach Patrol]

In a war with Russia your children aren’t going anywhere. They will become carbonated forms on walls.