Consolidated Syria Conflict Thread

[JasonPratt]

I'm kind of inclined to say the good guys are the Christians, nuns, and priests.  :-\ God knows we have our own problems (see for example Lebanon), but at least we have some ideological background that encourages us to be merciful and fair to other people, whom we're supposed to be regarding as those for whom God Most High also died to save and to reconcile us all as family someday.

[Sir Slash]

Second that.  O0

[OJsDad]

The Russians are sending their carrier and a couple of escorts to Syria.  The British have sent a couple of destroyers to meet and escort them past the UK.  Currently the Russians are still north of Scotland.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/uk-sends-warships-to-shadow-russian-naval-task-force/ar-AAj9rt4?li=AA4Zpp&ocid=spartanntp

[Gusington]

I read on the BBC that the Russians are sending a battlecruiser...it feels like 1916 not 2016.

[Sir Slash]

Yeah, like the last time Russia sent warships past Britain to Japan(1905) that worked so well for them.

[pawelj]

Yeah, like the last time Russia sent warships past Britain to Japan(1905) that worked so well for them.

;D Yeah, they might start shooting up some fishing vessels in the fog, thinking they are ISIS suicide ships.

[OJsDad]

It'd be interesting if the Russians took the English Channel route.  Being escorted by British and French ships and aircraft. 

[Freyland]

My, what better way for the Russian admirals to get a feel for the local geography.

[GDS_Starfury]

If things go bad the only geography the russians will be,seeing is the ocean floor.

[mirth]

I'd put money on the Kuznetsov breaking down long before reaching the Syrian coast.

[Boggit]

I'm kind of inclined to say the good guys are the Christians, nuns, and priests.  :-\ God knows we have our own problems (see for example Lebanon), but at least we have some ideological background that encourages us to be merciful and fair to other people, whom we're supposed to be regarding as those for whom God Most High also died to save and to reconcile us all as family someday.

You could probably add Sufi muslims, Ahmadi's, and Alevi's to that outlook as well. Although they describe themselves as muslims, Sunni Salafists (who represent a significant proportion of Sunni's along with Deobandi's, and Wahabi's who add to literalist schools of Islam) don't even recognise these muslims as muslims because of the doctrine of bid'aa (innovation), which is regarded in effect as heresy. The problem is that literally interpreted Islam is largely incompatible with western values, while the reformers who can live in peace with non-muslims are shunned by the fundamental literalists who want religion to remain still in 6th century Arabia.

[Boggit]

It'd be interesting if the Russians took the English Channel route.  Being escorted by British and French ships and aircraft.

They did take the channel route.

[JasonPratt]

I'm about half sure I recall the Sufis and/or the Salafists (both being fairly mystical) believing in some kind of universal salvation, too. That wouldn't be surprising, since Syrian Christian groups were once heavily invested in that before the Muslims arrived and took over, borrowing the local Jewish and Christian academics.

[GDS_Starfury]

I'd put money on the Kuznetsov breaking down long before reaching the Syrian coast.

I wouldn't take that bet.   

[mirth]

I'd put money on the Kuznetsov breaking down long before reaching the Syrian coast.

I wouldn't take that bet.   

I'm surprised they didn't include tugs in the escort.