Consolidated Syria Conflict Thread

[Boggit]

The question is why is Turkey still in the Nato, I mean Erdogan is no less a dictator as Assad, he has for years been trying to stamp out the opposition, he now uses the IS conflict as sort of cover for that too and attacks the anti-IS Kurdish fighters, the press is no longer free in Turkey, journalists Erdogan doesn't like, are being arrested and he is cultivating an anti-West Muslim attitude and even encourages his fellow-men living in other countries to keep themselves apart from their surrounding society, because he thinks assimilation is a bad thing. That was his message to the Turks living here in Germany when he recently visited for his canvassing tour.

The world has to get rid of the Islamic State, that has to be the priority, not Assad or Turkey. That's why I think Putin's game over there is helpful, just to make things happen in a situation that was ruled for too long by ignoring reality or by being paralyzed by whatever political agenda.

Given Erdogan's actions against the Kurds in Iraq and Syria (leaving Turkey for the moment), I thought it a bit rich for him to criticise Putin for having a swipe at non-IS opponents to Assad. We may not like Assad, but Putin has a point about him being a bulwark against IS, even if he is a brutal dictator in his own right.

[Bison]

I hate to say it, but that graphic reminds me of the body count from Vietnam.  A means to show "progress" in the war in terms of numeric quantities, i.e. high numbers equal positive results, but ignores the reality of the actual effect on the battlefield.

Depends. Who's the ones reporting the numbers? If it's the Air Force or US government, then yes, just like Vietnam. If some independent group, then it seems like just a depressing statistical graphic.

Well the table's statistics are attributed to CENTCOM.

[jejo68]

The question is why is Turkey still in the Nato, I mean Erdogan is no less a dictator as Assad, he has for years been trying to stamp out the opposition, he now uses the IS conflict as sort of cover for that too and attacks the anti-IS Kurdish fighters, the press is no longer free in Turkey, journalists Erdogan doesn't like, are being arrested and he is cultivating an anti-West Muslim attitude and even encourages his fellow-men living in other countries to keep themselves apart from their surrounding society, because he thinks assimilation is a bad thing. That was his message to the Turks living here in Germany when he recently visited for his canvassing tour.

The world has to get rid of the Islamic State, that has to be the priority, not Assad or Turkey. That's why I think Putin's game over there is helpful, just to make things happen in a situation that was ruled for too long by ignoring reality or by being paralyzed by whatever political agenda.

Given Erdogan's actions against the Kurds in Iraq and Syria (leaving Turkey for the moment), I thought it a bit rich for him to criticise Putin for having a swipe at non-IS opponents to Assad. We may not like Assad, but Putin has a point about him being a bulwark against IS, even if he is a brutal dictator in his own right.

He may be a dictator, but up until we stabbed him in the back he was our dictator.

[Airborne Rifles]

I hate to say it, but that graphic reminds me of the body count from Vietnam.  A means to show "progress" in the war in terms of numeric quantities, i.e. high numbers equal positive results, but ignores the reality of the actual effect on the battlefield.

Depends. Who's the ones reporting the numbers? If it's the Air Force or US government, then yes, just like Vietnam. If some independent group, then it seems like just a depressing statistical graphic.

Well the table's statistics are attributed to CENTCOM.

Good point  :)

[eyebiter]

Russia warns Israel over jets detected near Syria–Lebanon border
http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/middle-east/89394-151018-russia-warns-israel-over-jets-detected-near-syria-lebanon-border

"According to As Safir, the Lebanese source said that Russian aircraft immediately blocked the Israeli jets' path while they flew above the Akkar region in northern Lebanon. "The Russians immediately sent a clear warning to the Israelis that entering Syrian airspace would be a pretext for opening fire," the source added."

[Nefaro]

I don't think the Russian air force would want to scrap with the IAF, if they know what's best for them.

[Gusington]

 :o Christ...this is deteriorating...

[LongBlade]

:o Christ...this is deteriorating...

The Sovs are going to push until someone pushes back. Obama may have his tail between his legs, but the IAF doesn't. The IAF isn't likely to stand down and Putin will get the message where he can and where he can't find weakness.

[GDS_Starfury]

I don't think the Russian air force would want to scrap with the IAF, if they know what's best for them.

[Staggerwing]

The graphic on their vertical stabilizers looks like Sam the Eagle. Which reminds me...


For Bison:

[Bison]

I dig it!

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN0SC0NY20151018

Sick, cold and homeless. We discussed this a while back.

[Bison]

I can only say Merkel better this doesn't blow up,  but she seems an ambiguous globalist intent on dragging down Germany.

[Grimnirsson]

"Mother Merkel" has lost any connection to reality repeating the same mantra over and over "Wir schaffen das!" (but you know that mantra I suppose from someone else..."Yes, we can!") while ignoring that our country is at the limits already, authorities expect up to 1.5 million asylum seekers to arrive in Germany this year alone and 2016 these numbers will likely go up rather than down because those granted asylum will bring their families over to Germany too.

Her popularity ratings are falling quite fast it seems and there are voices that predict that she will not politically survive this. Hopefully, since she has done enormous harm to my country and I don't see any way to close the flood gates again.

[undercovergeek]

you just need a guy from the right to stand up and start blaming your countrys woes on the influx of unwanteds and were all off on the merry go round again!