Consolidated Syria Conflict Thread

[Bison]

The situation now and 70 years ago are completely different.  You don't wholesale import millions of people that share no similar cultural values and no expect impact.  Particularly in a nation with substantial welfare programs.  At some point, the nation will have to hit a tipping point of what they could support versus what they are now expected to support.  There is unfortunately going to be conflict.  And no I'm not suggesting widespread civil unrest and violence.

[pawelj]

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.

Relying on dictators to do our job is never a good policy in the long run.

[GDS_Starfury]

If the Germans need more living space they csn always look to the east.   ::)

[Grimnirsson]

I'll laugh later... ???

[mirth]

[undercovergeek]

on east front, sense of humour loses you

[Gusington]

^HA!

[pawelj]

Don't panic!

http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2015/10/20/most-of-russias-military-still-rubbish-despite-ukraine-syria-deployments/?utm_source=Facebook

[mirth]

I wasn't exactly panicked over a couple of squadrons of fighter bombers and a cruise missile strike with a few dozen missiles. And this is the cream of the Russian crop.

[JasonPratt]

I for one look forward to seeing Israel clobbering Russia in Syria; Putin declaring war; and then the coming Jewish Central Asian Superstate a few months later. ;)

[bayonetbrant]

OK. I know I'm crazy, but this quote from Putin is actually pretty good

"Let's not play with words and divide the terrorists into moderate and not moderate," said the president.
"I would like to understand what is the difference. Perhaps, some experts believe that moderate bandits behead people in moderate numbers or in some tender way."

of course, he's accusing the West of a double-standard on who they support in the MidEast, but it's still a good quote
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2015/10/putin-syria-russia-151023092849716.html

[LongBlade]

OK. I know I'm crazy, but this quote from Putin is actually pretty good

"Let's not play with words and divide the terrorists into moderate and not moderate," said the president.
"I would like to understand what is the difference. Perhaps, some experts believe that moderate bandits behead people in moderate numbers or in some tender way."

of course, he's accusing the West of a double-standard on who they support in the MidEast, but it's still a good quote
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2015/10/putin-syria-russia-151023092849716.html

[JasonPratt]

Russian Airbus crashes in Sinai, no survivors, Islamic State claims responsibility, Russia denies.

http://www.cnbc.com/2015/10/31/in-central-sinai-with-224-on-board-egypt-pms-office.html

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

Russian Airbus crashes in Sinai, no survivors, Islamic State claims responsibility, Russia denies.

http://www.cnbc.com/2015/10/31/in-central-sinai-with-224-on-board-egypt-pms-office.html

Queue Bagdad Bob...


"There were no Russians in the Sinai!"

[Staggerwing]

Whatever happened to that guy anyway?