Consolidated Syria Conflict Thread

[mirth]

They're shadowing our drones too

http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/russia-intercepts-u-s-drones-over-syria-launches-crui-1735207541

[GDS_Starfury]

There's a big message behind launching that attack from the Caspian.

yeah, thats its not safe for them to operate anywhere else.   :P

[mirth]

Why bother when they can do it from the Caspian?

[Swatter]

This is getting to be a soap opera, except that real lives are being lost. I would give anything to sit in on Obama's national security briefings. Is there chaos? Ambivalence? Dumb-founded looks? Perhaps Obama is a master strategist and we peons simply cannot comprehend his complicated maneuvering that only appears to be stagnation and indecision.

[Sir Slash]

If they don't straighten up soon, Obama's going to send Kerry over on his bicycle to set them straight.  ::)

[pawelj]

I'm not saying they lack the capability. I'm just not inclined to accept that YouTube video as actual proof.

So you doubt their capability at least...

He didn't say he doubted that they have capability.

I don't discount the possibility. My comment on splashing in the Med was only half joking - just wondering if they are close to where our capabilities are - able to put a cruise missile in the third buttonhole of the second soldier to the right.

As for Iraqi airspace...Iraq who? I'll bet ya a dollar the part of Iraqi airspace crossed over wasn't controlled by Maliki.

For starters Maliki is no longer in charge. It's Haider al-Abadi.

[bayonetbrant]

Nice summation from a Mid-east expert, posted over on Facebook

Syria really isn't so complicated. ISIS is fighting unbelievers (by mainly killing Muslims), the Turks are bombing ISIS (but really bombing Kurds), the Russians are attacking ISIS (but actually attacking the anti-ISIS opposition), Hizbullah is confronting Israel (by killing Syrians), the Saudis are fighting extremism (by backing extremists), and the Syrian regime is bombing terrorists (by slaughtering civilians with barrel bombs).

[mirth]

Nice summation from a Mid-east expert, posted over on Facebook

Syria really isn't so complicated. ISIS is fighting unbelievers (by mainly killing Muslims), the Turks are bombing ISIS (but really bombing Kurds), the Russians are attacking ISIS (but actually attacking the anti-ISIS opposition), Hizbullah is confronting Israel (by killing Syrians), the Saudis are fighting extremism (by backing extremists), and the Syrian regime is bombing terrorists (by slaughtering civilians with barrel bombs).

Everybody loses.

[Staggerwing]

Except Assad & Vlad

[Centurion40]

I'm not saying they lack the capability. I'm just not inclined to accept that YouTube video as actual proof.

So you doubt their capability at least...

He didn't say he doubted that they have capability.

I don't discount the possibility. My comment on splashing in the Med was only half joking - just wondering if they are close to where our capabilities are - able to put a cruise missile in the third buttonhole of the second soldier to the right.

As for Iraqi airspace...Iraq who? I'll bet ya a dollar the part of Iraqi airspace crossed over wasn't controlled by Maliki.

For starters Maliki is no longer in charge. It's Haider al-Abadi.

Yeah.  Happy looking fellow, isn't he?

[Centurion40]

I really have mixed feelings about the whole middle eastern situation.

On the one hand, I could care less if Russia bleeds and bankrupts itself by getting militarily involved in Syria and Iraq.  And if they can bring some stability to that region, fine.  More power to them.

On the other hand I am somewhat concerned about a Russian-powered Shia regional super-state stretching from Iran to Syria.

[pawelj]

Syria today is a bit like Spain in the 30's. So far we had Austria (Crimea), Czechoslovakia - Sudetenland (Eastern Ukraine). Now Spain (Syria).
Where will we see Poland - it probably won't be Poland this time.

[Gusington]

Hi. Is this where I buy tickets to WWIII?

[LongBlade]

Hi. Is this where I buy tickets to WWIII?

Quite possibly. Remember, that's the spiritual goal of the mullahs in Iran.

[LongBlade]

This is getting to be a soap opera, except that real lives are being lost. I would give anything to sit in on Obama's national security briefings. Is there chaos? Ambivalence? Dumb-founded looks? Perhaps Obama is a master strategist and we peons simply cannot comprehend his complicated maneuvering that only appears to be stagnation and indecision.

I think I can imagine what's going on through Obama's mind.

For starters we need to recognize his philosophy for what it is. The word isn't fashionable any more, but he's an Isolationist. Plain and simple. IMHO he believes if we stop "meddling" in other nations' affairs then they'll leave us alone.

As for Syria, there's something of a case to be made for letting them all kill each other. They're doing an excellent job of that now without much help from us. And this dovetails perfectly with Obama's Isolationism.

I could go on, but it seems to me that seeing Obama as an Isolationist explains virtually everything about his foreign policy. No wonder Hillary didn't accomplish anything. Her orders were to withdraw on all fronts. In that light it's difficult to blame her for a lack of accomplishments, since the president never wanted her - us - the US - to do anything other than put the car in reverse and keep it there.