Levant crisis - III

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 07 Apr 2017 12:58

I realised watching CNN,CNBC etc that most of these MSM ( barring Fox some what ) are cheer leaders of Strike against Syria but had put expert on Panel Advising trump not to do any thing against North Korea.

Advising how that would be bad for both China and US and their trade relations etc and how North Korea Gene cannot be rolled back instead Work with China to find a solution to NoKO issue.

Just watch CNN and you will get what I mean.

Why is US MSM so soft on China ?

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 07 Apr 2017 13:00

according to cbs news 60 crusies were launched from various vessels in the Med sea.

all timed to hit their targets within 60 seconds of each other.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 07 Apr 2017 13:01

If only Trump could do the same with Islamist terrorists openly enjoying Paki hospitality who killed many Americans in the diabolic Bombay attacks.
If he doesn't,then US/POTUS hypocrisy will be lid bare for all to see.

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 07 Apr 2017 13:02

on SM both are rejoicing
from #notmypresident to #mypresident group...lol

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 07 Apr 2017 13:02

Austin wrote:I realised watching CNN,CNBC etc that most of these MSM ( barring Fox some what ) are cheer leaders of Strike against Syria but had put expert on Panel Advising trump not to do any thing against North Korea.

Advising how that would be bad for both China and US and their trade relations etc and how North Korea Gene cannot be rolled back instead Work with China to find a solution to NoKO issue.

Just watch CNN and you will get what I mean.

Why is US MSM so soft on China ?

their billionare owners are globalist wealth owners.

and some of them are jewish and generally, the jews love china.

not saying that's good or bad, just the way it is. they see the chinese like they see themselves......economic diasapora.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 07 Apr 2017 13:04

https://twitter.com/AFP?ref_src=twsrc%5 ... r%5Eauthor

#BREAKING China urges avoiding 'further deterioration' in Syria: gov't

#BREAKING Syria army says six dead in US strike

#BREAKING Turkey welcomes US strikes against Syria regime as 'positive'

#BREAKING British government 'fully supports' US strikes on Syria: spokesman

#BREAKING US strikes in Syria inflict 'considerable damage' to US-Russia ties: Kremlin

#BREAKING Iran 'strongly condemns' US strikes in Syria: spokesman

nam · Post by **nam** » 07 Apr 2017 13:11

Singha wrote:^ the widely dispersed nature of shelters and parking aprons in a proper airbase makes the thing not cost effective from a non-khanish budget.
so nirbhay or not, the real game changer will be the cheap SAAW type gliding LO weapons launched from aircraft some 50-100k out...not as risk free or fast as a CM but cost will be 20x less. khan will use wing kitted bombs, french aasm....

Ofcourse, just mentioned about CM to let people know how much of a load out is required to knock off a airbase. It has to be CM+SAAW types, in tens, if not hundred. The same would apply, when people dhoti shiver that Chinese BM & CM will knock off all the Indian airbases.

Khan knows how to fight a war. I would take our "10 days high intensity war" thing seriously, if we achieve half of load out what Khan applies. We should be loading PGM, cheap BM in thousands. I don't even hear of IA firing off few Prithvis in excerises!

What people seem to forget is that we face the largest combined army on the planet, with one of them being a manufacturing power house.

Regarding the cost, I always wondered why didn't DRDO create a 2-3 tonne load, 200-300KM version of Prithvi, for deploying PGM/Glide weapons or even cluster munitions .

A Rafale cost 100 million. Even if a Prithvi cost 1 mil, you can fire off 100 of them. We need cheap BM like this.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 07 Apr 2017 13:30

so far russia had avoided getting caught in the south syria fight, mainly against western back jihadis based in jordan of all stripes. only a occasional airstrike in daraa was seen.

that might change now, esp against the jaish al izza who got all the shiny TOW missiles.

they might have to double down on CAS with more frogfoots in the theater and wet-lease some rocket and tube artillery to support a invasion of Idlib from multiple directions as a way to "hit back".

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 07 Apr 2017 14:37

#mission accomplished
Riam Dalati‏Verified account @Dalatrm 4h4 hours ago
More
Replying to @Dalatrm
#Syria citizen near #Shoayrat #Homs: Cousin says "all jets gone. Airfield taken out of service. Can't find any of his mates yet"
5 replies . 123 retweets 69 likes
Reply 5 Retweet 123
Like 69
Ivan Sidorenko Retweeted
Riam Dalati‏Verified account @Dalatrm 5h5 hours ago
More
Replying to @Dalatrm
#Syria citizen near #Shoayrat #Homs: This was a very busy airfield. Jets used to incessantly take off. It was able to serve all front lines
4 replies . 135 retweets 72 likes
Reply 4 Retweet 135
Like 72
Ivan Sidorenko Retweeted
Riam Dalati‏Verified account @Dalatrm 4h4 hours ago
More
Replying to @Dalatrm
#Syria citizen near #Shoayrat #Homs: My cousin just texted me from the airfield. He went to check on his mates. It's total devastation.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 07 Apr 2017 14:38

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 07 Apr 2017 15:02

First Video Post US Strikes in Syria

brar_w · Post by **brar_w** » 07 Apr 2017 15:11

TSJones wrote:
Whatever you think of the merits of western intervention in Syria, the idea of Trump directing it is, frankly, terrifying. And even though you may despise the current murky detente, so is the idea of this chaotic, underqualified White House being at loggerheads with Russia. The international order may be vulnerable, and dictators emboldened. But so long as this man is in charge, we must pray that the promise of an isolationist America is fulfilled.
OMG! I love it.

they had obama the limp wristed warrior and sneered like many on this forum did.

red lines that weren't really red lines.

now they're praying for US isolationism.

the trumpster is morally bothered by this like he would be when swatting a fly...........

and i knew this was coming.......

no sitting around grim faced watching a security monitor while his minions and henchmen kill off some miserable terrorist/dictator.

no, no, he's gonna go to dinner and maybe get a round at one his golf courses........

This was a pretty lame show of force for a politician looking at an escape for something he said. Tactically this would not have been high up on the list of how to attack an air-base and was clearly decided upon politically. Now that he has shown he is no BO he can go back to twitter.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 07 Apr 2017 15:17

I feel Sorry for Tump , He has been hounded by Leftist Liberal media in US on every thing from Leaks to Elections to Ivanka Trump and his Son in law you name it.

This is his high point since swearing in , The same Liberal Media is now Cheering him asking him when the next strike will be.

The decision is political , The strike is designed to create Shock & Awe in Media with little loss of life as possible , He got that right.

Every one in US media is now stating Jai Trump ......The GCC folks are happy too

Let him have his moment of Glory.

I expect his meeting with Chinas Xi would be interesting

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 07 Apr 2017 15:50

so far US has been pussy cat in front of China avoiding any direct confrontation whether in NoKo or South China Sea. China so far has helped in vetoing many sanctions on Sy in UN.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 07 Apr 2017 16:01

John Harwood‏ @JohnJHarwood

on CNN, ex-CIA director Jim Woolsey suggests that Trump respond to Assad gas attack with military strikes against both Syria and Iran

nam · Post by **nam** » 07 Apr 2017 16:11

Hope someone in the coming weeks gets hold of before & after GE images, should gives us an idea of what was stuck.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 07 Apr 2017 16:12

IndraD wrote:so far US has been pussy cat in front of China avoiding any direct confrontation whether in NoKo or South China Sea. China so far has helped in vetoing many sanctions on Sy in UN.

Yes , Trump had to rub his nose when Xi said he wont speak to him unless he accepts Taiwan as part of china which he did and then they had a call.

US media does not considers NoKo as threat and wants China to handle it with Diplomacy and wants Trump to deal with China on this.

All in All US MSM and Politicians Dems and Rep are Sold out to China Lock Stock and Barrel.

I have yet to see any Senator or MSM criticizing China on Syria when they side with Russia on Veto

China enjoys a Silent Power of King in US something POTUS finds hard to shake off , Its got more powerful than Israel lobby now in the US.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 07 Apr 2017 16:29

[quote="Austin"]First Video Post US Strikes in Syria

What a colossal waste and ineffective strike!

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 07 Apr 2017 16:31

15 precious a/c that were delivering heat on jihadis daily were destroyed though.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 07 Apr 2017 16:41

Russian MoD Says US Missile Attack on Syrian Airbase Prepared Long Ago

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/2017 ... red/[quote]

Following the US military action, Russia decided to suspend its memorandum of understanding on air safety over Syria with the United States, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"It is evident that the US cruise missile strikes against a Syrian airbase have been prepared long before today’s events. A large system of measures of reconnaissance, planning, preparation of flight tasks and bringing the missiles to launch readiness needs to be carried out to prepare such an attack," ministry's spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said.

The Russian Defense Ministry considers the US attack on a Syrian airfield in the Homs province a gross violation of a memorandum on the safety of flights over Syria. Thus, Russia has suspended the cooperation with the US aimed to avoid incidents in Syrian airspace.

"We assess such actions of the US side as a gross violations of the memorandum on incident prevention and ensuring security in operations in the Syrian airspace signed in 2015. The Russian Defense Ministry is suspending cooperation with the Pentagon within the framework of this memorandum," Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the US administrations come and go, while its policies remain the same since the bombings of Yugoslavia, wars in Iraq and Libya.

"The administrations of the United States are changing, but the methods of unleashing wars have remained the same since Yugoslavia, Iraq and Libya. And again, the pretext of aggression is not an objective investigation, but allegations, fact manipulation, showing photos and pseudo-vials at international organizations," Konashenkov said.

Only 23 missiles from US destroyers reached the targeted Syrian airfield, it is unclear where the other 36 landed, the ministry said.

"On April 7, at the time between 3:42 and 3:56 a.m. Moscow time [00:42-00:56 GMT] a massive missile attack by 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles was carried out from two destroyers of the US Navy [Ross and Porter], from the Mediterranean Sea, near the island of Crete, targeting Syrian airfield Ash Sha'irat [Homs Province]. According to the Russian data recording technology, only 23 cruise missiles reached the Syrian airbase. It is not clear where the other 36 cruise missiles landed," Konashenkov said at a briefing.

The spokesman stressed that the strike destroyed many facilities and equipment, including six planes.

Two Syrian servicemen are missing as a result of the US attack on an airfield in the country, while four were killed and six were injured extinguishing the flames, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Friday.

"According to the information of the leadership of the Syrian airbase, two Syrian servicemen went missing, four were killed and six received burn injuries during the firefighting," he said.[/quote]

Gyan · Post by **Gyan** » 07 Apr 2017 16:45

The hard reality is that Israel, Saudis, China, American Elite, Catholic church are on same side together. They go democratic or republican as it suits them. Trump is an unexpected nuisance who will soon be controlled.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 07 Apr 2017 16:45

Seems Daesh had carried attacks immediately carried attacks on Syrian forces after the attack.

Looks like Russians and Daesh were informed about the strike prior as part of protocol

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 07 Apr 2017 16:45

Turkey pushes for no-fly zone in Syria

More:
http://tass.com/world/939955

chanakyaa · Post by **chanakyaa** » 07 Apr 2017 16:54

In MSM and here Chinese are getting too much reference, without panda doing anything. No one gives a damn about what panda thinks or says. If at all there is balance of power in Syria, it is only and only because of Russians who have people and assets on ground risking lives of its servicemen, not China.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 07 Apr 2017 17:00

AFAICS, this is the Syrian MiG-21 Replacement&Upgrade program at work in collaboration with the US SLCM Replacement Program. Conventional SLCMs are 1980s-era Cold War holdovers, and with their solid propellants, they get pretty dangerous to stow any longer. So! 30 ALCMs fired from each Destroyer. That's a pretty impressive load. See Russian report that only X strikes were recorded on the airbase, the other 59-X have not been located. Wonder where they went.
Now these Destroyers can return to Norfolk for refit with the new hypersonic Global Reach SLCMs. And Syria can get Su-35s that have a chance against the Israelis. All in all the terrible cost is the Syrian soldiers killed and wounded. The shelters were useless anyway - both the Israelis and the Americans have cruise missiles, and the ISIS has TOWs.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 07 Apr 2017 17:04

chanakyaa wrote:In MSM and here Chinese are getting too much reference, without panda doing anything.

You are right but China is Respected and Feared in the US by US MSM/Liberal Dems and Reps alike.

They have managed to get deep into their skin and enjoy Silent Power of King.

You wont see any one criticising China beyond words in US Congress , The US Business Interest overwhelms every thing.

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 07 Apr 2017 17:18

This was a pretty lame show of force for a politician looking at an escape for something he said.

how do you know it was a lame show of force?

from a russian video?

are you sure your politics are not showing?

russia is not going to cooperate in the skies over syria anymore.

their actions belie their video.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 07 Apr 2017 17:20

Russian UAV Video of Airfield after Strike , Seems few Runways Taxi ways are intact

I think Cruise Missile cant destroy runways like a Durandel can do

Bhurishravas · Post by **Bhurishravas** » 07 Apr 2017 17:21

Russia has to react to this. They cant just shut up and put up with this.
Unfortunately it is a week moment for them.
Unchecked presidential system of governance could throw up all kinds of stupid actions. Amazing.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 07 Apr 2017 17:26

Russia: 'Only 23 missiles hit the airbase'
Posted at 15:26

From BBC Monitoring:

The Russian Defence Ministry says the US airstrike was ineffective, the Russian news agency Interfax reports.

"According to Russian monitoring tools, only 23 missiles reached the Syrian airbase. It's not clear where the remaining 36 cruise missiles fell," Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov is quoted as saying.

brar_w · Post by **brar_w** » 07 Apr 2017 17:51

Austin wrote:Russian UAV Video of Airfield after Strike , Seems few Runways Taxi ways are intact

I think Cruise Missile cant destroy runways like a Durandel can do

If you wanted to crater runways or go aggressively after hardened shelters (if they were even present) there are better stand off and stand in ways to do this. TLAM's wouldn't be the most effective solution for either of that mission. However,r a TLAM strike is a much easier political decision to make and gets you the desired PR..ships are in position that carry a $hit load and you can act fairly quickly.

TSJones wrote:
This was a pretty lame show of force for a politician looking at an escape for something he said.
how do you know it was a lame show of force?

from a russian video?

are you sure your politics are not showing?

russia is not going to cooperate in the skies over syria anymore.

their actions belie their video.

So lets take Trump administrations narrative at face value. What do these strikes achieve? Did they take out Assad's air force? How about every possible air launched weapon stockpile? How about his air defenses? Would a TLAM strike take out an air base for extended periods of time? So if your end goal was to prevent him from doing what you alleged he did again beyond the deterrent value it has really made no difference in the big picture. It has gotten POTUS some decent PR coverage for a while I guess. None of those objectives are beyond reach if that is what you wanted to do..You have the resources in the region that if deployed using the right tactics could enable you to accomplish those. This looks and smells like a lot like what Bill Clinton did with the TLAM's back in the day.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 07 Apr 2017 18:17

Aldin ‏ @CT_operative 15m15 minutes ago https://twitter.com/CT_operative

Result of #US strikes in #Syria : 6 officers & soldiers killed, one AD site partially destroyed, base itself operational, 9 jets lost.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 07 Apr 2017 18:20

The situ isstill fluid with another attack on the town allegedly hit bu chem weapons.Damage at base less serious than earlier thought.
Russia will now have to pull out all stops in air defence systems for Syria to maintain its pre-eminent presence in that country.It may also respond in kind taking out anti-Assad pro-US/NATO/saudi/Turk allies and forces operating as the so-called Syrian opposition. Syria will then become a no-holds-barred proxy war between Russia/Iran and the US/West/Saudis,etc.,and this proxy conflict may expand in other areas in the region,further complicating the situ,letting ISIS off the hook and sending the price of oil skyrocketing.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/ ... tagon-live
Second attack on Syrian town hit by chemical weapons reported after Trump strikes in Idlib – live

Earlier....

2h ago
11:42
Russian military to strengthen Syrian air defences - AP

The Russian military says it will help Syria strengthen its air defences after the US strike on a Syrian airbase, AP reports.

Russian defence ministry spokesman Maj Gen Igor Konashenkov said that a “complex of measures” to strengthen Syrian air defences will be done shortly to help “protect the most sensitive Syrian infrastructure facilities”.

Konashenkov said “the combat efficiency of the US strike was very low,” adding that only 23 of the 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles reached the Shayrat air base in the province of Homs.

He said it destroyed six MiG-23 fighter jets of the Syrian air force which were under repairs, but didn’t damage other Syrian warplanes at the base.

Konashenkov added that the base’s runway also has been left undamaged.

Meanwhile in Israel,the internecine sniping between Bibi and co. and his political opponents isn't disappearing at all.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/ ... of-tyranny
Israel sunk in 'incremental tyranny', say former Shin Bet chiefs
Ami Ayalon and Carmi Gillon speak out ahead of 50th anniversary of occupation of Palestinian territories

Two former heads of Israel’s powerful domestic intelligence service, the Shin Bet, have made an impassioned and powerful intervention ahead of events to mark the 50th anniversary of the country’s occupation of the Palestinian territories in June.

One of the pair warned that the country’s political system was sunk in the process of “incremental tyranny”.
Ami Ayalon and Carmi Gillon were speaking ahead of a public meeting at a Jerusalem gallery which is threatened with closure for hosting a meeting organised by the military whistleblowing group Breaking the Silence, one of the main targets of the rightwing government of Benjamin Netanyahu.
During his recent visit to the UK, Netanyahu also asked Theresa May to cut UK government funding to the group – a request that baffled diplomats as no direct UK funding exists.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 07 Apr 2017 18:22

https://twitter.com/CombatAir/status/850308461342720000

Thomas Newdick‏ @CombatAir

And if Russian MoD reports are correct that only six MiG-23s were destroyed, then the main SyAAF offensive assets survived unharmed…

Thomas Newdick‏ @CombatAir

PHOTO from Aleksandr Pushin shows 80mm rocket pods, KMGU submunitions dispensers, 500kg-series bombs and an electronic jamming pod for Su-22

https://twitter.com/TheBaseLeg/status/8 ... 9249070082

Looks like one radar and one 2K12 Kub (SA-6) emplacement survived the Tomahawks

https://twitter.com/TheBaseLeg/status/8 ... 2497331200

Looks like a wrecked Su-22 here?

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 07 Apr 2017 18:26

Lots of Images released by Sputnik post strike

http://sputnikimages.com/en/site/search ... eld=author

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 07 Apr 2017 18:36

OK, I stand corrected. MiG-23 replacement program. They have a lot of MiG-21s as well, poor guys.
I think obvious Russian counter would be to boost the number of **RUSSIAN*** combat aircraft in Syria and essentially ground the SyAF and even its helicopters. I have a hard time seeing Israelis going up against Russian planes unless Israel is in imminent danger. This habit of bissing on the Syrians may not work so well on the Russians. Would Iron Dome stop hypersonic cruise missiles - possibly carrying tactical nukes?

The other counter is that a few more Saudi/GCC Destroyers in the Gelf are going to discover the beauty of the Gelf sea-floor. And probably some more UkBapZis are going to die. All the while Putinski

as The Victim.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 07 Apr 2017 18:44

US air strikes in Syria latest: Russia suspends agreement that prevents direct conflict with American forces - live
LIVE BLOG
Russia and Iran denounce 'violation of international law'
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 71586.html

Chances of a US-Russia clash in Syia looking more than likely.Relations have now gone down the tube.

In the aftermath of Trump being sworn in,the BEEB had some Russian experts nitpicked for their predictions about future US-Russia relations. It came as a surprise to many that the view in Moscow was very wary of the rump admin. precisely because of his unpredictability.Here,just hours after saying that Assad had to stay,he did a complete flip and sent him a present of Tomahawk missiles instead!

As I said,Trump is "shootin' from the lip and the hip" in equal measure to show the world that he is the equiv of a Brock Lesnar,the "Beast incarnate"! Perhaps the annual frenzy of Wrestlemania just days ago inspired Trump to blast a Syrian airbase with missiles! What a comparison with Richard Nixon,who was inspired by the film "Patton" to bomb Cambodia.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 07 Apr 2017 18:45

Just hit me what this is all about. Nothing to do with Syrian children dying gasping etc. (duh!) Note the other news that F-15s are being taken out of service in USAF. Can someone dig out with BRF's vaunted skills, how many F-15s and their Baki pilots were pest-e-sha'eeded at King Khaled Air Base by recent Houthi fireworks? Remember that someone posted that the range of those strikes didn't make sense for usual Houthi SCUDs?
This explains how Sarin returned to the Moderate Terrorists' ammo dump as well.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 07 Apr 2017 18:49

36 missiles is a lot to go missing. Where did they hit?

The hardened shelters concrete and earth seem to have bounced off any thawk hits..they seem pretty intact

nam · Post by **nam** » 07 Apr 2017 18:52

Since the strike was to destroy chemical bombs, someone forgot to tell the news reporter that he is going in a contaminated area.