The Levant crisis.(Israel,SYRIA,Lebanon,etc)

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 06 Oct 2015 15:17

US, Turkey Threaten to Shoot Down Russian Jets for Airspace Violations

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20151 ... ation.html

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 06 Oct 2015 15:45

Wish I had money to buy stocks of Halliburton: sooo much "reconstruction" work being generated..

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 06 Oct 2015 17:22

Russian aircraft briefly entered Turkish airspace due to bad weather — defense ministry

On Saturday, October 3, a Russian Sukhoi-30 combat aircraft briefly, for a few seconds, entered Turkish airspace as it was making a maneuver over mountain-woody forest terrain to return to Hmeymim airfield after a planned combat flight," the major-general told a briefing.

"After checking and analyzing data of objective control, the command of the air group of the Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria has taken necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future," he said.

"As you can see on the map, Hmeymim airfield is situated about 30 kilometers from the Syrian-Turkish border. Under certain weather conditions, approach to the airfield is made from the north," ministry’s spokesman Igor Konashenkov told a briefing.

"That is why, the incident occurred because of unfavourable weather conditions in that area," he said, warning against attempts to find some conspiracy motives behind the incident.

Shanu · Post by **Shanu** » 06 Oct 2015 17:52

Well the game has truly begun...

First the Turkish threat to Russian aircrafts in Syria - probably more talk than action, since if a Turkish missile downs a Russian jet it will be World War III. By the way check out the picture in this link.

Katil Putin indeed.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2 ... syria.html

As Russian warplanes fly over Syria, neighboring NATO member Turkey says its fighter jets could open fire on them if they stray into Turkish airspace. The threat is serious and highlights the danger of a direct military confrontation between Russia and its old Cold War adversaries, including not just Turkey but the United States.

And now the real thing. Saudi clerics call for Jeehaaad.
https://news.vice.com/article/saudi-cle ... a-in-syria

Dozens of conservative Saudi Arabian clerics have called for Arab and Muslim countries to "give all moral, material, political and military" support to what they term a jihad, or holy war, against Syria's government and its Iranian and Russian backers.

Same old language of Ummah under threat.

"The holy warriors of Syria are defending the whole Islamic nation. Trust them and support them ... because if they are defeated, God forbid, it will be the turn of one Sunni country after another," the statement said

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 06 Oct 2015 18:04

to me it sounds like the non-ISIS jihadi fronts in syria are like a dysfunctional branch arm of a badly run MNC. here is why:

- top management has no clear idea if real work is being done at the branch. the branch mgmt plays a clever hand and sends glowing monthly reports of N bugs fixed, M people ramped up, yet topline never moves. likewise the backers get reports of N kafirs killed,
M kafirs burned, P villages destroyed
- moment any real challenging work (russia) comes along - there is a stampede for the exits as people report sick enmasse,
religious function, attending friends marriage in goa or "on pto in native place without internet connection".
- only expat managers (foreign jihadis) sent to stiffen up the local branch might show some fight.
- work is created to fill the need for work, not to serve any end goal - destruction of roman and persian ruins.
- sometimes bugs are left to create the need for later work - like destroying the destroyed ruins twice over

this is all done to keep milking $$ as a cost center and keep the gravy train intact for the local kshatraps as well as keep their camp followers fed and engaged.

rsingh · Post by **rsingh** » 06 Oct 2015 18:12

Jhujar wrote:On Twitetr:https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CQaaxY4VAAIm7z3.jpg

It is not complete. There has to be another ship where US money and weapon and europeal yahhoooooos going to Syria as "good terrorists".

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 06 Oct 2015 18:17

INS Trikand has docked in istanbul on a navy-navy visit

http://turkishnavy.net/2015/10/05/ins-t ... -istanbul/

shravanp · Post by **shravanp** » 06 Oct 2015 18:24

"The holy warriors of Syria are defending the whole Islamic nation. Trust them and support them ... because if they are defeated, God forbid, it will be the turn of one Sunni country after another," the statement said

I wonder what stance would Indian Muslim clerics have. Bunch of lost souls. na idhar ke na udhar ke.

member_28990 · Post by **member_28990** » 06 Oct 2015 18:46

Bharat must stay put at this time - and wait. A time of reckoning is coming. The situation is a tinderbox right now, will only get more explosive if the chinese join in. There are two things with a very high probability of happening - a "mishap" between Russia and NATO aircraft, or a coup in Saudi Arabia. Once either(probably both) of these things happen, every nation on this planet will get a window to settle all purana hisaab. At that point, Bharat must act decisively. I hope we have the political and geostrategic foresight to be ready and ruthless.

rsingh · Post by **rsingh** » 06 Oct 2015 18:57

Cain Marko wrote:
Singha wrote:If Isis survives the Chechen will want to again set their homeland on fire. Turkey, Georgia will gleefully allow their antics with NATO smugly in the background.
Would be interesting to see if putin allows kadirov too send done of his thugs too syria, they seemed too have effectively neutered the salafi rascals in chechnya

I had few friends fro Chechenya. Very proud of their culture and Russian technology.I would say that Chechen problem was overblown by indecisiveness of Boris Yeltsin. West and SA tried their best but could not snatch Chechenya from Russia..........even when when Russia was at her knees. Vlad has done homework. Chechnya is quite and under control. Russian may eventually send some elite forces. JMT.

rsingh · Post by **rsingh** » 06 Oct 2015 19:01

maxratul wrote:Bharat must stay put at this time - and wait. A time of reckoning is coming. The situation is a tinderbox right now, will only get more explosive if the chinese join in. There are two things with a very high probability of happening - a "mishap" between Russia and NATO aircraft, or a coup in Saudi Arabia. Once either(probably both) of these things happen, every nation on this planet will get a window to settle all purana hisaab. At that point, Bharat must act decisively. I hope we have the political and geostrategic foresight to be ready and ruthless.

+1. We have to take care of our own security. Keep high and dry. Chini may try to do something (in the name of checking terrorism) in East Asia (Malaca st in particular. So wait and wait. Babus are expert in such maters;

ldev · Post by **ldev** » 06 Oct 2015 20:22

A good analysis from foxradio:

Perhaps Barack Obama hasn’t thought of this. Can’t imagine he hasn’t, but nonetheless I’m here to help.

It goes without saying that Vladimir Putin is jumping into Syria to help Assad. That much seems to be true, as far as it goes.

But I think there’s more.

Putin has an alliance now that includes the weakling Assad, the strong horse Iran, and the fragment of Iraq that hasn’t fallen to ISIS. It’s not much, but it’s something. His alliance may include two nobodies (Iraq and Assad), but the Iran connection is important.

Because…it scares the hell out of the Saudis.

The Sunni Saudi royal family needs somebody to control their arch enemy, soon to be nuke armed, Shia Iran.

They see America retreating and Putin moving forward. They fear ISIS and Islamic radicals who would love to bring down the royal family, but even more fearsome is the Shia powerhouse, Iran. Putin can help the Saudis but he will want something big in return.

What? The price of oil.

Oil is a global commodity that is supplied by many players, including Putin.

But only the Saudis can control the price. They can turn on the faucet and drive the price down (which they are doing right now) or they can crank the faucet closed and drive the price up.

Putin needs the price back up. His economy depends on oil and the Saudis are hurting him right now.

The more he establishes control in the Middle East, the more he demonstrates a moderating force on the Mullahs in Tehran, the more likely the Saudis will be beholden to what Putin wants.

The more President Obama demonstrates disinterest in American influence in the Middle East, the more control Putin can exert.

So look for Putin to endure Obama’s predicted “Syrian quagmire” for the larger goal of bringing his economy back to life. He needs $100 oil.

The Saudis will give it to him.

Just watch.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 06 Oct 2015 21:11

NATO

Russian ground troops in Syria, Turkey's airspace violated again

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 06 Oct 2015 22:49

taking out ISIS helps Saudis.

ISIS wants to be Caliphate. Means control of Mecca and Medina currently under KSA.

habal · Post by **habal** » 07 Oct 2015 00:03

Russians make closest contact to date with U.S. war planes over Syria

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/russian-air ... ver-syria/

QATAR -- Russian aircraft had their closest run-in yet with American war planes over Syria. The yellow aircraft are Russian, the green are American.

http://cbsnews2.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/r/ ... me2139.jpg

U.S. pilots flying F-16s out of Turkey first picked up the Russian planes on radar. The Russians closed to within 20 miles, at which point the American pilots could visually identify them on their targeting cameras.

Lt. Gen. Charles Brown, commander of the American air campaign, said the Russians have come even closer than that to his unmanned drones.

"The closest has been within a handful of miles of our remotely piloted aircraft," said Brown. "But to our manned aircraft they've not been closer than about 20 miles."

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 07 Oct 2015 01:26

This ISIS is an outgrowth of the worms that used to put out the "Al Muhajirroun" website from UQ, proclaiming "Khilafa for Pakistan" back circa 1999? If so, it is a UQ-created terrorist entity like most terrorist entities. But I can't believe that Pakis could get so organized.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 07 Oct 2015 01:34

Could be Queendom hand.

Read "Greenmantle" by John Buchan....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenmantle

habal · Post by **habal** » 07 Oct 2015 01:37

various salafi tanzeems who use single flag for propaganda but are not united in real. That is the reason there are a multitude of names.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 07 Oct 2015 02:26

ldev wrote: And to ensure that Turkey/NATO do not interfere, he seems to be sending a direct message to Turkey to stay out of Syria in the incident given below:

SU-30SM has close encounter with Turkish F-16s

Furthermore, it seems that the Russian Su-30SM (as said, initially referred to as a Mig-29, before it was determined it was a Flanker-derivative multirole jet) maintained a radar lock on one or both the F-16s for a full 5 minutes and 40 seconds.

According the Russians, the violation was due to a “navigation error”: quite funny considered the type of navigation systems equipping a modern Su-30SM.

Although the navigation error can’t never be ruled out a priori, considering the equipment carried by a 4++ Gen. aircraft, and that it was flying next to a “danger zone” there’s reason to believe that the two pilots on board were perfectly aware of their position.

What is even more weird is the fact that the Russian plane locked the Turkish F-16s for such a long time: instead of turning back the RuAF Sukhoi was ready to fire (or to respond to fire).
Also, the most important end game, if KSA falls, will the price of oil continue to be denominated in USD? Iran, Iraq and Russia will certainly in that case not price their oil in USD terms.

Could be simpler. Russian jet saw TuAF jets on radar and locked on as a warning plus self protection. Since it only has SARH R-27 missiles, he has to maintain lock for coverage in case he chose to fire. But 5 min 40 sec is fairly excessive. Might be a case of nerves or desire to protect the Su-24 ? Intel on Turkey?

On a plus side, Bars on Su-30 vs F-16 seems a + for the Bars.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 07 Oct 2015 03:55

more weird is the fact that the Russian plane locked the Turkish F-16s for such a long time:

Total propaganda onlee. It is fact (check reports) that there was bad weather in the area, and poor Ivansky Pilotovich was new to the region and quite lost. He did what any driver would do, and this is how I got over the Al Donner Pass in the Sierra Mongolia Lockies during a whiteout blizzard: I "locked on" with my lights, on to the taillights of the F-66 camel a mile in front. Of COURSE he HAD to keep his radar on for a while: he was checking for tornadoes or mountain goats ahead. What do u expect? Ask

What's that mountain goat doing, way up in this cloudbank?

hain?

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 07 Oct 2015 04:35

Russian Rub from UAE embassy/ Link in the Link of this link

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 07 Oct 2015 05:14

Buy stock in JDAMs and Stingers

President Barack Obama authorized the resupply of Syrian Kurds and the Arab-Syrian opposition as part of a strategy to put pressure on ISIS from the north and strengthen the border, according to two senior administration officials.

The approval came at a National Security Council meeting on Thursday.

CNN reported over the weekend that the President also emphasized to his team that the U.S. would continue to support the Syrian opposition as Russia enters the war-torn country.

"President Obama was clear that we intend to continue our efforts to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL in Syria and to keep supporting the moderate Syrian opposition," the official said, using another name for ISIS.
While Russia has said that it is conducting military operations to wipe out ISIS, U.S. officials have questioned that aim given that many of its airstrikes have not targeted places ISIS is active. Instead, they have seen the effort mostly as a move to bolster close Moscow ally President Bashar al-Assad.

Has the US declared war on Syria, to be supplying offensive weapons to anti-government terrorists?

chanakyaa · Post by **chanakyaa** » 07 Oct 2015 05:26

...The situation is a tinderbox right now, will only get more explosive if the chinese join in. There are two things with a very high probability of happening - a "mishap" between Russia and NATO aircraft....

From CBSNews (for what its worth, assuming it isn't a Fotoshopped)
(Website) "The yellow aircraft are Russian, the green are American" (wonder who is purple/pink..)

Russians make closest contact to date with U.S. war planes over Syria

....Once either(probably both) of these things happen, every nation on this planet will get a window to settle all purana hisaab....

It is already happening...At lease 2 countries are using this wonderfool opportunity to clean their dirty laundry. Pootin knows that while BO is still in auffice for 15 more months, clean the house.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict Worsens As Netanyahu Announces New, Controversial Measures To Combat Violence

Turkey-PKK clashes erupt in Diyarbakir

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 07 Oct 2015 06:51

BO wants to see how to get a Toyota

Atlanta (CNN)The U.S. Treasury is seeking information from Toyota about how the terror group has gotten hold of the automaker's trucks, which have been shown in ISIS propaganda videos.

In a statement, Toyota said it is part of a broader U.S. Treasury inquiry looking more closely on how international supply chains and capital flow into the Middle East. The request of Toyota regarding their trucks was first reported by ABC News.

The ISIS uses HumVees and M-1A1 tanks, but BO is not worried about those. The white Toyota pickups, now THAT's scary!

Toyota is "committed to complying fully with the laws and regulations of each country or region where we operate and require our dealers and distributors to do the same. We are supporting the U.S. Treasury Department's broader inquiry into international supply chains and the flow of capital and goods in the Middle East," Toyota spokesperson Ed Lewis told CNN.

Lewis said its impossible for any automaker to completely control how vehicles could be misappropriated, stolen or resold by independent third parties.

"Toyota has a strict policy to not sell vehicles to potential purchasers who may use or modify them for paramilitary or terrorist activities, and we have procedures and contractual commitments in place to help prevent our products from being diverted for unauthorized military use," Lewis said.

Lewis suggested the inquiry looks into a number of private companies.

"Our understanding is that Treasury has been conducting a broad review of supply chains and the flow of goods into the Middle East, including financial institutions, manufacturers and energy companies."

The Treasury Department would not comment about which companies it has sought information from but said there is an ongoing efforts to understand ISIS financing .
"In line with our usual approach to understanding ISIL's financial and economic activities, we are working closely with foreign counterparts and stakeholders worldwide," the Treasury Department said in a statement.

So what do they do after "standing under"? Get bissed-on by the ISIS? Knock out the competition and take over the bijnej, presumably.

Satya_anveshi · Post by **Satya_anveshi** » 07 Oct 2015 08:00

Russian weather forecaster: conditions ‘ideal’ for bombing Syria -Washington Times - Oct06, 2015

The forecaster gave a cheery analysis of the perfect conditions for bombing, while standing in front of an image of a bomber and the headline “Flying weather.”

Light cloud cover “will not make flying more difficult and will not influence the systems for aiming weapons,” she told viewers on Saturday, AFP reported.

“Experts note the time for the start of the air operation (in Syria) is chosen very well,” the forecaster said, flicking between weather charts and defense ministry footage of strikes.

While the weather in Syria was “ideal” for air strikes, Russia says it was bad weather that caused a Russian pilot to “accidentally” fly into Turkish airspace.

Turkey confirmed Monday that a Russian fighter jet had entered its airspace in the Yayladagi region.

“This current incident is a result of bad weather conditions in this region,” Russian government spokesman Igor Konashenkov told reporters, according to CNN. “You shouldn’t look for conspiracy theories.”

Kati · Post by **Kati** » 07 Oct 2015 08:17

uuhh...aahh....too much belly-ache happening .....

Russia Humiliates America

http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorial ... ns.htm?p=2

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 07 Oct 2015 08:17

russia drone films IS moving their military hardware out of forests and parking them around a mosque

Satya_anveshi · Post by **Satya_anveshi** » 07 Oct 2015 08:18

Nice psychoanalysis of Washpost's reporting.

‘The Washington Post’ Finally Finds a War It Won’t Cheer By James Carden - Oct05, 2015

Since Russia commenced its bombing campaign over Syria last Wednesday a number of reports have claimed, among other things, that Russia’s air strikes have solely focused on targeting the so-called Syrian “moderates” in lieu of targeting the territory held by the Islamic State. Worse still, these stories claim, Russia’s involvement will only worsen the situation on the ground; and yet, paradoxically, Russia’s military doesn’t have the wherewithal to see their operation through.

Two stories that advance this confused narrative appeared in the news pages of The Washington Post on October 2 and 3, and not on its editorial pages, where one would normally expect to encounter such fare. The first indication that readers were to be confronted with an anti-Russian spin is that both stories were co-authored by the Post’s young neoconservative fellow traveller Andrew Roth, who has lately churned out such hard-hitting reports as “Live from New York: It’s Putin Speech Bingo.”

Alongside both “news” stories, Roth and his editors feature maps provided from none other than the Institute for the Study of War. For those lucky enough to be unfamiliar with the work of this militaristic think tank, some background may be in order. The Institute is run by arch-neoconservatives Frederick and Kimberly Kagan, and was instrumental in promoting the career of a serial fabricator by the name of Elizabeth O’Bagy who spent much of 2013—alongside the Russian oligarch–funded pundit Michael Weiss—clamoring for an American-led war against Assad.

Trafficking in little more than nonsense, they wrote in The Atlantic in June 2013 that “Eliminating the flow of men and materiel to Syria would not only hinder Assad’s chances for survival but also disrupt the Iranian mullahs’ takeover of the Levant.”

O’Bagy and Weiss will be granted no credit for prescience on that front. The real threat of a “takeover” of the Levant came—and continues to come—not from the Iranian “mullahs” but rather from the the sworn enemies of the Iranians, the Sunni Islamic State, which itself receives financial backing from the other Sunni Gulf state tyrannies: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, and Bahrain.

Iranian-backed Shia forces such as Hezbollah are fighting the very same enemies as the secular, Christian, and Alawite Assad forces. What Russia is now doing is flying air sorties in support of Assad’s army, which has had its back pushed up against the wall by ISIS for the past several months.

Russia has been rather upfront about what it is they are up to. In an interview which aired last Sunday on 60 Minutes, Charlie Rose told the Russian President that some “believe…that you are trying to save President al-Assad’s administration…and you are there to rescue them,” to which Putin replied, “That’s right, that’s how it is.”

This is not to say that The Washington Post has been alone in presenting a disingenuous picture of what is occurring on the ground in Syria. According to Yale’s David Bromwich, The New York Times, in a report published on October 2, castigated Russia for having the temerity to bomb US-backed “independent Islamists.”

Bromwich can hardly be the only one wondering: What exactly is an “independent Islamist?”

In any event, the Times and the Post aren’t alone among those pursing that particular narrative. On October 1, the UK’s Independent accused the Russians of unleashing bombing raids on what were said to be “terrorist targets but which, on early evidence, seemed to have included at least one CIA-backed rebel group.”

With due respect to the American Intelligence Community, are “CIA-backed rebel groups” and “terrorists” known to be—in all places and at all times—mutually exclusive designations? Even cursory knowledge of the history of America’s involvement in Latin America and Afghanistan in the 1980s, to take but two examples, would suggest not.

Which brings us back to The Washington Post report of October 2, the point of which was to inform readers that Putin, let off the leash by the international community, is breaking his word in focusing his wrath on the US-backed Syrian innocents who comprise the “moderate opposition.”

Roth and Post reporter Liz Sly report that the general impression that the US-backed rebels are far outnumbered and outgunned by both Assad and the IS Group is, in fact, all wrong, and that they had been making much (until now, it must be said, unheralded) progress in their fight against Assad.

Assad, it is worth repeating, is himself being targeted by the same forces that attacked Lower Manhattan on 9/11. That the enemies of Assad are—and will remain—our enemies too often gets lost in the reporting and analysis.

Yet, according to Roth and Sly, the CIA has launched a covert operation that has been “widely credited with having helped rebel advances over the past six months in the areas now being targeted by the Russians.” By whom this heretofore little-known CIA success story has been “widely credited” is left unmentioned by the authors.

Further, we are informed that “continued airstrikes Friday suggested that Russia’s main priority remains the anti-Assad rebellion in northern and western Syria, which poses a greater threat to the regime’s control over Damascus, the capital, than the forces of the Islamic State, concentrated in the far north and east of the country.”

This is a rather masterful insinuation of Russian malfeasance where none exists. The airstrikes don’t merely “suggest” that that is Russia’s “main priority”: saving Damascus and ensuring the survival of the Assad regime has been Russia’s stated goal from the start.

The problem with the Post’s report is that it is undergirded by an assumption that only exists in Roth and Sly’s imaginations: If Russia would focus its firepower solely on ISIS, then the US-backed moderates would be able to swoop in to Damascus, peacefully overthrow Assad, and all shall be well.

The problem with this fantasy is that the moderates themselves are not “moderates” in any meaningful sense of the word, and Russia is not going to let Assad fall to them, to ISIS, or to anyone else.

But for the reporters at the Post, hope for a Russian failure springs eternal, and so the following day, October 3, Roth returned with a new co-author, Thomas Gibbons-Neff, to tell us that the Russian bear, which had seemed to be doing so much harm to our “moderate” Syrian allies, is actually little more than a paper tiger.

What, they ask, “can a limited deployment of Russian air power actually accomplish?”

According to the analysts Roth and Gibbons-Neff claimed to have spoken to, “unless it is significantly strengthened, Moscow’s contribution is unlikely to be decisive in the war.” Which analysts? Nobody knows, as the reporters don’t say.

Roth and Gibbons-Neff continue: “Russia faces several limitations in what it can accomplish with its forces in Syria. One is the age of its equipment.” So, perhaps, just maybe the Russians will fail in its mission to save a largely secular, multi-sectarian—and, yes, brutal—government from the hands of radical religious fundamentalists, leaving in its wake what the US-backed Sunni tyrannies of the Persian Gulf have so long desired: a Sunni-controlled Syria.

And it is then—when a radical Sunni fundamentalist state controls the entirety of Syria—that the real problems will begin.

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 07 Oct 2015 08:32

Singha wrote:russia drone films IS moving their military hardware out of forests and parking them around a mosque

Nice hard actionable intelligence.

"Where are you gonna run, where are you gonna hide - Nowhere!".

If Ruskis are able to spot weapons in forests and their movement in a month of coming to Syria, what were the Americans doing all this while? Their drones do not have "forest cams"?

Y. Kanan · Post by **Y. Kanan** » 07 Oct 2015 09:12

deejay wrote:If Ruskis are able to spot weapons in forests and their movement in a month of coming to Syria, what were the Americans doing all this while?

Looking the other way. Deliberately.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 07 Oct 2015 09:15

Thats the SOP by Jihadis , when they have no where to run they hide inside the Mosque to inflame religious sentiments

IS terrorists may blast mosques in Syria to blame Russia — Defense Ministry

http://tass.ru/en/defense/826752

"We don’t rule out that terrorists may be preparing provocations in this and other settlements — to blast mosques and then demonstrate fake photo and video materials with accusations against Russian aircraft on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic," the general said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov told reporters that Islamic State gunmen were hiding from Russian airstrikes in mosques. He explained that terrorists knew very well that Russia would "on no condition strike at not military targets".

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 07 Oct 2015 09:24

Russia, US work on agreement to coordinate air operations in Syria – Moscow

https://www.rt.com/news/317827-syria-ru ... irstrikes/

“The Russian Defense Ministry has responded to the Pentagon’s request and promptly considered the American proposal on coordination of actions in the framework of the fight against the terror group ISIS,” Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said, as quoted by TASS.

He added that “in general, these proposals could be accepted for implementation.”

The General Staff “in principle” supports the agreement proposed by US colleagues, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said on Tuesday.

“Unfortunately, the US is reducing our coordination only to its technical aspects – that is between our pilots during their missions,” he said, following a meeting with Defense press attachés from several countries including the US.

Antonov said that a video conference between the US and Russian defense ministries had taken place on October 1 to discuss the “safe use of air forces” in Syria. A second is planned for the next few days.

“But it would be better if our colleagues came to us and we discussed all the problems eye to eye here, at the Defense Ministry headquarters,” Antonov said, adding that he hopes that during the second conference the Pentagon will comment on Russia’s proposals.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 07 Oct 2015 10:23

in contrast NATO mercilessly bombed Serbian civil infrastructure like power stations and water pumping plants for weeks under the fig leaf they would be supporting the war effort.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 07 Oct 2015 10:38

Singha wrote:in contrast NATO mercilessly bombed Serbian civil infrastructure like power stations and water pumping plants for weeks under the fig leaf they would be supporting the war effort.

Even a hospital where many died it was a Children Hospital if I remember was a famous incident , there was a huge hue and cry then , Not to mention Chinese Embassy

Not to mentioned the lakhs of civilian that died in Iraq operation.........Opps Co-lateral damage by Black Water , there are many many incident of Civilian Bombing by NATO that MSM conveniently tries to hide , unless some other news agency like AL Jazeera or RT tried shows it , Not to mention the latest Hospital Bombing in Afghanistan

I dont see any Western MSM showing the news Clip of Terrorist trying to move their Vehicals from Jungle to near Mosque , BBC and CNN is happy to be NATO Mouth piece and paste press briefing

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 07 Oct 2015 11:03

Mi-24 Guarding the Russian Bases RT Video report

https://www.rt.com/news/317841-latakia- ... -gunboats/

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 07 Oct 2015 11:54

US: Russia Building 'Arc Of Steel' From Arctic To Med

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 07 Oct 2015 12:15

The Saudis and their creation,ISIL,was meant to acquire the territory of Iraq and Syria ,to be run by the Wahaabis as a parallel Islamic state along with the KSA.This state would hold the oil wealth of Iraq and Syria and allow pipelines of Saudi/Gulfie oil and gas (Qatari) to the Meditt for Europe who could then show Russia the upturned finger. The Saudis would then have the best of both worlds.Their kingdom intact and their global goal of an Islamic Wahaabi caliphate on someone else's territory,which would also block the Iranians from their access to the Meditt ,Lebanon and the Hiz.The Saudi threats in person to Putin was the last straw.Unlike the Saud,who can only hide behind an ally's back,who will do the shooting for them,Putin's Russia (unlike the Brits)fires first and talks later.

Just look at the latest attack in Yemen on a hotel where the "pres" supported by the Saudis,escaped,but dozens were killed in the RPG attack. 70+ UAE soldiers have now died in the Yemen and more will in the future. One feels that the Saudis have bitten off more than they can chew.However,the drop in oil proces and the cost of the Saudi's waaring has meant gloom for the Indian ME diaspora.Salaries have been cut in half in Saudi A."Take it or leave" is the refrain.I was told of one GM who is leaving ,rejoining his old blue chip co in India who are taking him back.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 07 Oct 2015 12:19

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/10 ... picks=true

it seems qadhafi's son offered a peace talks just before amirka started airstrikes, but hillary threw it out and did not let him in

under over of hooman rights another pre-meditated attack. declaring NFZ over Syria as a precursor to bombing Assad was probably imminent, thats why I think Rus moved in fast.

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 07 Oct 2015 12:20

What is UAE national population, some 7 lacs excluding all expats, loosing 70 people out 3.5 lac men is a body blow.

Deans · Post by **Deans** » 07 Oct 2015 12:43

The US and NATO have consistently underestimated Russian capabilities and that seems to the the underlying cause of the angst about Russian intervention in the Western Media.
The Russian army's performance in Georgia '08, was far better than in the 2nd Chechen war (the Georgians and their patrons did not expect the Russian units in the Caucasus to intervene at the speed they did).

The Russian intervention in Crimea was conducted with a level of speed and surprise that was far superior to Georgia (which again, NATO did not expect). The simultaneous seizure of multiple airfields and ports ( the Ukie aircraft incl. 49 Mig 29's captured on the ground could have ended the invasion before it started), without a single casualty, was a huge achievement. Nor did NATO expect that the Russian (unofficial) involvement in Eastern Ukraine would display the level of skill that would enable the Russians to have plausible deniability and yet meet their objectives. Operating in East Ukraine required a high level of leadership and initiative from Junior officers and NCO's and small units operating independently, neither of which had hitherto been part of Soviet/ Russian army doctrine.

In Syria, Russia has for the first time conducted combat operations, with a presence on the ground, in a country it does not border, surrounded by hostile neighbours, and with NATO having no inkling of Russian intentions.

I believe the real learning for other countries including India, is how Russia has been able to completely transform its armed forces in barely a decade.