[ralfy]

That is a BS notion based on nothing. The only Empire out there is actively building NATO bases on Russia's borders and deploying missile systems aimed at giving it the nuclear first strike option. I don't see Russia building bases around America's borders and engaging in coup engineering in Mexico or Central America. Russia is doing the right thing defending Syria from some insane ethnic cleansing organized by Washington's minions. Washington doesn't like Assad, well, tough shit. Nobody gave America the right to decide what is best for Syria, Ukraine or any other location it targets with its campaigns of hate and regime change.

The Russia cannot do the same as the U.S. because it was part of a union that fell apart more than two decades ago. That's why it has been busy trying to control surrounding areas that were part of the union, such as Georgia. Given that, it is highly unlikely that it is operating in Syria purely out of compassion.

[ralfy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hNOC_kI3jVM

As usual the NATO and fellow traveler media spreads lies. Putin made no admission of any involvement in Syria aside from contracts signed 5 to 7 years ago. BTW, back then this is the sort of coverage we had of Syria:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=p ... pN8zp3oHc8

Once Washington decides on a regime change operation, the "free" media snaps to attention and starts to spread lies and smear to justify Washington's imperial meddling.

Indeed. In 2012, Russia argued that military aid was not meant to counter the rebels or to support a civil war:

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/russia- ... a-1.717955

Now, it is claiming the opposite:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/08/world ... syria.html

Given that, it is highly likely that Syria is being used by the two military powers and others as a testing ground for arms shipments, covert activity, etc.

[Plantagenet]

I wonder why Obama is objecting to Russia providing aid to Assad, but is silent about Iran providing aid to Assad.

If its bad for Russia to do it, shouldn't it also be bad for Iran to do it?

[SeaGypsy]

Iran is Shia, the Alawites are Shia, Saudi & IS are Sunni. Russia is neither.

[Sixstrings]

I wonder why Obama is objecting to Russia providing aid to Assad, but is silent about Iran providing aid to Assad.

If its bad for Russia to do it, shouldn't it also be bad for Iran to do it?

I know, right?

Obama and John Kerry don't tell the American people anything, at all, whatsover, about what exactly our policy is, in the middle east.

Obama admin doesn't tell congress anything.

None of it makes any sense.

The best everyone could figure out, finally, was that it looked like O has the US a bit allied with Iran. Maybe a play toward neutral in the ME. And it certainly hurt relations with Israel, and Saudi Arabia, Jordan and all the sunni states.

But okay, whatever, here ya go Iran here's 165 billion dollars, it's a plan anyhow.

But then..

Obama admin somehow acts suprised that Russia is selling Iran s300 missiles. Like wtf, didn't everybody know this? It's all out there, in the press, everybody knew this was coming 6 months and a year ago so how can they be surprised by it now. It boggles the mind.

And now -- suddenly, Obama admin has a problem with Russia and Iran teaming up to fight in the middle east -- but this is the very situation the Obama admin set up, so wtf.

w - t - f.

Makes no sense at all.

[Keith_McClary]

Iran is Shia, the Alawites are Shia, Saudi & IS are Sunni. Russia is neither.

Yah, they're Christians.



The Russian priests and Athur Chilingarov (middle), the Russian President's Special Representative for International Cooperation in the Arctic and Antarctic, at the official opening ceremony of the "SP-2015" science project and blessing at Barneo.

[dissident]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hNOC_kI3jVM

As usual the NATO and fellow traveler media spreads lies. Putin made no admission of any involvement in Syria aside from contracts signed 5 to 7 years ago. BTW, back then this is the sort of coverage we had of Syria:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=p ... pN8zp3oHc8

Once Washington decides on a regime change operation, the "free" media snaps to attention and starts to spread lies and smear to justify Washington's imperial meddling.

Indeed. In 2012, Russia argued that military aid was not meant to counter the rebels or to support a civil war:

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/russia- ... a-1.717955

Now, it is claiming the opposite:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/08/world ... syria.html

Given that, it is highly likely that Syria is being used by the two military powers and others as a testing ground for arms shipments, covert activity, etc.

ISIS is no longer a rebellion against Assad. It is an attempt to establish a Salafi caliphate spanning Syria and Iraq. Russia's priorities can change just like those of squeaky clean Uncle Sam. And all this ME mess is far from Uncle Sam's backyard but right on Russia's doorstep. For example, the heroin from Afghanistan, the production of which surged after the US invasion in the wake of 9/11 is a serious problem for Russia. America expended quite a deal of resources trying to suppress Columbian cocaine. Russia has every right to "meddle" in the ME whereas the US pretexts for meddling are purely imperial.

[AgentR11]

Just a note; while it *was* important to hold that port in Syria for Russia before Crimea... that is no longer so. There's really not that much there as far as structure. At best its now a place to refuel and buy provisions without having to transit back to the Black Sea; hardly a difficult challenge in the Med; regardless of sanctions.

Its gone from strategically important to moderate convenience.

If anything, I suspect Russia will provide enough support to Assad to keep him around and causing us annoyance for a good long while. Remember the axiom, spend a ruble to make us spend a grand. That is the sum total of their game. So Cog won't get his fantasy of a large Russian army division marching to their deaths; instead, Assad's troops will all have nice manpads, maybe a good chunk of retiring armor and artillery and plenty of deprecated ammo. Just the presence of that stuff in theater drives our costs through the roof; can't fly low, can't fly slow, have to use high end gear, expensive munitions...

Cost Cost Cost.

Keep your eye on the ball, the Russian's game has NOT changed in the last year; and it would be oh so easy for us to defeat ourselves in the same manner the Soviets defeated themselves.

[zoidberg]

To make sense of what's going on just remember Assad blocked gas pipelines to export natural gas to Europe to support Russia's market share. Chaos or Assad victory does this. Assads defeat let's it go through. Assad has zero chance of regaining all of Syria, so therefore Russia hopes to maintain chaos to keep Assad in business until something changes the pipeline calculus. Like Europe loses its purchasing power for instance.

[dissident]

Just a note; while it *was* important to hold that port in Syria for Russia before Crimea... that is no longer so. There's really not that much there as far as structure. At best its now a place to refuel and buy provisions without having to transit back to the Black Sea; hardly a difficult challenge in the Med; regardless of sanctions.

Its gone from strategically important to moderate convenience.

If anything, I suspect Russia will provide enough support to Assad to keep him around and causing us annoyance for a good long while. Remember the axiom, spend a ruble to make us spend a grand. That is the sum total of their game. So Cog won't get his fantasy of a large Russian army division marching to their deaths; instead, Assad's troops will all have nice manpads, maybe a good chunk of retiring armor and artillery and plenty of deprecated ammo. Just the presence of that stuff in theater drives our costs through the roof; can't fly low, can't fly slow, have to use high end gear, expensive munitions...

Cost Cost Cost.

Keep your eye on the ball, the Russian's game has NOT changed in the last year; and it would be oh so easy for us to defeat ourselves in the same manner the Soviets defeated themselves.

Get off it. NATO is not fighting anyone in Syria directly. Least of all ISIS. ISIS is doing all the heavy lifting against Syria's legitimate government (NATO does not have the God given right to recognize and unrecognize governments on a whim). Russia needs to act against ISIS since it spent 1996 to basically now fighting Salafi jihadis in the North Caucuses inside its own territory. ISIS will be the next round of the jihadi infestation spreading its spores into Russia. America is spooging itself at the prospect of Russia wasting its blood and treasure fighting this vermin. America is a de facto ally of ISIS.

[ralfy]

ISIS is no longer a rebellion against Assad. It is an attempt to establish a Salafi caliphate spanning Syria and Iraq. Russia's priorities can change just like those of squeaky clean Uncle Sam. And all this ME mess is far from Uncle Sam's backyard but right on Russia's doorstep. For example, the heroin from Afghanistan, the production of which surged after the US invasion in the wake of 9/11 is a serious problem for Russia. America expended quite a deal of resources trying to suppress Columbian cocaine. Russia has every right to "meddle" in the ME whereas the US pretexts for meddling are purely imperial.

The Middle East is not "right on Russia's doorstep."

[ralfy]

Get off it. NATO is not fighting anyone in Syria directly. Least of all ISIS. ISIS is doing all the heavy lifting against Syria's legitimate government (NATO does not have the God given right to recognize and unrecognize governments on a whim). Russia needs to act against ISIS since it spent 1996 to basically now fighting Salafi jihadis in the North Caucuses inside its own territory. ISIS will be the next round of the jihadi infestation spreading its spores into Russia. America is spooging itself at the prospect of Russia wasting its blood and treasure fighting this vermin. America is a de facto ally of ISIS.

Russia acts based on its own interests, just like the U.S. Both are part of military powers that have been using various groups and leaders in weaker countries as pawns for decades.

[Sixstrings]

Bulgaria closes its airspace:

U.S. Moves to Block Russian Military Buildup in Syria

WASHINGTON — The United States on Tuesday moved to head off preparations for a suspected Russian military buildup in Syria as Bulgaria agreed to an appeal from the Obama administration to shut its airspace to Russian transport planes. The planes’ destination was the Syrian port city of Latakia.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/09/world/europe/us-moves-to-block-russian-military-buildup-in-syria.html

[Kristen]

Russia's economy is tanking because of oil prices so my guess is they're just trying to make a buck. They are one of the top five arms dealers of the world after all.

[dissident]

Russia's economy is tanking because of oil prices so my guess is they're just trying to make a buck. They are one of the top five arms dealers of the world after all.

More of those famous NATO "facts" spread by the 100% truth factory of the NATO MSM.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/ ... 4120150703

Some "tanking". Here is what "tanking" looks like:

http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-ukra ... 015-2015-5

Forecast for Ukraine, a 15% GDP drop in 2015 after a 7% GDP drop in 2014 (http://www.ft.com/fastft/384171). That is Great Depression tanking. But all I hear from the NATO MSM is its inane fantasy projection on Russia.

[Plantagenet]

WASHINGTON — The United States on Tuesday moved to head off preparations for a suspected Russian military buildup in Syria as Bulgaria agreed to an appeal from the Obama administration to shut its airspace to Russian transport planes.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/09/world/europe/us-moves-to-block-russian-military-buildup-in-syria.html

Does the Obama administration really think that Bulgaria is going to deploy its mighty air force and prevent Russian transport airplanes from flying over on the way to Syria?

The Obama White House is becoming more and more delusional.


Obama is counting on the Bulgarians to stop Russian transport planes from flying to Syria.

[Tanada]

ISIS is no longer a rebellion against Assad. It is an attempt to establish a Salafi caliphate spanning Syria and Iraq. Russia's priorities can change just like those of squeaky clean Uncle Sam. And all this ME mess is far from Uncle Sam's backyard but right on Russia's doorstep. For example, the heroin from Afghanistan, the production of which surged after the US invasion in the wake of 9/11 is a serious problem for Russia. America expended quite a deal of resources trying to suppress Columbian cocaine. Russia has every right to "meddle" in the ME whereas the US pretexts for meddling are purely imperial.

The Middle East is not "right on Russia's doorstep."

While the land border between Russia and Iran is much more troublesome than it was before the break up of the USSR the water border of the Caspian Sea is as always still in existence. Plans have been put forward quite a few times to tie the Iranian Natural Gas network into the Russian network, in effect selling the gas to Russia that then in turn sells it to either Europe or East Asia depending on need. The rest of the world is not nearly as simple and backwards as so many try and make it seem.

[radon1]

Does the Obama administration really think that Bulgaria is going to deploy its mighty air force and prevent Russian transport airplanes from flying over on the way to Syria?

Russian transport airplanes flying over a NATO country without permission? Or, indeed, over any other country.

Strange, though, that they need Bulgaria, seems like a weird route selection.

[Sixstrings]

Russian transport airplanes flying over a NATO country without permission? Or, indeed, over any other country.

Strange, though, that they need Bulgaria, seems like a weird route selection.

Bulgaria, then through Greece, is a safer and shorter route.

I had CNN on, they're saying that Russia is now using an alternate route. Flying over the caspian sea and then through Iran and will have to fly over Iraq, to Syria.

[Sixstrings]

Who are these Russian fighters posting pics of themselves in Syria?



http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-34188569

Exclusive: Russian troops join combat in Syria - sources


http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/exclusive---russian-troops-join-combat-in-syria--sources/41651212

U.S. finds more signs of Russia setting up Syria base
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-marines-syria-airfield-latakia-us-officials/

The US just called out Putin over ISIS as Russian soldiers join the fight in Syria

Putin has said that Russia wants to "create some kind of an international coalition to fight terrorism and extremism."

The US State Department isn't buying it.

"Russia is not a member of the coalition against ISIL, and what we’ve said is that their continued support to the Assad regime has actually fostered the growth of ISIL inside Syria and made the situation worse,” State Department spokesman John Kirby said on Wednesday

“If they want to be helpful against ISIL, the way to do it is to stop arming and assisting and supporting Bashar al-Assad.”


http://www.businessinsider.com/us-russia-and-troops-in-syria-2015-9

BREMMER: Putin is serious about entering Syria — and not to go after ISIS

Western actions that bolster rebel forces in the north — where they are fighting the regime in Syria's largest city, Aleppo, and ISIS in the countryside — and weaken Assad further could contribute to a settlement to end the war. This is where Putin becomes worried.

"If the West succeeds in turning the tide of the war while Assad is vulnerable, the political outcomes in Syria are more likely to be dictated by the US," Bremmer said. "Which means Putin needs to bolster Assad now."

And Russia seems to be doing just that: Russian military experts in Syria are inspecting and enlarging air bases. Others are setting up housing units for up to 1,000 personnel. Advisers are meeting with Iranian and Syrian counterparts in the capital. Russian drones and fighter planes are surveilling non-ISIS rebels in the country's north. And Russian armored personnel carriers with Russian-speaking troops are involved in fighting.
http://www.businessinsider.com/putin-syria-russia-assad-obama-2015-9

That article makes it sound like Russia isn't fighting ISIS, but rather the moderate rebels in the north.