Russia sends troops to Syria

[Fanatical Meat]

Wouldn't it be cool if like... we stayed out of it and let Assad/ISIS/Putin all have at it by themselves.

Exactly my point. There is no reasonable outcome that is good for the US so why not sit this one out?

I heard Chris Christie saying we're leading from behind in Syria and losing. Idiot.

 

[MongGrel]

I thought Russia did this months ago ?

 

[theeedude]

I don't understand US strategy in Syria. Seems like wishful thinking that some nice "moderate" guys will show up and those nice guys are going to be tough enough to beat both Assad and ISIS. Seems like we didn't learn anything from Iraq, that removing a mean dictator hoping someone nicer will emerge is a dumb move. Nice guys finish dead in that region, and whoever survives the chaos is going to be worse than where you started. Russia at least has a strategy based in reality. Whether it actually needs Syria, and what it's geopolitical interest in the Middle East is another question.

 

[Pocatello]

I don't understand US strategy in Syria. Seems like wishful thinking that some nice "moderate" guys will show up and those nice guys are going to be tough enough to beat both Assad and ISIS. Seems like we didn't learn anything from Iraq, that removing a mean dictator hoping someone nicer will emerge is a dumb move. Nice guys finish dead in that region, and whoever survives the chaos is going to be worse than where you started. Russia at least has a strategy based in reality. Whether it actually needs Syria, and what it's geopolitical interest in the Middle East is another question.

If Putin thinks he can prop up the Assad regime, he's more delusional than I thought. All the Russians will do is adding more bodies to the carnage and prolonging the conflict. The Russian military will buy Assad some reprieve, just like the Hezbollah militia, at first. But I'm suspecting Saudi Arabia and the other Sunni Arabs won't be standing by. More weapons will be going into the area to supply the Sunni rebels, not less. The longer the war lasts, the moderates who want peace will be gone, only the most ardent, radicalized madmen will remain.

 

[davmat787]

Whether it actually needs Syria, and what it's geopolitical interest in the Middle East is another question.

Russia does indeed need Syria. Russia's only naval base outside former USSR territory is in Syria, and they are building a base there right now. Historically Syria has been an important partner to Russia, and has bought a lot of military hardware over the decades from them.



The increasing Russian military build up all but insures Assad's dictatorship remains intact. There is no way the U.S. opposes the Russian presence in any form other than diplomatically, and if Russia is the key to the defeat of ISIS, world opinion will support the status quo as well.



Time to gtfo more than ever. Have fun Putin.

 

[MongGrel]

I don't understand US strategy in Syria. Seems like wishful thinking that some nice "moderate" guys will show up and those nice guys are going to be tough enough to beat both Assad and ISIS. Seems like we didn't learn anything from Iraq, that removing a mean dictator hoping someone nicer will emerge is a dumb move. Nice guys finish dead in that region, and whoever survives the chaos is going to be worse than where you started. Russia at least has a strategy based in reality. Whether it actually needs Syria, and what it's geopolitical interest in the Middle East is another question.

US strategy lately seems to be stop putting "boots on the ground" in idiotic situations.

"Thanks Obama"

()🙂

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

US strategy lately seems to be stop putting "boots on the ground" in idiotic situations.

"Thanks Obama"

()🙂

Don't kid yourself. If Iraq was in any real danger of being overtaken by ISIS Obama would have boots on the ground in a second.

Syria is Russia's baby and Russia has a vested interest in keeping Syria whole. They don't want boots on the ground to stop ISIS any more than the US does in Iraq, but they will put them there if necessary, and it has now become necessary.

You can also be sure that, though neither country would ever admit it, there are backdoor negotiations currently ongoing between the US and Russia to put the squeeze ISIS since both have a vested interest in their respective investments in the ME.

In 5 years, ISIS/ISIL will have been a blip on the ME radar.

 

[Genx87]

If Putin thinks he can prop up the Assad regime, he's more delusional than I thought. All the Russians will do is adding more bodies to the carnage and prolonging the conflict. The Russian military will buy Assad some reprieve, just like the Hezbollah militia, at first. But I'm suspecting Saudi Arabia and the other Sunni Arabs won't be standing by. More weapons will be going into the area to supply the Sunni rebels, not less. The longer the war lasts, the moderates who want peace will be gone, only the most ardent, radicalized madmen will remain.

Propping up the Assad regime is the least shitty outcome in this conflict. Our idea that collapsing the regime and anybody but ISIS comes to power is some serious delusion. Air Force One has to be making daily runs to CO for tons of weeds for this policy to make any sense.

But we are too effing stubborn or stupid to back off and let Syrias regime take care of their own problem.

 

[Genx87]

Don't kid yourself. If Iraq was in any real danger of being overtaken by ISIS Obama would have boots on the ground in a second.

Syria is Russia's baby and Russia has a vested interest in keeping Syria whole. They don't want boots on the ground to stop ISIS any more than the US does in Iraq, but they will put them there if necessary, and it has now become necessary.

You can also be sure that, though neither country would ever admit it, there are backdoor negotiations currently ongoing between the US and Russia to put the squeeze ISIS since both have a vested interest in their respective investments in the ME.

In 5 years, ISIS/ISIL will have been a blip on the ME radar.

We already have boots on the ground in Iraq. First it was just a few spotters\advisors. Now it is numbering into a few thousand.

 

[John Connor]

Yeah... I read about this bull shit. Personally I would take a few B2's over their and bomb the air strips. Or threaten to move missiles back into Poland. :twisted:

 

[John Connor]

Don't kid yourself. If Iraq was in any real danger of being overtaken by ISIS Obama would have boots on the ground in a second.

Stay on the fairway...

 

[werepossum]

I don't understand US strategy in Syria. Seems like wishful thinking that some nice "moderate" guys will show up and those nice guys are going to be tough enough to beat both Assad and ISIS. Seems like we didn't learn anything from Iraq, that removing a mean dictator hoping someone nicer will emerge is a dumb move. Nice guys finish dead in that region, and whoever survives the chaos is going to be worse than where you started. Russia at least has a strategy based in reality. Whether it actually needs Syria, and what it's geopolitical interest in the Middle East is another question.

No one understands US strategy in the Middle East, least of all those actually running it. Even when it nominally works, such as making a democracy in Iraq, it soons goes so horribly and predictably wrong that one can't help but wonder what was the real strategy. One would have to go back at least before Carter to find any sensible US strategy in the Middle East.

Russia does indeed need Syria. Russia's only naval base outside former USSR territory is in Syria, and they are building a base there right now. Historically Syria has been an important partner to Russia, and has bought a lot of military hardware over the decades from them.

The increasing Russian military build up all but insures Assad's dictatorship remains intact. There is no way the U.S. opposes the Russian presence in any form other than diplomatically, and if Russia is the key to the defeat of ISIS, world opinion will support the status quo as well.

Time to gtfo more than ever. Have fun Putin.

I agree 100%. And the best thing is, Putin can do more in fighting ISIS than could any Western nation.

Propping up the Assad regime is the least shitty outcome in this conflict. Our idea that collapsing the regime and anybody but ISIS comes to power is some serious delusion. Air Force One has to be making daily runs to CO for tons of weeds for this policy to make any sense.

But we are too effing stubborn or stupid to back off and let Syrias regime take care of their own problem.

Agreed. I really hope Obama is secretly aiding Assad, with intel at the least. He is one of the biggest state sponsors of terrorism and while I agree his regime is the least shitty practical alternative for us, I'd prefer we at least not volunteer to be his juiciest target.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

We already have boots on the ground in Iraq. First it was just a few spotters\advisors. Now it is numbering into a few thousand.

They are primarily advisors, trainers, and support personnel. Afaik there are no US troops actively participating in battles on the ground. There are airmen flying bombing missions but even that will change eventually since we are currently training Iraqis to fly F-16s an they have begun to fly their own missions.

Stay on the fairway...

Will do.

And you stay in school. A high school diploma is important.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Yeah... I read about this bull shit. Personally I would take a few B2's over their and bomb the air strips. Or threaten to move missiles back into Poland. :twisted:

What would it accomplish? Assuming you don't want ISIS to take over Syria

 

[Ventanni]

I'm no fool when it comes to what Russia is really doing here (protecting their strategic naval base), but it's nice to read that a world power is finally handling the Syrian Civil War with some actual common sense.

Let us not be mistaken, ISIS is the most powerful armed group fighting against the Assad regime, and is much more powerful than any armed rebel group. When the Assad regime falls, and they surely will given time without outside intervention, they will turn on these secondary rebel groups just as they have all the others in their path and destroy them as well. And since the entire Alawite population is Shiite, the world (namely Europe) will have a massive civilian exodus on its hands fleeing the slaughter, because ISIS will not spare a single one of them.

I don't mean to sound like an overly passionate nutbag about this, but I feel that the US and our European partners are not fully considering the ramifications of the desires that our allies, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, want in the region. I'm sorry, but our allies' stances are too tainted with sectarian intolerance to be taken seriously in this case. ISIS *will* slaughter all of the Alawites. If we don't start acting on our own best interests for a change, we're going to have a whole lot of blood and migrants on our hands.

 

[Pneumothorax]

Go Russia. The ME was a much better place (for us) when Mubarak, Gaddafi, Assad, and Saddam all had iron grips on their dictatorships. You can force dictatorships on these people and be successful, but forcing democracy on them will always lead to another dictatorship replacing it down the road. (at the same time being worse than the one you had before)

 

[John Connor]

What would it accomplish? Assuming you don't want ISIS to take over Syria

For one, all Russia is doing is propping up the Assad regime by air power.

Obozo cowered when Russia apparently brokered a deal when that so-called "red line" was drawn. Now Russia has their dirty mitts over there.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

For one, all Russia is doing is propping up the Assad regime by air power.

Obozo cowered when Russia apparently brokered a deal when that so-called "red line" was drawn. Now Russia has their dirty mitts over there.

What's your proposal get US troops in Syria or arm the very few we could trust and hope they are successful and don't forfeit their weapons to ISIS or do we accept ISIS will take over?

 

[John Connor]

Well, common sense says you can't let ISIS take over. It's a big damn mess of epic proportions. So I would like to take my call a general cheat. LOL

 

[Doc Savage Fan]

I personally don't want to see anymore of our blood spilled in Iraq. The opportunity to nip them in the bud with limited casualties has long passed.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

I personally don't want to see anymore of our blood spilled in Iraq. The opportunity to nip them in the bud with limited casualties has long passed.

This is my point. Obama's red line comment was dumb but he is doing what was one of his main platforms no more sending troops into silly situations

 

[John Connor]

Personally, if I were President I would consult with my advisers, Pentagon, CIA, etc and build a coalition with countries like Saudi Arabia, Jordan and quit a few others. I would terminate Assad and let people who want peace create a new government. Unlike Iraq, troop presence must precisest. I would also build a military base in Iraq. We need a foot hold in the middle east this post 9/11. This shit isn't improving folks and we can't afford to have a lazy faire attitude with the threat of a caliphate.

In order to be a good leader some toes have to be stepped on and I know many here just got their toes stepped on and will be quoting me by saying, "look at Iraq" and crap. Iraq was a failure because Obozo made it a damn failure. Once you commit to something you stay the course. Now the vacuum was filled with ISIS. Same for Afghanistan.

I really don't have all the Intel. etc that a Commander In Chief has. But based on Obozo's past and now with the altering Intel reports from some 50 annalist's my money is on the fact this guy (The President) has very little appetite for war and lacks leadership on the global stage.

"The bottom line is: Our allies can't trust us, our enemies don't fear us- and you can't blame that on Bush." - Lt Col. Ralph Peters

 

[brycejones]

quit, preciest, obozo, annalist's, Foreign policy advice from a Lt Col.

Yep, another John Conner post.

 

[K1052]

Personally, if I were President I would consult with my advisers, Pentagon, CIA, etc and build a coalition with countries like Saudi Arabia, Jordan and quit a few others. I would terminate Assad and let people who want peace create a new government. Unlike Iraq, troop presence must precisest. I would also build a military base in Iraq. We need a foot hold in the middle east this post 9/11. This shit isn't improving folks and we can't afford to have a lazy faire attitude with the threat of a caliphate.

In order to be a good leader some toes have to be stepped on and I know many here just got their toes stepped on and will be quoting me by saying, "look at Iraq" and crap. Iraq was a failure because Obozo made it a damn failure. Once you commit to something you stay the course. Now the vacuum was filled with ISIS. Same for Afghanistan.

I really don't have all the Intel. etc that a Commander In Chief has. But based on Obozo's past and now with the altering Intel reports from some 50 annalist's my money is on the fact this guy (The President) has very little appetite for war and lacks leadership on the global stage.

"The bottom line is: Our allies can't trust us, our enemies don't fear us- and you can't blame that on Bush." - Lt Col. Ralph Peters

Or we could not take the suggestions of a, possibly deranged, person with a sub high school level command of the English language.

Yes…that's probably a good idea.

 

[John Connor]

"Corepsman."

If you can't argue my points but rather belittle me with nonsensical BS like spelling typos, then frankly you lost!