Russia sends troops to Syria

[Fanatical Meat]

I know this will become and election football to kick around. I fail to see how this is bad news. Nobody wants to be in Syria, Russians aren't going to tolerate ISIS.
I know Assad is an evil bastard and Russia is there to prop him up
I know Syria won't be a free place afterward but its not free now
I know Russia's interests don't involve helping refugee's
I don't see an immediate downside to this. Someone educate me please.

 

[realibrad]

Seems like you have it. I would only add that Syria at this point has become a proxy battle ground, so clearing out the people there would only likely move the conflict.

 

[kage69]

Russia sent advisers, light armor and crews over there a few months ago, this is just them acknowledging it because they're about to ramp it up big time with their own airbase. Word is Russian units have already seen action against anti-Assad elements (they snuffed out an FSA push with a bunch of fighting vehicles) but that as soon as the new base is ready for business we're going to see a Vietnam-style buildup take place.

Putin thinks there is no way to avoid a split up of Syria at this point, so he's making sure "Alawistan" continues to serve Russian interests. Refugees? Yeah, Putin couldn't care less about the displaced, even if they're displaced due to his agenda. The purge of Western food items from Russian markets struck me as a particularly good view into just what an asshole the guy is. From Yemen to Syria, millions of civilians are an inch away from starving (or will be soon) and here's Putin more interested in cutting video clips of French cheese and American meats getting flattened by bulldozers than just donating it and reaping a huge PR victory.

 

[KMFJD]

should have sent more troops

 

[cabri]

Russia helps Syria - a proxie
The US is against Assad.

So you have a potential conflict trigger being setup with US led coalition forces fighting Russian advisers.

Vietnam political lines being drawn again.

 

[Bock]

Fuck it, that entire place is a disaster. If anything, the US should push for widely available oil alternatives instead of wasting more money.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Russia helps Syria - a proxie
The US is against Assad.

So you have a potential conflict trigger being setup with US led coalition forces fighting Russian advisers.

Vietnam political lines being drawn again.

Alright there is a potential risk.

I guess I fail to see why Russia taking the knives in the back is what we should be doing.

 

[maddogchen]

it will be funny to see Russian fighters sharing air space with American ones. Both there bombing Syria.

 

[Bock]

I know this will become and election football to kick around. I fail to see how this is bad news. Nobody wants to be in Syria, Russians aren't going to tolerate ISIS.
I know Assad is an evil bastard and Russia is there to prop him up
I know Syria won't be a free place afterward but its not free now
I know Russia's interests don't involve helping refugee's
I don't see an immediate downside to this. Someone educate me please.

The US at this point would rather prop up Assad than let ISIS win. We can't backtrack on foreign policy so
The obvious downside is Russian influence in the ME. :ninja:
Also, the Russians may not be into it for the long haul & generally don't give a shit about the people. That's a fantastic breeding ground for a terror state. Their last incursion into Afghanistan gave us the taliban.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

it will be funny to see Russian fighters sharing air space with American ones. Both there bombing Syria.

Add a few French and Iranian its a long shot but it could happen.

 

[KMFJD]

Please send more troops in, the west can't be having all the fun in the middle east

 

[Pocatello]

I'm predicting American TOW missiles supplying by the CIA to the Syrian rebels light up Russian troops in their APC.

 

[Bock]

I'm predicting American TOW missiles supplying by the CIA to the Syrian rebels light up Russian troops in their APC.

I believe even that program is on hold. ISIS gets hands on TOW & uses them in Iraq.

 

[Jaskalas]

News has it Assad's forces remain in only of a small part of Syria, with ISIS advancing on Damascus itself. Apparently Russia is moving in to prevent what is an imminent fall of Syria.

 

[Genx87]

Russia helps Syria - a proxie
The US is against Assad.

So you have a potential conflict trigger being setup with US led coalition forces fighting Russian advisers.

Vietnam political lines being drawn again.

Our 60 men trained at a cost of millions isnt a coalition.

 

[Genx87]

I'm predicting American TOW missiles supplying by the CIA to the Syrian rebels light up Russian troops in their APC.

I predict whatever munitions we send end up in ISIS hands.

 

[kage69]

Fuck it, that entire place is a disaster. If anything, the US should push for widely available oil alternatives instead of wasting more money.

I'm not disagreeing with any of that really, but we do have reasons for being there that aren't based on Ye Olde A'bubblin Crude. If America were to suddenly just say "Fuck you fuck you fuck you... you're cool, fuck you I'm out!" well I can pretty much guarantee you that the current disaster won't improve if we just create the mother of all power vacuums.

Goodbye nuclear treaties, goodbye trade, hello renewed genocide, hello more expansionism...you get the idea.

 

[Omar F1]

After four-years of the conflict and daily mass-murder of Bashar to the Syrians, it became clearly that it was a US vs Russia situation from the start. While of course the US allies kept funneling money and arms onto the fire.


Looks like Russia won't abandon that airbase at all costs, and clearly no visible light at the end of the dark tunnel.
Stalin remnants.

 

[werepossum]

Our 60 men trained at a cost of millions isnt a coalition.

And it's not so much the US leading as the US occasionally opening a door and throwing a couple guys through.

 

[NoStateofMind]

For some more info listen to Scott Horton. He's on Chris Cantwell right now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=228&v=ZSAHZ46cjwA - Live feed

 

[kage69]

And it's not so much the US leading as the US occasionally opening a door and throwing a couple guys through.

...to get fucked by Erdogan, Day 1 in theater.



Where the hell is a military coup when you need one Turkey?

 

[Fanatical Meat]

For some more info listen to Scott Horton. He's on Chris Cantwell right now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=228&v=ZSAHZ46cjwA - Live feed

75 minutes could you please post the cliff notes version?

 

[werepossum]

...to get fucked by Erdogan, Day 1 in theater.

Where the hell is a military coup when you need one Turkey?

Agreed. Unfortunately the Salafists got tired of being thrown out, so they wised up and infiltrated the military before taking power this time.

EDIT: I laughed when Hillary called Assad a reformer, but I quite agree that he is the least repulsive scenario for Syria that stands a snowball's chance in Hell. No way overthrowing him makes things better for us or anyone we would like.

 

[NoStateofMind]

75 minutes could you please post the cliff notes version?

You mean after its over? Its going live right now and available by download for podcasts. I would suggest Scott Horton's podcasts as his focus is foreign policy. Chris is a bit radical for some and may not know much about the foreign intervention.

 

[Sonikku]

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