Is Syria the new Cuba for Russia and US tension?

2015-09-12T19:16:57-04:00

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/253474-russia-warns-of-unintended-incidents-if-us-doesnt-cooperate-on

Russia warns of ‘unintended incidents’ if US doesn’t cooperate on Syria

U.S. officials believe around 200 Russian naval infantry are stationed at an airfield near Latakia.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2015 7:18 PM

2015-09-12T19:18:33-04:00

I don't think so. Russians wanted to put nukes right beside our front door with Cuba. I think we could work with Russia in Syria to help stabilize the situation there, or get the heck out of their way.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2015 7:41 PM

2015-09-12T19:41:51-04:00

It's a very valid concern in my opinion. First, Al Assad is Russia's Saddam Hussein. Just as sadistic, just as evil, the only difference is he's their man and Saddam was our man. The problem is that while Saddam made the US extremely uncomfortable when he was killing anyone other than Iranians... Russia doesn't seem to care about what Al Assad is doing to his people.

Now that hundreds of Russians are embedded with the Syrian army, we'll have to take extra care not to kill them while we are shooting at Daesh or Al Assad's troops... I'm not sure how Russia would react to having a large number of it's soldiers "accidentally bombed" and we may not want to find out. I doubt we would want to see Russia accidentally shoot down one of our aircraft either.

Some coordination between Russia and the US would be prudent.

Response by SFC Everett Oliver made Sep 12 at 2015 8:10 PM

2015-09-12T20:10:41-04:00

I think Russia wants to flex their Muscles and show the world that they can handle more than one front. They already know the US won't try to stop them.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Sep 14 at 2015 8:02 AM

2015-09-14T08:02:10-04:00

Most likely

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Sep 14 at 2015 8:27 AM

2015-09-14T08:27:35-04:00

Something bad is going to happen there. This is a Russian attempt to provoke something.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2015 8:53 AM

2015-09-14T08:53:00-04:00

This along with their aggression in Eastern Europe and their push into the Arctic are all bad signs, add to them the Chinese and continued issues with Terrorist groups all add up to the perfect storm. In the case of Syria it puts them in direct conflict with some groups we are supporting.

Response by CDR Michael Goldschmidt made Sep 14 at 2015 8:53 AM

2015-09-14T08:53:37-04:00

It's time the US stopped meddling in internal affairs abroad. There are always unintended negative consequences.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2015 8:59 AM

2015-09-14T08:59:46-04:00

There is a vacuum in the world. The Chinese and the Russians are simply moving to fill it.
The fact that the SA-22 has no possible other target than western air forces speaks volumes.

Response by PFC Al Sethre made Sep 14 at 2015 9:12 AM

2015-09-14T09:12:59-04:00

I believe Russia is trying to stir things up in the region, in an effort to scare the markets and have oil prices higher again. They have been hit hardest with the low prices.

Response by SGT Rick Ash made Sep 14 at 2015 9:59 AM

2015-09-14T09:59:14-04:00

Putin is trying to get a reaction out of Obama but that won't happen. BHO better be worried that Russia will come down through Canada and invade the USA. But he won't do anything, Obama is dumber than a box of rocks and already have been tried for treason. He is pissing on our Constitution every chance he gets. He has to go!

Response by Capt Jeff S. made Sep 14 at 2015 10:17 AM

2015-09-14T10:17:48-04:00

We had a chance to work with Russia and build relations and we blew it. Russia warned us and asked us to not support the Syrian Rebels. Against their wishes we did and our actions totally destabilized Syria. They acknowledge that Bashar Al-Assad is a bad guy but the alternative was worse.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2015 11:50 AM

2015-09-14T11:50:39-04:00

The plot thickens
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/09/14/russia-shipping-tanks-into-syria-in-first-clear-sign-offensive-weapons/?intcmp=hpbt1

Russia shipping tanks into Syria, in ‘first clear sign of offensive weapons’

Russia's military build-up in Syria has grown to include the shipment of a half-dozen tanks, a defense official told Fox News, in what the source called the first clear sign of offensive weapons arriving in Syria.

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Sep 14 at 2015 12:31 PM

2015-09-14T12:31:52-04:00

I think with 2 superpowers flying through the same airspace your going to have plenty of tense moments because we are the 2 toughest kids on the block and neither of us wants to back down.
Personally I think everyone ought to pack up and completely pull out of the Middle East and let those countries go at it. We support "Joe Schmo" and Russia supports "John Doe" and we both feel strongly that we are supporting the right guy to lead the country to prosperity. In the end we arm up a few separate groups of wannabes who are doing it for their people, i.e, Kurds, Sunni, Shite, etc., but never for everyone because of the religious, spiritual, cultural differences.
I really don't know the answer but in my opinion, arming these "leaders" with modern weapons is only equivalent to declaring open season on whomever you dislike.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2015 3:05 PM

2015-09-14T15:05:03-04:00

Double post

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2015 3:05 PM

2015-09-14T15:05:47-04:00

We probably should be talking to Russia, especially if we don't want any unfortunate incidents. Sure, we aren't on super-friendly terms with them...but we also aren't at war with them. And sure, we don't want to support the Assad regime, but we also don't want to provoke them. If we can do some deconfliction to avoid striking Syrian regime and Russian troops and planes while fighting ISIS, there's no reason not to.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Sep 16 at 2015 12:37 PM

2015-09-16T12:37:02-04:00

Russia HAS been supporting Assad the whole time. Putin is extremely dangerous, and we need to be very concerned about him. Further, as we deal with ISIS and Iran, Russia could stick their fingers in very easily, and it could lead to a major blowup...

Response by LTC Bill Koski made Jul 19 at 2017 8:28 PM

2017-07-19T20:28:15-04:00

No. The Russians, would like a Mediterranean port. The US spent it's world capital in the region and can't go "all in" in the Middle East for a while, nor can Western Europe. Russia can flex it's muscle on the world stage for a while but they are coming up on 20 months now and what to show? Not much.

Response by Cpl John Barker made Jul 19 at 2017 8:52 PM

2017-07-19T20:52:11-04:00

Perhaps it was before the election, but now that Trump is POTUS and Daesh has been all but defeated (Last I heard the YPG and Assad's Syrian Arab Army were both inside of Raqqa) I think attention will rapidly shift to the Philippines, North Korea, or Northern Africa. The French also stated that their goal is no longer the removal of Assad, and they were providing the most air support after US.