Posted on Oct 13, 2015
What's going on in Syria? Are the United States and Russia using it as a battle ground to promote their political agendas?
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Has anyone been paying attention to the back and forth between the United States and Russia in Syria?
Four years ago a nonviolent protest of the abusive Al Assad regime began there during Ramadan cumulating to a large protest on the event of the Eid. The people were protesting government corruption and human rights abuses.
These protests were met by the Al Assad regime with censorship and concessions. This should have been the end but the uprising created the opportunity for militant oppositions to move in and create more civil disturbance and led to the creation of the Free Syria Army. All of this escalated to what we now have.
The United States government giving Syrian Rebels 50 tons of ammunition and Russia bombing rebel positions in support of the Assad regime. After 100 Russian airstrikes it has become evident that they are not just targeting ISIS.
Russia is taking the position they are fighting anyone who is fighting Assad. Russia, has been concerned by what it sees as U.S. backed coups against pro-Russian governments in Ukraine, Georgia, and elsewhere. This would mean they are likely to see US backed rebels as a threat possibly even more of a threat than ISIS.
The U.S. calls Russia's continuing airstrikes against the rebels a "Fundamental mistake" and that the U.S. troops will not be cooperating with Russia because the Russians are moving forward with attacks which come from air, sea, and ground in support of Syrian ground forces.
Is our goal in Syria clear? While we give the rebels weapons and ammunition we are not willing to commit troops to support them or provide them with air cover. If we're not willing to commit to a strategy which will be supportive of winning is it worth continuing to arm and supply the rebels and to be supportive of the Kurdish backed movement against ISIS in eastern Syria?
Conclusion Russia will continue to fight all forces which are mounted against Al Assad's regime while the U.S. will continue to back all rebels and the Kurdish forces who are trying to defeat ISIS. The civilians will continue to suffer and bear the tragedy of being caught between them. Parallel wars or a political fight between Russia and the U.S.?
http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/13/middleeast/syria-civil-war/
SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" Maj Mike Sciales COL Mikel J. Burroughs SSG Toryn Green SGT (Join to see) Sgt Richard Buckner SSgt Terry P. SFC James Sczymanski CSM Michael J. Uhlig LTC (Join to see) LTC Stephen C. LTC John Shaw LTC (Join to see) MAJ Bryan Zeski @
Four years ago a nonviolent protest of the abusive Al Assad regime began there during Ramadan cumulating to a large protest on the event of the Eid. The people were protesting government corruption and human rights abuses.
These protests were met by the Al Assad regime with censorship and concessions. This should have been the end but the uprising created the opportunity for militant oppositions to move in and create more civil disturbance and led to the creation of the Free Syria Army. All of this escalated to what we now have.
The United States government giving Syrian Rebels 50 tons of ammunition and Russia bombing rebel positions in support of the Assad regime. After 100 Russian airstrikes it has become evident that they are not just targeting ISIS.
Russia is taking the position they are fighting anyone who is fighting Assad. Russia, has been concerned by what it sees as U.S. backed coups against pro-Russian governments in Ukraine, Georgia, and elsewhere. This would mean they are likely to see US backed rebels as a threat possibly even more of a threat than ISIS.
The U.S. calls Russia's continuing airstrikes against the rebels a "Fundamental mistake" and that the U.S. troops will not be cooperating with Russia because the Russians are moving forward with attacks which come from air, sea, and ground in support of Syrian ground forces.
Is our goal in Syria clear? While we give the rebels weapons and ammunition we are not willing to commit troops to support them or provide them with air cover. If we're not willing to commit to a strategy which will be supportive of winning is it worth continuing to arm and supply the rebels and to be supportive of the Kurdish backed movement against ISIS in eastern Syria?
Conclusion Russia will continue to fight all forces which are mounted against Al Assad's regime while the U.S. will continue to back all rebels and the Kurdish forces who are trying to defeat ISIS. The civilians will continue to suffer and bear the tragedy of being caught between them. Parallel wars or a political fight between Russia and the U.S.?
http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/13/middleeast/syria-civil-war/
SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" Maj Mike Sciales COL Mikel J. Burroughs SSG Toryn Green SGT (Join to see) Sgt Richard Buckner SSgt Terry P. SFC James Sczymanski CSM Michael J. Uhlig LTC (Join to see) LTC Stephen C. LTC John Shaw LTC (Join to see) MAJ Bryan Zeski @
Politics
Strategy
Russia
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 14
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It sure looks like a political tug-o-war, and the people become the by-products of victims, It appears as though Russia might be more committed to the cause by adding armor and troops on the ground
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On some level, yes. I think, however, this is Russia deciding enough is enough. Assad is a valuable ally to Russia and anyone who would replace him would be...less amenable to Russian influence. They are finally just taking sides because the US and it's allies have chosen theirs. That's working out to be a bit messy.
Frankly, I think Putin's nuts, but I'll give him credit for one thing - He pushes in places he knows the West isn't going to push back. It might come to it at some point, but most Americans have zero interest in mixing it up with Russia over Syria or Crimea.
Frankly, I think Putin's nuts, but I'll give him credit for one thing - He pushes in places he knows the West isn't going to push back. It might come to it at some point, but most Americans have zero interest in mixing it up with Russia over Syria or Crimea.
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LTC John Shaw
SGT Jeremiah B. Putin is laser focused on his own interests. Selling military tech to Iran and Syria and protecting Assad are on the top of the list. The fact that Sunni states can no longer look to the US for support (Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi, etc) is what is making this bad. So much for the GCC we spent the last 30 years building.
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SGT Jeremiah B.
LTC John Shaw - It's messy for sure. I'm not sure I agree on Sunni nations not being able to look to us for support though. We're still doing the heavy lifting as far as airstrikes against Daesh is concerned, despite what certain media sources want to say and providing billions in aid. We're just not interested in re-invading Iraq while the regional actors show a complete inability to do anything but serve their personal interests.
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LTC John Shaw
SGT Jeremiah B. There is something in between re-invading Iraq and no support. We are very much in the no support mode and the presence we have is limited by the presence of Iran and Russia. 70% of Aircraft come back with bombs not dropped because no specific targets can be identified. In his 60 minute interview, he talked as if he was not the person in charge the last 7 years, it is really odd for a CnC.
Obama is the President, he is implementing his vision, it means no BOG and we are combat ineffective for the duration of this administration.
Obama is the President, he is implementing his vision, it means no BOG and we are combat ineffective for the duration of this administration.
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It looks a lot like the US called for the ousting of Assad.... and then did little, or nothing afterward.... It sounds like Pres Obama drew some red lines, and then when they were crossed, he, again, did little, or nothing. It sounds like President Obama underestimated Isis, "JV team", and then when the reality turned out to be something else, he called for "pin-pricks", and a serious campaign to "degrade" their effectiveness. It sounds like King Abdullah asked the US for bullets bombs and missiles to fight ISIS, and again, got little, or nothing.
In short, it sounds like others in the Region got tired of President Obama's aggressive use of inaction, and the Russians were more than happy to come in and fill the vacuum. I don't know why anybody would be surprised.
In short, it sounds like others in the Region got tired of President Obama's aggressive use of inaction, and the Russians were more than happy to come in and fill the vacuum. I don't know why anybody would be surprised.
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