Iraq and ISIS Discussion

[AWP]

The Russian presence in Syria is already causing problems. I just hope tensions don't ratchet up.

 

[Brill]

The Russian presence in Syria is already causing problems.

For whom? The Russians were actually invited by and working WITH the Syrian regime whereas, technically, we are conducting combat operations in a sovereign nation without its consent.

Multiple news outlets (probably citing same source) claim estimates of Islamic fundamentalists in theater are over 2,000 FSU residents compared to 250 US residents.

The US didn't do shit when Assad gassed his own people (remember that "red line"?), Russians INVADED and occupied the Crimea, same are supporting an insurrection in Eastern Ukraine, Chinese openly cyber raped everyone with a US security clearance,..and we will not do anything here.

Obama's strength is convincing his party to pass legislation that nobody bothers to read (other than press releases that they are good for America) but he is weak in foreign policy. Prime example of his ability to correct international "problems": Libya. That soup sandwich is Obama's war plain and simple.

 

[AWP]

For whom?

The Coalition. The Russians have a curious habit of conducting flights when we open a ROZ, then vectoring their planes towards certain assets in a nice roundtrip flight. They also airbridge across Iraq which puts them flying through/ out of Iran. It is an intel coup for these guys and obviously causes us to allocate assets and attention towards their flights. Maybe this stuff will shake out, but no one planned on the Russians coming to the party. Putin put us on our heels again, doing something we weren't prepared for.

 

[Brill]

The Russians have a curious habit of conducting flights when we open a ROZ, then vectoring their planes towards certain assets in a nice roundtrip flight.

I sure hope we do the same but then I came back to reality.

 

[Brill]

:whatever:

An Historic Step at the United Nations on LGBT Rights

On Monday, the United Nations Security Council held it’s first-ever meeting on LGBT rights and the persecution of LGBT individuals around the world, co-hosted by the United States and Chile. As Ambassador Samantha Power said, “Today we are making UN history.”

Here's your Ambassador's comments:

Making History: The First UN Security Council Meeting on LGBT Rights

Was there any outcry regarding the Albu Nimr tribesmen (who???) were openly murdered by ISIL forces in Al Anbar?

Read more: IS kills 500 members of Albu Nimr tribe - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East

What about Yazidis (saw some shit about a bunch of people stuck on a mountain without water) in Ninawa?

My point is my disgust that there is a blatant agenda with apparent disregard to Freeing the Oppressed, which is EXACTLY what this country once stood for. Check out 2:44.

 

[Gunz]

...Check out 2:44...

...and 3:37.

Guys like Putin and Netanyahu must laugh their asses off at the daily Clown Show in the West.

 

[AWP]

Russia's conducting strikes now. No shock. As to an earlier point made in this thread:

Pentagon: Russia Airstrikes Are 'Pouring Gasoline on a Fire'

U.S. officials had said in recent days that the Russians were flying reconnaissance missions over Syria without dropping bombs to familiarize themselves within the area. That was taken as an indication that they were about to begin airstrikes, they added.

 

[Florida173]

Seems like it's being handled..

US has 'not altered' Syria ops despite new Russia strikes

The US-led coalition has not scaled back its attacks on Islamic State jihadists in Syria since the launch of Russian air strikes, a US military official said Thursday.

"We have not altered operations in Syria to accommodate new players on the battlefield," Warren stressed. "We are continuing our operations in Syria, bottom line."
The Pentagon launched talks with the Russian military Thursday to discuss ways to avoid mishaps between planes from the US-led coalition and Moscow.

He noted that coalition pilots have clear instructions on how to operate when occupying the same air space as Russian pilots.
"Our aviators will absolutely follow these techniques, procedures. We expect the Russians or any other pilot in that air space to follow suit," Warren said.

I'm getting confused with how we are supposed to feel about the Russian involvement.

Kerry: US prepared to work with Russia and Iran
The United States is “prepared to work with any nation, including Russia and Iran” in resolving the Syrian crisis, Kerry says, but he re-asserts that Bashar al-Assad must step down.
“The vast majority of states around this table know that the Isil forces, Isil itself, cannot be defeated so long as Bashar al-Assad remains [in power] in Syria.”

If you think about it. Syria and Iraq have both openly supported Iran and Russia's involvement. We are being completely out-maneuvered here.

 

[DA SWO]

Let them get involved in a costly ground campaign.
Takes some pressure off Jordan (I hope).

 

[AWP]

Why would Iran (Shia) help Syria (Sunni)? What did I miss or have forgotten?

 

[Florida173]

Why would Iran (Shia) help Syria (Sunni)? What did I miss or have forgotten?

Goes into more of the "Axis of Resistance" and the fact that the ruling Alawites are more considered to be Shia than Sunni.. But is way more complicated than that. It's pragmatic, not religious

 

[CQB]

There'll be a lot more pragmatism to come.

 

[Diamondback 2/2]

Why would Iran (Shia) help Syria (Sunni)? What did I miss or have forgotten?

Bashar al Assad (and family/government) is Shia, which is part of the reason he is opposed by the 74+% Sunni population in Syria. Iran is backing the al Asad government, not the population...same-same for Russia.

 

[Brill]

Why would Iran (Shia) help Syria (Sunni)? What did I miss or have forgotten?

Just like @Florida173 said, it's a ruling class alawite, branch of Shia, thing.

 

[Kraut783]

Why would Iran (Shia) help Syria (Sunni)? What did I miss or have forgotten?

.....also the same with Iraq, Shia led government with Iranian support and Hezbollah militias on the ground fighting IS. If Syria and Iraq stabilize and succeed in beating back IS and the other rebel groups, it would be a nice foot print for Iran to have in the region.

 

[Florida173]

Don't forget about the role of the Muslim Brotherhood throughout the region, especially Syria, and the '82 massacre of Hama. The division between the Alawites and Sunnis couldn't have been farther apart because of MB's activities and Hafez's retaliation.

 

[Gunz]

.....also the same with Iraq, Shia led government with Iranian support and Hezbollah militias on the ground fighting IS. If Syria and Iraq stabilize and succeed in beating back IS and the other rebel groups, it would be a nice foot print for Iran to have in the region.

By the time the smoke clears--if and when--won't the Iranians have integrated themselves so firmly into Iraq's political and military structure as to be immovable?

 

[Florida173]

By the time the smoke clears--if and when--won't the Iranians have integrated themselves so firmly into Iraq's political and military structure as to be immovable?

Already done.. They've essentially finally won the Iran-Iraq war... with our help..

 

[Crusader74]

Goes into more of the "Axis of Resistance" and the fact that the ruling Alawites are more considered to be Shia than Sunni.. But is way more complicated than that. It's pragmatic, not religious

I am in agreement. From my research the reasons are based on keeping supply lines open into Lebanon for Hezbollah. You can base that on Syria's abhorrence for the state of Israel

 

[DA SWO]

I am in agreement. From my research the reasons are based on keeping supply lines open into Lebanon for Hezbollah. You can base that on Syria's abhorrence for the state of Israel

What does Russia get in the long term?
Warm water port and what else?