Russia will target US jets in parts of Syria, defence ministry says

The US began seriously investing in forming an organized opposition to Assad in 2006. Those efforts were clearly accelerated following the efforts that plunged Syria into mayhem. If there is no "organized, coherent opposition to Assad" (there is, but not one more popular than Assad), that doesn't mean the elections would be a "sham". It would merely mean the figures the US wants to win those elections won't.

Democracy is not about guaranteeing an outcome that the US likes (although many Americans often quickly equate the two - hence the rather strange notion that even Putin or Chavez weren't democratically elected), but a process where those outcomes are decided.

That is absolutely the case. Unfortunately.

The neocons unwitting did Iran a great favor under Bush because democracy and fighting Iranian influence actually doesn't amount to the same thing! Unfortunately, in the wake of the "Redirection", the US showed it has learned that lesson well.

I don't think America's interests are served in forcing the US to be an imperial hegemonic power in this region. Indeed, America could truly be a unique and inspirational country if it build up on its best ideals at home, creating that 'shining city on the hill' welcoming the world's hungry and yearning to be free from all over the world, forsaking the imperialist path and the excessive foreign entanglements its founders had warned about, and instead showing the world how a pluralistic, democratic, system composed of people from all over the four corners of the planet without being in anyone else's camp but the one born out of its cultural mosaic, can work and prosper. But I regret that there are enough Americans who don't see things that way and that allows those who have their own agendas in pursuing American imperialistic policies from controlling US foreign policy.

Over the long term, as long as the process indigenous and authentic and not imposed from outside, the correct political map of the region can change for the better. This current political map isn't anything for anyone to die over. The best map would include a shia corridor linking Iran, Iraq, and the Alawi/Shia regions of Syria to Lebanon and its shia communities. Those shia region could be connected together under an Arab/Shia state allied to Iran. A similar arrangement would need to exist for the Kurds. Everyone else would fall under either a neo-Ottoman sphere: the Sunni regions which are disposed to and part of the old Ottoman territories could see Muslim brotherhood dominated governments allied to Turkey, as long as both the secular and the religious parties had and equal chance to compete in fair and free elections each turn. And there could be even be an albeit more reasonable Wahhabi (and not these more deranged Wahhabi animals who have been indoctrinated with hatred above all else) sphere focused in the Arabian peninsula and certain adjacent Arab lands.

 

It does mean those elections would be a sham. If the political system remained open for years over the course of several election cycles the sham-ness would eventually dissipate.

The coming electoral victory for Assad will not be some victory for democracy, but a victory for Assad and Iran.

Democracy in Iraq was great for Iran. Democracy in Syria without Assad? A significant loss of influence in the best case scenario.

Why do you think they're protecting Assad where they didn't protect Hussein?

I happen to think that it's important for any country to seek a position of geopolitical strength. We all understand why the US became heavily involved not just in the Middle East, but around the world in 1950. We're trying to figure out just what the hell we're supposed to do after the Cold War. Until 9/11 our interest primarily revolved around static borders, stable allies, open sea lanes, and the expansion of international organizations. Post 9/11 these interests intermixed with counter-terrorism and regional dominance. We're now in a position of watching a power hostile to our regional allies grow in strength.

The Iranians aren't in Syria and Iraq because they're super nice guys who just want to help out. The Iranians are in Syria and Iraq because their golden opportunity to attain a position of dominance in the region lies before them.

And eventually the balance of power will shift, and we'll stop being worried about Iranian hegemony.

Just my prediction.

There is no such thing as a "correct" political map, and why a Shia corridor intersecting Sunni lands would be ideal is beyond me.

 

It was an F-18, it reportedly flew from the aircraft carrier George H. W. Bush, it was deployed to protect US supported Syrian insurgents when it confronted the Syrian jet after it attacked friendly forces. The Russians dispute having been contacted first by the US on the "deconfliction" line, the US said the Syrian jet was warned off repeatedly.

 

I am talking about another incident, over the last 24 hours, involving an F-15 which shot down an Iranian-made drone in eastern Syria. Wanted to know where that F-15 was based in light of the questions and answers that might be revealed by that exercise.

 

Vladimir Putin United Russia 45,602,075 63.60
Gennady Zyuganov Communist Party 12,318,353 17.18
Mikhail Prokhorov self-nominated 5,722,508 7.98
Vladimir Zhirinovsky Liberal Democratic Party 4,458,103 6.22
Sergey Mironov A Just Russia 2,763,935 3.85.
Valid votes 70,864,974 98.83
Invalid votes 836,691 1.17
Total votes 71,701,665 100.00
Registered voters/turnout 109,860,331 65.27
Source: Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation

Nicolás Maduro Great Patriotic Pole 7,587,579 50.61
Henrique Capriles Radonski Democratic Unity Roundtable 7,363,980 49.12
Eusebio Mendez New Vision for my Country 19,498 0.13
María Bolívar United Democratic Party for Peace and Freedom 13,309 0.08
Reina Sequera Worker's Party 4,241 0.02
Julio Mora Democratic Unity Party 1,936 0.01
Valid votes 14,990,543 99.55
Invalid/blank votes 66,937 0.44
Total 15,059,630 100
Registered voters 18,904,364 79.68
Source: National Electoral Commission

Putin won by a wide margin. Maduro by a small margin. Neither was close to 90%.

Were votes counted honestly? I don't know.

Both countries do have organized opposition parties.

 

Apart from to provoke the Russians I'm not even sure why US fighter planes would even be in Syrian air space - Assad has never invited them in as far as I know? Or is the US up to its old tricks of regime changing? Nah, surely not!

 

Ok, then let's clean up a little with the US myths!

I never denied that my country and also the others had to fulfill their 2% duty. In the case of my country, I also see a corresponding demand for more than this 2% and I have no understanding for the politicians who deny it! To give only one of many examples: The current Armored Fighting Vehicle (AFV) Marder (= Marten) is in original 1970's and the follower is still developed and ready, but enters the troops drop for drop! Sure, some technical problems need to be fixed too what is normal at any new system, but with spending 2% this will go faster and better!

The core question, however, is: is the willingness to be ready for action? Yes and no! The NATO duties can be easily fulfilled, but for other things it becomes problematic!
Just on the other hand, you have to say clearly the fact that the US is doing almost nothing for NATO in Europe! The 2nd ACR and this tank brigade are just an alibi and a joke! The Air Base Ramstein, which is so important for the USA, is used for all kinds of things, but it is not good for NATO things!
The intervention groups and rapid reaction forces of NATO are almost exclusively made by Europeans without any US involvement! The complete NATO air defense in Europe is in European hands and even the few American F-16 and F-15 (for example in Italy) are not part of NATO air defense!
I would now be able to continue endlessly with examples, but in sum it comes to this fact: The Europeans take care of themselves completely alone and the USA gives at best as a superacht still back cover from the other side of the Atlantic, but do not do anything in practice for the NATO in Europe!

The accusation of Trump is therefore a bottomless insolence and your statement false than wrong!

And finally, a few facts about the Iraq war in 2003: The whole war and the criminal attack of the USA and its followers is based on blatant lies! You are already aware that the whole administration around Bush had already war before the electoral plans for the election? You know that these gangsters in the White House even pushed 9/11 Saddam into the shoes in order to have a war ground?
Yes, Saddam was a bastard without question, but there are many of these bastards on the planet and the only reason for the attack was to have the oil and safe access of the US!
After 1991 the forces of Saddam were only a joke compared to before! WMD's were no longer available, only a few missiles he could not have more, but less fire than 4 x MLRS had together!
And after the sure victory, the US showed its total incompetence for the post-war period! The fact that ISIS was created and Al Qaeda was active is solely the fault of the USA and its stupidity!

 

But be aware if they make the same with US stuff ... and yes, it is not Obama in WH but a trainee

 

I believe that Russia provokes USA. USA never prpvoke Russia. It's a well-known fact for all Western world.

Assad is a bad guy. He taught their people to cut off heads of... their people. In addition, he drinks blood of LGBT babies.

Are you working on KGB, guy? The USA saves our **** world again, but you write this ****ing post? You've forgotten the rule number one: the USA is right always!

 

maybe not in Syria and maybe not directly ... but the US supported everything and everyone in Syria and Libya who claimed to fight Assad and Gadhafi without taking care who these people are! This is a confirmed fact and it is fact that the US had no problem with it when countries like Qatar did this more directly as in Libya!

 

And here's Russia's stealth as it appears off radar.





And the KLA were labelled terrorists by our government and then they changed their minds and decided to use them to split up Yugoslavia.[/QUOTE]
Russia didn't do that...

 

Lol ... is this now a joke or do you really think this seriously? If yes, then I have only pity for you and the BS propaganda which washed your brain!

Yes he is, but please care for your own bastards which the USA supports as for example these bastard regime in Saudi Arabia!

Even this is childish ... but are you from CIA?

 

Dude please... I think Turks make'em fill their pants at least as much as Russians make your people fill'em good with sh.t because last time I checked they were whining about 6000 Turkish agents living in Germany.

Now, look at you, you're living thousands of miles away from Russian threat but still scared sh.tless because you know living in overseas doesn't mean you're out of reach of Russians, Iranians or Turks... We goan feeeendge ya

 

I am a Siberian Native, and Siberian Natives are very serious ones. We sleep naked in the snow and eat Americans alive because their fresh meat.

The washed brain is the clear brain.

Unfortunately nobody in Siberia supports Saudi Arabia...

It's a secret information. As I see you don't disclose your relations with KGB too.

 

Oh dear god, say a word in favour of Russia and you're a Russian spy/apparachik. 'rule number one: the USA is right always'!! FFS grow up, man! As I keep saying - adults with the minds of children.

 

All right, thread succesfully rolls into flame, paranoia and insults. Well done, warmongers! What is it called, a "chicken-hawk"? I think I am starting to uderstand meaning of that nickname.

 

I sense dark side of sarcasm is strong in this one!

Really, I think it actually was sarcasm. "drinks blood", huh?

 

Yes. Without atherosclerosis.

Why do you think, that File System in Linux grows up? It is filled only! With files.

 

"They want peace and stability. That's understandable."

Of course they do. Anyone with a brain would. They know that the quickest way to peace and stability is a government victory over the rebels. We (the USA) shouldn't be involved unless asked by the Syrian government. We should discourage help to rebels by our allies.

 

Your gender is not clear yet. So I would not like to debate with you. As a real Russian I prefer to avoid misunderstandings in questions of the gender differentiation. I think you understand me...

 

O-o-oke-e-e-e-ey...

"It was sarcasm, I think" -> "I do not know your gender". O-o-o-o-oke-e-e-ey...

 

???, Scared s***less of what? Please goody, I thought you knew better, we don't fear the russkis , never have, hell we've saved their butts in WW2, and what's about these turkos? You never answered again, )), Krauts make you crap or what?

 

"Drinks blood", you know this personally? Or is this your vodka talking on here? For someone who is a "prof" of whatever, you sure don't exhibit much intelligence on here!

 

If you refer Americans by "we", I'd like to let you know that you sound funny when you think you're American. Just disregard this if you referred some other nation other than commonwealth.

Anyways... Only Klinsmann made us crap and that was in late 80s. His gang Voller, Matheus, Littbarski, Muller, Brehme, Aumann were upsetting too many... Lol...

 

You southerners are a funny bunch, that is if you from georgia, like you claimed way back? Southern heat maybe? Come up to the great plains someday...that's "gods country",lol, and I wasn't referring to the Commonwealth?