RUSSIA'S SYRIA EXPEDITION-WHAT'S NOW AND WHAT'S NEXT

[warrior1972]

(CNN)—Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the United Nations on Monday, and everyone wants to hear what he has to say about Russian intentions in Syria.

Over the last week, a flood of satellite images has depicted the Russian military's growing presence on the Syrian coast -- an area still held by the Bashar al-Assad regime, but under growing threat.

The Russians have also stepped up supplies of advanced military hardware and trainers to the Syrian regime.

The main airport, some 25 kilometers (15 miles) south of Latakia, now resembles a military base, according to the images, which show top-of-the range Sukhoi Fencer fighter jets and T-90 tanks, transport and attack helicopters, fuel dumps and hardened shelters. According to IHS Jane's Intelligence Review, the satellite photographs show nearly 30 combat aircraft in theater. Two other sites near Latakia are also being developed.

Local reports speak of an influx of Russians at hotels in Latakia, who will only say that they fly cargo planes -- presumably the giant Ilyushin Il-76s and Antonov An-124s that are bringing in much of the equipment.

But why would Russia want to become involved in the Syrian imbroglio -- a conflict which has confounded everyone who has tried to influence it? Is it to defend an ally, al-Assad, and force the West to talk with him? To protect its own access to the Mediterranean? As part of a deal with Iran to tip the balance against Sunni rebel groups? Because it wants to join the international coalition against ISIS? Or -- as one commentator puts it colorfully -- to "stick it to the United States"?



The U.S. says it's watching closely. Defense Secretary Ash Carter told CNN's Barbara Starr on Thursday: "It's a matter of seeing what the Russians do."

But he implied they were there to help the Assad regime, adding: "If it's a matter of pouring gasoline on the civil war in Syria, that is certainly not productive from our point of view."



www.cnn.com/2015/09/27/world/russia-syria-involvement/

[Sailor]

Apparently Putin is doing exactly what I expected him to do ... hitting anti-Assad "opposition" positions.

Russia launches airstrikes in northern Syria, senior military official says

Russian warplanes began bombarding Syrian opposition targets in the war-torn nation's north Wednesday, following a terse meeting at which a Russian general asked Pentagon officials to clear out of Syrian air space and was rebuffed, Fox News has learned.

A U.S. official said Russian airstrikes targeted fighters in the vicinity of Homs, located roughly 60 miles east of a Russian naval facility in Tartus, and were carried out by a "couple" of Russian bombers. The strikes hit targets in Homs and Hama, but there is no presence of ISIS in those areas, a senior U.S. defense official said. These planes are hitting areas where Free Syrian Army and other anti-Assad groups are located, the official said.

Activists and a rebel commander on the ground said the Russian airstrikes have mostly hit moderate rebel positions and civilians. In a video released by the U.S.-backed rebel group Tajamu Alezzah, jets are seen hitting a building claimed to be a location of the group in the town of Latamna in the central Hama province.

The group commander Jameel al-Saleh told a local Syrian news website that the group's location was hit by Russian jets but didn't specify the damage.

A group of local activists in the town of Talbiseh in Homs province recorded at least 16 civilians killed, including two children.

According to a U.S. senior official, Presidents Obama and Putin agreed on a process to "deconflict" military operations. The Russians on Wednesday "bypassed that process," the official said.

www.foxnews.com/world/2015/09/30/boots-on-ground-russian-lawmakers-back-putin-sending-troops-to-syria/?intcmp=hpbt1

The above shouldn't surprise any of us here. Assad's Syria is Moscow's client, Syria is home to one of the few Russian military and naval installations in the Mediterranian and if Russia wants to maintain a credible presence in the Med (as it historically does) then these moves shouldn't surprise anyone.

Putin has the permission (unneccessary though it may be) from the Duma to move in the troops, tanks (T-90s at last report) and other armor plus combat aircraft that have been arriving over the last several weeks.

Frankly I doubt seriously Russia will go after ISIS unless that group does something incredibly stupid like "poking the Bear with a sharp stick" by threatening Russia's toehold. Is al-Baghdadi that crazy or stupidly fanatic? Stay tuned.

Related: Russia demands US combat aircraft stay out of Syrian airspace.

www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/09/30/kerry-rebuffs-russian-demand-says-us-airstrikes-in-syria-will-continue/?intcmp=hpbt1

[warrior1972]

(CNN)—On Russian TV -- breathtaking video of missiles launched from Russian ships in the Caspian Sea, streaking into the night sky, racing almost a thousand miles to their targets in Syria, exploding, the reporter boasts, no more than nine feet from their targets.

Russia's surprise strategy in Syria, a ruthless triad of military attack, diplomatic maneuvering and verbal broadsides against the West, has shocked the United States and its allies.



President Vladimir Putin is making one thing crystal clear: He will go to the mat to keep the Syrian President in power, at least for now.

But this is not just about Bashar al-Assad. In an aggressive challenge to the West, Putin is demanding to be taken seriously as a major player, not only in Syria or the Middle East, but in the world.




us.cnn.com/2015/10/08/middleeast/putin-syria-dougherty-analysis/index.html

[Sailor]

Wholeheartedly agree with the analysis, Assad is Putin's client and Putin will do what he can to shore Assad up.

Remember the old addage; "Nature abhores a vacuum," it's as true in international politics as it is in science. Putin's Russia is rushing to fill the vacuum we are leaving.

[101ABN]

This is what happens when the US abdicates its leadership role on the world stage.

Thank you, Mr. President.

[warrior1972]

I don't honestly think the White House appreciates what's going on here. Once again, as with the Ukrarine, we are are playing in Putin's back yard, by virtue of the fact that Syria is a fully co-operative cliet state going through a Civil War. Syria desperately wants Russian military aid. Putin, who wants a Russia military port on the Med, is more than happy to help a fellow despot. The Russians hold all the cards, and all we are doing is trying to fight ISIS while keeping out of RUSSIA'S way (God, that was hard to type.)


This thing has grown so complicated.


Syria.

The Syrian rebels.

ISIS.


And now...just when we didn't need it....the Russians? (Yeah , Yeah, I know...the WORST time for us is the BEST time for them.)

We should have settled this long before it got this far.



And then, you can add Afghanistan, Iraq, Turkey and the Kurds...DAMN.



...And if I were the Russians, I'd do just what they are doing, i.e., play my cards before the next election , with Obama weak, and a lame duck, and Congress as torn as it's ever been, probably since Vietnam, if not our own Civil War.
[/i]

I'll say it again....DAMN.

[101ABN]

"We should have settled this long before it got this far."

Roger that!

We are SO screwed! (WASS)