# Did Russia's ISIS Air Strikes Actually Make A Difference **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 28, 2015, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-russias-isis-air-strikes-actually-make-a-difference/735985 "2015-10-28T16:35:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2015, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-russias-isis-air-strikes-actually-make-a-difference/735985/41 "2015-10-29T15:38:25Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Get a grip, people. Russia is aggressive, but they are a second rate power that has limited influence in the Middle East, and they are in a desperate situation to save one of the few Middle Eastern regimes that actually cares about Russia at all. The idea that the U.S. is losing when we are still the 800 pound gorilla that is an indefensible friend to Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, and Egypt, is silly. It isn’t really an idea that would be worth responding to if it weren’t parroted so much by folks who have simply lost all perspective. +1 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2015, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-russias-isis-air-strikes-actually-make-a-difference/735985/42 "2015-10-29T15:49:38Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I was just thinking yesterday about how all this panic about Russia drinking our milkshake is really reminiscent of the panic over Iraqi drones flying over New York City spraying bio-death fluid made in Tikrit Babby Milk Factory #4. Actually, it reminds me more of the near-panic when the Chinese state media started releasing images of the J-10. “China has a stealth fighter! We’re totally fucked!” ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2015, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-russias-isis-air-strikes-actually-make-a-difference/735985/43 "2015-10-29T15:56:51Z")
There are no ‘moderates’ to support, worth a damn. Just Crazy and More Crazy. It’s delusional thinking to believe things in Syria would turn out any different to Iraq and Libya. At least the USA has stopped its inadvertent arming and training of Isis. There’s only two ways you get stability in Syria. Assad or his equally brutal successor or invasion and decades long occupation. Let Russia and Iran get in with it. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2015, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-russias-isis-air-strikes-actually-make-a-difference/735985/44 "2015-10-29T15:58:26Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Actually, it reminds me more of the near-panic when the Chinese state media started releasing images of the J-10. “China has a stealth fighter! We’re totally fucked!” Don’t forget their new carrier, sooper dooper karrier killer thistle missiles and carnivorous cavitating tunneling torpedoes! We might as well pack it in now, guys! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2015, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-russias-isis-air-strikes-actually-make-a-difference/735985/45 "2015-10-29T16:08:06Z")
> [@XT](#): > > Don’t forget their new carrier, sooper dooper karrier killer thistle missiles and carnivorous cavitating tunneling torpedoes! We might as well pack it in now, guys! 😛 But they will never have to use those superweapons that are so much better than ours! That’s because China owns 103% of the U.S. debt, and all they have to do is threaten to call it in or light it on fire and 'Merica will have to do anything they say. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2015, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-russias-isis-air-strikes-actually-make-a-difference/735985/46 "2015-10-29T16:18:52Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > But they will never have to use those superweapons that are so much better than ours! > > That’s because China owns 103% of the U.S. debt, and all they have to do is threaten to call it in or light it on fire and 'Merica will have to do anything they say. Hell, we just have to make sure Obama doesn’t accidentally light it up with his doobie on the back porch of the White House, while Putin dances to Stayin’ Alive in the streets of Moscow and Xi Jinping hob nobs with the Queen in Buckingham Palace!! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![MrQwertyasd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2015, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-russias-isis-air-strikes-actually-make-a-difference/735985/47 "2015-10-29T16:27:43Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I was just thinking yesterday about how all this panic about Russia drinking our milkshake is really reminiscent of the panic over Iraqi drones flying over New York City spraying bio-death fluid made in Tikrit Babby Milk Factory #4. > > Get a grip, people. Russia is aggressive, but they are a second rate power that has limited influence in the Middle East, and they are in a desperate situation to save one of the few Middle Eastern regimes that actually cares about Russia at all. The idea that the U.S. is losing when we are still the 800 pound gorilla that is an indefensible friend to Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, and Egypt, is silly. It isn’t really an idea that would be worth responding to if it weren’t parroted so much by folks who have simply lost all perspective. Indeed. A simple look at a [US base](http://gizmodo.com/the-chilling-geometry-of-every-us-military-base-seen-fr-1481870788) map shows the situation. I don’t expect Russian tanks rumbling down Pall Mall any time soon. [The bases won’t be there forever though](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRM07KcQKuE) ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2015, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-russias-isis-air-strikes-actually-make-a-difference/735985/48 "2015-10-29T18:25:42Z")
Currently the powers involved are about to meet in Vienna about the conflict and the future of Syria. There will be no Syrians present. Kind of says it all really. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2015, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-russias-isis-air-strikes-actually-make-a-difference/735985/49 "2015-10-29T19:50:28Z")
> [@tagos](#): > > There are no ‘moderates’ to support, worth a damn. Just Crazy and More Crazy. It’s delusional thinking to believe things in Syria would turn out any different to Iraq and Libya. At least the USA has stopped its inadvertent arming and training of Isis. Exactly. They’re only “moderate” in comparison to ISIS. Most of them are allied with al-Qaida (yes, they’re still around). Granted, al-Qaida at least has the decency to perform its beheadings off-camera, but that’s how low you have to set the bar to pretend that that these guys are any kind of acceptable option. We don’t have a good option in Syria, but it’s pretty obvious what the least-bad choice is: Assad. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2015, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-russias-isis-air-strikes-actually-make-a-difference/735985/50 "2015-10-29T19:59:35Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > “Much of its history”? I’m talking about since the French mandate ended–not that much history in total. Most of that has been under two generations of Assad dictatorship–a regional power, in in its time, now past. It’s weird to refer to the Assad’s as a “regional power” in reference to running Syria, it makes it sound like you’re talking about an external entity operating as suzerain over Syria when that’s not what the situation was. Syria was ruled successfully by local leaders for the decades. There’s no reason to assume no one can ever run the country again. ---
**Author:** ![MrQwertyasd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2015, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-russias-isis-air-strikes-actually-make-a-difference/735985/51 "2015-10-29T21:25:30Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > It’s weird to refer to the Assad’s as a “regional power” in reference to running Syria, it makes it sound like you’re talking about an external entity operating as suzerain over Syria when that’s not what the situation was. Syria was ruled successfully by local leaders for the decades. There’s no reason to assume no one can ever run the country again. I believe Assad Jr was at first relatively benevolent as regime head. Turned out becoming more authoritarian was a big mistake. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-russias-isis-air-strikes-actually-make-a-difference/735985.md?page=2)