Not if the Russians are already doing it. I said only if the Russians target our planes would that be something we might do. Knowing Putin’s style, we’d probably lose a plane or two a week with Putin saying, “Oops, how unfortunate, but not intentional, I assure you!”
So you’re throwing your weight around in response to something that hasn’t happened? I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that your use of your imagination isn’t confined only to U.S. politics.
If you go back and read, I was responding to someone who thought that US and Russian planes operating in Syria was a recipe for war.
Do you really seriously think the Russians are going to say in response to the destruction of their air group in Syria, " oh ok. Well played. You got us"? No Russian leader is going to survive the evening if he does that. They are going to retaliate. In Syria. And elsewhere. The US would do the same thing. Believeing otherwise is naive in the extreme.
Nah he’s in “Let me plan a huge crisis so I can declare martial law and not give up power” mode. Do you even internet?
I’m a little confused. Am I supposed to think that a new Cold War is a good thing?
Getting involved further makes US weaker. That’s the lesson from the last 12 years, and from Vietnam. There’s no clear goal, unlike the 1st Gulf War (expel Saddam Hussein from Kuwait).
Just stay out. If Russia wants to be involved, let them – it will only weaken them, most likely. Getting more involved just makes us weaker.
I don’t think it will weaken the Russians. They have a clear objective and a plan to execute. Unlike the USA and the rest.
We’ll see, but my understanding of the Russian military (and especially Russian military hardware) is that their reputation is greater than their effectiveness.
Napoleon, Hitler and several Persian Emperors would like a word on that issue.
I’m talking about today’s Russian military, not Russian military history. Yes, they have a proud military tradition, but that doesn’t mean they are properly maintaining all of their jet fighters.
But we’ll see. I’m not terribly confident on my assertion – I’m no expert, and it’s only what I gather from my readings, and from discussions with the other ex-military guys in my office.
My office is a Navy engineering and logistics office at the Washington Navy Yard in DC, by the way.
How else is the U.S. supposed to show that it has the biggest dick on the block?
After all, winter is coming.
They’re all gangsters, though. Putin, Assad, Assad’s enemies and the Americans alike. Putin’s invasion of Chechnya killed some 25.000-200.000 civilians. Syria’s civil war has so far lead to some 220.000 deaths. The American invasion of Iraq lead to some 500.000 deaths. It’s all hell, all terrible, all bloodcurdling, and it ain’t no prettier when Americans do it than when Alawites do it.
See, the word “proxies” implies control. Which Syrian faction would you say America actually controls? Not just favours or supports, but controls?
Sure, but an American invasion would not exactly make things better. Quite the opposite.
Well, if the Russians had brought a Russian winter with them to Syria…
I agree with iiandyiii. There is nothing to be gained here. Time for us to move along. But I do wish we would do more to aid Ukraine.
Really? Do you believe that ISIL is going to roll over and surrender now that the Russians are in the fray? No. They know the Russians couldnt defeat an insurgency on their own border. If the Russian involvement is much more than air cover and logistics this is going to cost them mucho.
That middle bit is about Afghanistan. I would imagine that ISIL are confident. Maybe they are at their usual deluded selves but we shall see,
Instagram?
May we presume that the OP will be some of the first boots on the ground?