Things Getting Real In Syria

[onewhippedpuppy]

Turkish F-16 shoots down Russian SU-24 after multiple airspace incursions. A NATO nation intentionally shooting down a Russian aircraft is serious Cold War stuff. This could get very interesting......

Russia Loses Attack Jet And Helicopter In Syria In One Day: Here's What We Know

[porsche4life]

Scary times, hopefully we can get on the same page and focus on carpet bombing ISIS, and not end up in WW3 with ISIS and Russia....

[stuttgart46]

It's amazing how many people don't realize how crucial this is.
It's a powder keg.

[jyl]

Russia and Turkey will talk tough, but neither want escalation.

Russia also wants ISIS to be attacked (ISIS has actually threatened attacks on Russia more than any other country).

Russia will keep its aircraft further from the border. More anti aircraft missiles will be moved into Syria, by the US (supply to rebels) and the Russians. It will be harder for Russian aircraft to operate in Syria (rebels shot down a Russian helicopter trying to rescue the pilots). US-supplied anti tank missiles will make life harder for Russian-backed government forces on the ground. It may also be harder for the US, France, etc to bomb ISIS targets in Syria (if they overfly government controlled areas). This is a recipe for an increasing stalemate in Syria.

[flipper35]

Both Russia and Turkey have been stupid as of late in regard to border incursions. I would have more sympathy but Russia isn't hitting just ISIS and Turkey is enjoying oil from ISIS.

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by jyl

Russia and Turkey will talk tough, but neither want escalation.

Russia also wants ISIS to be attacked (ISIS has actually threatened attacks on Russia more than any other country).

Russia will keep its aircraft further from the border. More anti aircraft missiles will be moved into Syria, by the US (supply to rebels) and the Russians. It will be harder for Russian aircraft to operate in Syria (rebels shot down a Russian helicopter trying to rescue the pilots). US-supplied anti tank missiles will make life harder for Russian-backed government forces on the ground. It may also be harder for the US, France, etc to bomb ISIS targets in Syria (if they overfly government controlled areas). This is a recipe for an increasing stalemate in Syria.

They hit it with a TOW after it landed due to some malfunction. One of the soldiers in the helo was killed.

[GH85Carrera]

So Iran & Russia are helping us fight against Daesh. Now one of our allies shoots down a Russian aircraft or two.

Next we need China to step just for fun.

Crazy times.

[KNS]

Russia has stated that it is not prepared to go to war over this but I don't think they're going to give Turkey a pass either. Another similar incident could be bad.

[flipper35]

Glen, Russia is fighting its own war against ISIS as well as the rebels against the Assad regime.

[jyl]

Iran and Russia are hardly helping fight ISIS. Iran loves seeing ISIS do its stuff. Russia has been striking non-ISIS rebels mostly, their main goal so far has been to support Assad.

[motion]

If its not already WWIII, it may be soon. It seems clear that IS's goal is to draw as many countries into this mess as possible. So far, its been everyone vs. IS, but this new US/Russia angle is troubling.

[flipper35]

My understanding is China is looking to get involved against IS as well after the recent beheadings.

I am not sure NATO will get involved if it comes out Turkey did something stupid again.

[GWN7]

Russia has stated they will now be sending attack aircraft to support their bombers in there support of Assad. They realise that a power vacuum would result in the removal of Assad which is exactly what happened in Iraqi when Saddam was removed. Many members of the Baath party are leaders in ISIS.

The US has been supplying "the rebels" in Southern Syria with supplies (weapons and ammo) but it turns out they are actually ISIS. "Ooops we dropped those supplies in the wrong place". In the 21st century with GPS how does that happen?

Anybody find out where all those Toyota trucks came from?

[Otter74]

Nothing to worry about, they were just celebrating Thanksgiving:

[David]

Sounds like Russia just attacked a humanitarian convey in Syria near the Turkish border. I can see turkey declaring a no fly zone 10 miles outside their border and shooting down more Russian planes. The Turkish president seems to have the same balls as Putin so this could get very ugly. As soon as Russia hits a Turkish plane in Turkish airspace it will be on NATO to defend Turkey and all hell will break loose.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Putin is the only leader left from the Cold War. It's what he knows, and well. And no one else does. So with a failed economy, he's got to reignite the Cold War.

Everyone ignored him when he took Crimea. And kicked him out of the G8.

Syria is his last chance to remain relevant on the World Stage.

So expect more provocation on his part.

[Bill Douglas]

I had always joked it would be good if China got involved in the fight against IS. About a billion well armed soldiers in a line from north to south and marching east killing every suspected IS person along the way. Now it seems quite a good idea.

[dan88911]

Maybe North Korean should joined the fight all this makes for an excuse to use the missiles they have stock piled for years.

[sc_rufctr]

I'm sure they'll work it our diplomatically but...

What I find more interesting is that an F-16 was able to shoot down a Russian SU-24!

Both old air frames but the SU-24 is still in front line service with the Russians.
... Imagine if it had to go up against an F-22 Raptor

[wdfifteen]

Things are getting real serious now. Putin is deploying anti-aircraft missiles to Syria. The plane over Turkey may have been a provocation to provide cover for deployment of AA missiles - aimed at US planes. This is a major escalation IMHO.