Puts the transfer window in perspective
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Russia
- Thread starter summerisle
- Start date
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Lol sure does pal. Good work on keeping the thread up to date by the way.
summerisle
The rain, it raineth every day
All part of The Great Game
summerisle
The rain, it raineth every day
It's getting even messier in Syria. Co-operation with Assad and Russia, or a further developing of a frosty cold war in the Middle East ?
TOP NEWS
Mon Sep 7, 2015 | 2:19 PM EDT
U.S. asks Greece to deny Russian flights to Syria
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R), Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) and Syrian Foreig..
But the idea has been rejected by enemies including the United States and Saudi Arabia, who see Assad as part of the problem.
A senior U.S. official told Reuters on Saturday that U.S. authorities have detected "worrisome preparatory steps," including transport of prefabricated housing units for hundreds of people to a Syrian airfield, that could signal that Russia is preparing to deploy heavy military assets there.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Moscow's exact intentions remained unclear but that Kerry called Lavrov to leave no doubt about the U.S. position.
A Syrian military official has said Syrian-Russian military relations have witnessed a "big shift" in recent weeks.
ENLARGING RUNWAYS IN THE NORTH
The United States and Turkey are planning to open a new front against Islamic State in an area of northern Syria near the border with Turkey. They aim to drive the jihadists from the area with the help of rebels on the ground.
A Lebanese newspaper reported on Monday that Russian military experts who arrived in Syria weeks ago have been inspecting air bases and working to enlarge some runways, particularly in the north, though Moscow had yet to meet a Syrian request for attack helicopters.
As-Safir, citing a Syrian source, said there had been "no fundamental change" in Russian forces on the ground in Syria, saying they were "still operating in the framework of experts, advisers, and trainers".
As-Safir said the Russians had "started moving towards a qualitative initiative in the armament relationship for the first time since the start of the war on Syria, with a team of Russian experts beginning to inspect Syrian military airports weeks ago, and they are working to expand some of their runways, particularly in the north of Syria."
The newspaper, which is well-connected in Damascus, said nothing had been decided about "the nature of the weapons that Damascus might receive, though the Syrians asked to be supplied with more than 20 Russian attack helicopters, of the Mi-28 type".
French President Francois Hollande, who announced on Monday France would begin reconnaissance missions over Syria, said it was important to talk to all countries that support a political transition in Syria, including Russia.
When asked to comment on the reports of Russian military aid to Syria, he said:
"Russia is an ally of the regime, but it doesn't mean that Russia is an unwavering supporter of Bashar al-Assad. We will have discussions. What Russia wants is to also find a solution."
Germany also voiced concern on Monday about reports that Russia was moving toward a military build-up in Syria.
A Syrian military official declined to comment on the details of As-Safir's report, but reiterated previous comments that Syrian-Russian military ties had witnessed a "big shift" in recent weeks.
The official said the Russian shift was prompted by the danger represented by Islamic State and other groups fighting the Syrian state.
"It is obvious that the Russians will be more resolute in dealing with this situation. This forms a danger to the allies of Russia," the official said.
TOP NEWS
Mon Sep 7, 2015 | 2:19 PM EDT
U.S. asks Greece to deny Russian flights to Syria
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R), Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) and Syrian Foreig..
But the idea has been rejected by enemies including the United States and Saudi Arabia, who see Assad as part of the problem.
A senior U.S. official told Reuters on Saturday that U.S. authorities have detected "worrisome preparatory steps," including transport of prefabricated housing units for hundreds of people to a Syrian airfield, that could signal that Russia is preparing to deploy heavy military assets there.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Moscow's exact intentions remained unclear but that Kerry called Lavrov to leave no doubt about the U.S. position.
A Syrian military official has said Syrian-Russian military relations have witnessed a "big shift" in recent weeks.
ENLARGING RUNWAYS IN THE NORTH
The United States and Turkey are planning to open a new front against Islamic State in an area of northern Syria near the border with Turkey. They aim to drive the jihadists from the area with the help of rebels on the ground.
A Lebanese newspaper reported on Monday that Russian military experts who arrived in Syria weeks ago have been inspecting air bases and working to enlarge some runways, particularly in the north, though Moscow had yet to meet a Syrian request for attack helicopters.
As-Safir, citing a Syrian source, said there had been "no fundamental change" in Russian forces on the ground in Syria, saying they were "still operating in the framework of experts, advisers, and trainers".
As-Safir said the Russians had "started moving towards a qualitative initiative in the armament relationship for the first time since the start of the war on Syria, with a team of Russian experts beginning to inspect Syrian military airports weeks ago, and they are working to expand some of their runways, particularly in the north of Syria."
The newspaper, which is well-connected in Damascus, said nothing had been decided about "the nature of the weapons that Damascus might receive, though the Syrians asked to be supplied with more than 20 Russian attack helicopters, of the Mi-28 type".
French President Francois Hollande, who announced on Monday France would begin reconnaissance missions over Syria, said it was important to talk to all countries that support a political transition in Syria, including Russia.
When asked to comment on the reports of Russian military aid to Syria, he said:
"Russia is an ally of the regime, but it doesn't mean that Russia is an unwavering supporter of Bashar al-Assad. We will have discussions. What Russia wants is to also find a solution."
Germany also voiced concern on Monday about reports that Russia was moving toward a military build-up in Syria.
A Syrian military official declined to comment on the details of As-Safir's report, but reiterated previous comments that Syrian-Russian military ties had witnessed a "big shift" in recent weeks.
The official said the Russian shift was prompted by the danger represented by Islamic State and other groups fighting the Syrian state.
"It is obvious that the Russians will be more resolute in dealing with this situation. This forms a danger to the allies of Russia," the official said.
Is it not a good thing that the Russians are actually doing something?Helpful intervention from Putin. I wonder how many refugees are heading towards Russia ?
Russian jets in Syrian skies
Russia has begun its military intervention in Syria, deploying an aerial contingent to a permanent Syrian base, in order to launch attacks against ISIS and Islamist rebels; US stays silent.
Alex Fishman
Published: 08.31.15, 15:34 / Israel News
Russian fighter pilots are expected to begin arriving in Syria in the coming days, and will fly their Russian air force fighter jets and attack helicopters against ISIS and rebel-aligned targets within the failing state.
According to Western diplomats, a Russian expeditionary force has already arrived in Syria and set up camp in an Assad-controlled airbase. The base is said to be in area surrounding Damascus, and will serve, for all intents and purposes, as a Russian forward operating base.
In the coming weeks thousands of Russian military personnel are set to touch down in Syria, including advisors, instructors, logistics personnel, technical personnel, members of the aerial protection division, and the pilots who will operate the aircraft.
A formation of Russian Mig 31's (Photo: Reuters)
Past reports have stated that the Russians were in talks to sell the Syrians a package of MiG-29 fighter jets, and Yak-130 trainer jets (which can also serve as attack aircraft.) The current makeup of the expeditionary force is still unknown, but there is no doubt that Russian pilots flying combat missions in Syrian skies will definitely change the existing dynamics in the Middle East.
The Russians do not harbor offensive intentions towards Israel or other sovereign states in the area, and their main stated goal is battling ISIS and preserving Assad's rule. However, their presence will represent a challenge to the Israeli Air Force's freedom of operation in the skies above the Middle East.
Western diplomatic sources recently reported that a series of negotiations had been held between the Russians and the Iranians, mainly focusing on ISIS and the threat it poses to the Assad regime. The infamous Iranian Quds Force commander Major General Qasem Soleimani recently visited Moscow in the framework of these talks. As a result the Russians and the Iranians reached a strategic decision: Make any effort necessary to preserve Assad's seat of power, so that Syria may act as a barrier, and prevent the spread of ISIS and Islamist backed militias into the former Soviet Islamic republics.
Russian Air force air craft (Photo: Reuters)
The Russians are not the only ones coordinating their Middle East policy with the Iranians; The US has also jumped aboard that train. American government officials have been holding intensive consultations with representatives of the Iranian regime concerning a stronger joint effort against ISIS in Iraq. It seems that the US government currently views Iran as a central and necessary force in the campaign against ISIS within Iraq.
The Iranian-American cooperation is focused on two focal points: The first being Anbar province, where the Iraqis have thus far failed to expel ISIS; and the second Mosul, where the Iraqis have yet to come up with a feasible plan to recapture the city.
Western diplomatic sources have emphasized that the Obama administration is fully aware of the Russian intent to intervene directly in Syria, but has yet to issue any reaction. The absence of a vocal opposition from the Obama administration is compounded by its cessation of calls for the dissolution of Assad's murderous regime.
This and more: The Iranians and the Russians- with the US well aware- have begun the struggle to reequip the Syrian army, which has been left in tatters by the civil war. They intend not only to train Assad's army, but to also equip it. During the entire duration of the civil war, the Russians have consistently sent a weapons supply ship to the Russian held port of Tartus in Syria on a weekly basis. The ships would bring missiles, replacement parts, and different types of ammunition for the Syrian army.
A Russian Air Force Mig 31 (Photo: Reuters)
Arab media outlets have recently published reports that Syria and Russia were looking for an additional port on the Syrian coast, which will serve the Russians in their mission to hasten the pace of the Syrian rearmament.
In the meantime, Assad's army is in full scale retreat in the strategic province of Idlib. Mere days ago, a force from the Jaesh Al Fatah (A coalition or rebel groups including Jabhat al-Nusra) advanced on the Abu Duhur military airfield in southwestern Syria's Iblib province, which borders on Latika. Alwaite and Christian residents of the area have fled to the last remaining Alawite Bantustans along the country's coastline.
Even Turkey, which has so far avoided any action which would strengthen Assad, has had to come to terms with the Russian-Iranian move and the resulting American silence, leading it to launch its own bombing campaign again.
peteblue
Welcome back Wayne
Normally no, but I think that the USA and Co will now have to put a bit more effort in against ISIS unless they want the Russians to show them how to do it.......
The UK/US are now panicking that the Russians/Iranians/Hezbollah/Syrian army will get the upper hand in Syria. And they are unsure where this will end. This is the basis that the UK announced that RAF pilots were attacking ISIS as 'coalition' forces. It was a softening up of the UK public for what they really planned to do, which was to use military force in Syria despite it going 'against the wishes/vote of parliament'.
We are witnessing a re-run of Blair's lying Weapons of Mass Destruction, 'Saddam Hussein will launch attacks on the UK in 45 minutes - bull to 'justify' to use of military force in Iraq. Mind you, the Labour government did use anti terror legislation against that well known 'terrorist state' Iceland during the financial crash of 2008 because it 'threatened national security'.
The more the Russian/Hezbollah/Iranians/Syrians get rid of those Saudi financed US encouraged anti Assad 'army' the more likely that there will be US/UK 'boots on the ground' to halt 'Russian expansionism in the Middle East'.
We are witnessing a re-run of Blair's lying Weapons of Mass Destruction, 'Saddam Hussein will launch attacks on the UK in 45 minutes - bull to 'justify' to use of military force in Iraq. Mind you, the Labour government did use anti terror legislation against that well known 'terrorist state' Iceland during the financial crash of 2008 because it 'threatened national security'.
The more the Russian/Hezbollah/Iranians/Syrians get rid of those Saudi financed US encouraged anti Assad 'army' the more likely that there will be US/UK 'boots on the ground' to halt 'Russian expansionism in the Middle East'.
peteblue
Welcome back Wayne
Only those of you that haven't got a nuclear bomb proof cellar, the rest of us will be fine.......
neil999
Player Valuation: £80m
darn it
Whistlin' Dixie
Player Valuation: £50m
Blues Harp
Player Valuation: £60m
Dat comet gonna finish us all off in 2 weeks so no worries......ha ha
Alex123
Player Valuation: £225k
The fact that Putin’s hideous atrocities in Chechnya were supported by the UK and US tells anyone with a single functioning brain cell that Russia is in the crosshairs at the moment not because of its Blairesque human rights abuses, but for other reasons; namely, those outlined in the Pentagon’s Defence Planning Guidance for the Fiscal Years 1994-1999:
It was a similar story with the old Soviet Union. Bolshevik atrocities were useful for propaganda purposes, but the primary threat US planners perceived was that of an independent developing nation not bowing its head to US power, and succeeding, thus providing a demonstration effect and hence increasing the possibility of falling dominos:
"Remember," George Kennan said, "it is not Russian military power which is threatening us, it is Russian political power."
Similar story now, only with different names.
Our first objective is to prevent the re-emergence of a new rival, either on the territory of the former Soviet Union or elsewhere, that poses a threat on the order of that posed formerly by the Soviet Union. ... [W]e must account sufficiently for the interests of the advanced industrial nations to discourage them from challenging our leadership or seeking to overturn the established political and economic order. ... [W]e must maintain the mechanisms for deterring potential competitors from even aspiring to a larger regional or global role. (Quoted in William Blum, Killing Hope: US Military and CIA Interventions Since World War II, Zed Books updated edition, 2014, pp. 383)
It was a similar story with the old Soviet Union. Bolshevik atrocities were useful for propaganda purposes, but the primary threat US planners perceived was that of an independent developing nation not bowing its head to US power, and succeeding, thus providing a demonstration effect and hence increasing the possibility of falling dominos:
the USSR … has been able to do it all. We need always reflect that for the less developed countries of Asia, the USSR’s economic achievement is a highly relevant one. That the USSR was able to industrialize rapidly, and as they see it from scratch is, despite any misgivings about the Communist system, an encouraging fact to these nations. (US State Department, quoted in Dennis Merrill, Bread and the Ballot: The United States and India's Economic Development, University of North Carolina Press, 1990, pp. 123)
"Remember," George Kennan said, "it is not Russian military power which is threatening us, it is Russian political power."
Similar story now, only with different names.
What did Putin do in Chechnya?
Alex123
Player Valuation: £225k
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