It is a strange one, and some are saying that it may be to draw NATO closer into their dispute with Russia over the Kurdish problems in Turkey. I'm sure it will all come out in the wash in the coming days who were actually responsible.
This is the one Putin 'will let them have', do it again and I've no doubt Russia will retaliate, maybe even go as far as a declaration of war...
Maybe this poke in the eye and some diplomatic moves will bring Putin into the 21st century and make him realise Russia is just part of a world that is not against it. He has had too long playing the nationalist cards.
A Russian marine has been killed on a helicopter mission to rescue the crew of a jet downed by Turkey near the Syrian border on Tuesday. He died when his helicopter came under fire from rebels in northern Syria, where the plane crashed. The head of Nato said it stood in solidarity with Turkey as the Kremlin warned of "serious consequences". Breaking off military contacts with Turkey, Russia's defence ministry said a cruiser equipped with an air defence system would be deployed in the Mediterranean to destroy "any targets representing a potential danger" for Russian forces in Syria. Russian bombers carrying out air strikes over Syria will now be escorted by fighters, the military said. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-34917485
Probably was Turkey shooting down the Russian plane, but from what ive been reading, it was 4 miles on the Syrian side. Turkey is pissed off at Russia for taking out ISIS oil refineries and truck convoys, as Turkey has supposedly been buying oil from ISIS at a discounted price. This pic happened a few days ago, with Russia taking out a convoy of 500 tankers bound either for Iraq for processing, or Turkey. please log in to view this image This whole thing is getting to be one big ****ing mess. The Turks are fighting the Kurds, who are fighting ISIS and an ally of the US, the Russians are bombing the **** out of ISIS - showing the Yanks how it should be done; now the Turks are potentially going to get ****ed over by them. Europes getting ****ed by Syria/African immigrants. The French are now involved, potentially China aswell. Can see one country shooting down someone else's plane again, and it all kicking off. The relationships between all involved are sketchy at best, and although there is potential for strengthening these relationships over a common enemy, it also has the potential for some to get carried away and start taking more and more. When ISIS is destroyed, will the US allow Russia to take over Eastern Syria and the oilfields? Will Russia allow the US to kick out Assad? What is China's goal in all this?
With this plane being shot down, the stakes are becoming really high now. I think this has now eclipsed the Syria/Iraq war and now we have a stand off between NATO and Russia that just happens to be played out in the Middle East. Putin is a very dangerous man very keen to show how tough his country is. The next couple of days will be very interesting and could be very worrying.
In a weird way Comm, I actually feel safer than I would if I were in a big city in Europe. But just this week we have been notified to keep out of a couple of Malls here in the UAE. I believe they found a load of weapons that was supposed to belong to ISIS sympathizers, but its just talk and I'm not sure how true it is...but we have the F1 here this weekend and National day is next week so I guess the security forces here are on top alert for any crap that could come our way.
I think so, we have quite a few foreign forces based here and this part of the region has been well patrolled by these forces. The local forces are pretty good as well, but they are currently engaged in the conflict in Yeman so they could be stretched. But whatever way you look at it Comm' worrying days. Seems like it wouldn't;t now take much for the S4it to hit the fan in a big way.
Good post Haggis. The only bit I'd disagree with is China getting involved. They're more concerned about us wasting billions of dollars while their economy is dipping. It could encourage them to flex their muscles in their neck of the woods though while the world is distracted in the Middle East. Turkey / Russia will get sorted without the need for any military histrionics. The ruski's are already comimg out with economic sanctions of sorts.
Tell you what, I hope we don't back Turkey if the Russians want to wipe the floor with them. ****ing sick of us fighting on behalf of others, let Turkey get on with it, if they want to drop Russian strike jets out of the sky then let them deal with the consequences. I've lost count of the amount of times our Typhoons have 'escorted' Blackjacks and Bears out of our airspace, it's done diplomatically and without retribution. We don't all have to get along, but we don't have to go to the opposite extreme.
Obama sees Turkey as a massive ally, which worries me from a lapdog point of view. The Yanks have so much aerial capability they really don't need us helping them, the Russians know they couldn't compete in Air to Air combat, the Yanks also have far more military capability in the region, so their only real option is defence and defending Syria. If Putin reaches for the S400 battery bet your last quid the Yanks will want to see what it can do.
The more I read about what has gone on, the more I see myself siding with Russia. Turkey have definitely overreacted with this one. I feel Putin is right with his actions in Syria by backing Assad too. It makes me sick that we will naturally take the side of the ****ing greasy slimy scruffy Turks over Russia
