Nostalgic, the second bold highlighted line contradicts the first. The second line is probably correct. The first assumes that you agree with the west's interpretation of Russia's game plan.
Can only go on the news as reported and trust the BBC to be the most accurate. The Russian approach to their aerial contribution is a danger to the better organised and directed allied Air Forces. Russia needs a naval base in the Med and that would be lost if Assad falls to either IS or rebels. Sit back and take over when pieces need putting back together. It may be simplistic but when a strategy is being wrecked by a third party back out for a while and then recommence.
You don't need me to tell you to question everything you're told mate. We're all influenced by the perspective our own news agencies give us. And their perspective is influenced by the environment that created them. Agree about the Russians needing a base for their mediterranean fleet though. That's a given. That and their fear of fundementalist Islams influence in their southern provinces. I agree with the idea of giving the Russians a go at fixing America's mess. Why not? But the result would be a victorious Assad with Hezbollah and Shia backing. Consider a victorious Iran from Israeli and Saudi eyes. That will only encourage the right-wing hawks in Israel and Saudi to take Iran on more directly. That's when the **** really hits the fan.
The original intention of containing IS has been wrecked by russia? Im a bit confused by that part. By containing do you mean letting them run amock. Slaughteting thousands. Taking hostages and making videos of their killing. Destroying world heritage cities (where they also execute the old people looking after them). Encourage their fellow nutters to attack anything that moves. Is that the containment you refer to?
Containing them to their current holdings which was being done by NATO airstrikes and Turkish Kurds along with Iraqi and Syrian so called freedom fighters. Take a look at the border between Syria and Turkey if IS turn west then policing that will be close to impossible needing strong NATO presence. This could also be Putin's intention all along, thereby stopping them getting into his backyard. Keeping them fighting where they are will do for me. As an ex- military man I am sure you are aware of the need for containment at times and if they choose to behave as they are then all the more reason that the other Arab nations should view IS as the greater long term danger.
I dont see to much containment mate. They have virtually done what they please for quite some time. A few air and a few special forces. Do you think it needs troops on the ground?
Without a doubt troops will be needed but rather they were Russian than NATO, interesting part will be resupply to them once Turkey denies Russian military or suspected sailings through Bosphorous. Resupply by air leaves some nice big juicy targets for "SAMs.
This the arms dealers that fuel the wars around the world; how else would they thrive? what I am having difficulty in believing is that a force of 12,000 IS nutters are holding so much land without any serious military surveillance of their own and without air power. They have also been attacked on a daily basis for weeks, which I am assuming has taken out supply dumps, control points and the like. They are now also being targeted in Syria by the Russians, whom I am sure are (besides taking out any of Assad's opposition) doing the same. IS must have been given a huuuuge package of arms and ammunition for them to have anything left to fight with and the earlier estimates from the BBC that they numbered 12000, cannot be accurate I hope there are people hunting down those that supplied the money and the weapons for IS and targeting them as well; BM is also right, no one can believe anything that comes out from the press any more, the murky world of extremists and governments highlighted even more by the bombing of a peace rally in Turkey. Was it IS, the PKK, or elements of the Turkish government; WTF next.............Patagonia does look a good place to live, even if they have huge tarantula spiders, because the Middle East looks like it could have a very bright future For a few seconds.
