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© 2015 AFPTurkey allows U.S. planes to bomb IS from Incirlik base
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© 2015 AFP
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nandakandamanda
No more Mr Nice Guy, eh?
I am guessing Turkey had an unspoken agreement with IS which possibly they feel was broken by the recent rally bombing.
Interesting that all the talk in the article above is by US spokespeople, and almost nothing by the central figure, Turkey. That says a lot.
CrazyJoe
Without Turkey's help, ISIS will not be where it is today. Turkey turned a blind eye to more than 20 thousand foreign fighters who traveled through Turkey to join ISIS, Turkey let ISIS trade and sell oil and has been a source of weapons and revenue for ISIS. Now the tables have turned and Turkey realizes that Erdogan's dream is turning into a nightmare, instead of gaining more territory Turkey risks loosing more than half of its landmass; the areas where ethnic Kurds are the majority.
team player
I guess Turkey has decided that ISIS is even more of a threat than the Kurds!
I just cannot remember when bombing ever defeated an enemy like this.
Elbuda Mexicano
The Middle East is one huge MESS! Sure the Turks do not like the Kurds and are none too happy to see the Kurds fighting off the ISIS, ISIL, Al QAEDA etc..and gaining ground and making the regular Turkish army look like wimps but if ISIL etc...does start attacking Turks in Turkey, Turkey will have way more to lose, than some off the wall Kurdistan being contemplated in Northern Iraq.
SuperLib
Why isn't Russia helping Syria? Did they have a falling out?
nandakandamanda
While the US moves her bombers into Turkey, Russia moves hers to Crimea.
Madverts
They simply can't afford it.
Paying 'bots to troll the internet is the only foreign intervention you're going to see these days, largely for autistic dictator Putin's ego, but also for those hardcore patriotic Russians that still pine for their former Soviet "glory".
lostrune2
Turkey also did their own bombing run against ISIS to avenge the death of their soldier via ISIS' hands.
They should still help their allies; that's what's friends for.
Hahaha, but they can't hit targets, isn't that right too?
Asakaze
Madverts, old chum, you're not consistent. A couple of days ago you claimed that Russians soldiers are fighting at Donbass, and now you're saying that Russia "can't afford" an intervention. Please choose one assertion, you can't have them both.
@lostrune2
And they do it. Why Syrian air force is still flying, what do you think?
Madverts
I said Russia was capable of nothing but fomenting violence on weak neighbouring countries sharing her border these days. Which is true.
Pfff. That's what you call helping an ally? Cashing the last few cheques for third rate Russian military equipment as the regime crumbles in Damascus?
Please.
Asakaze
@Madverts
Not true. The reason is different - the Russian military doctrine just don't envisage overseas expeditions like in Libya or Mali or Iraq, no need for that. That's the difference between Russia and the West, Russia does not force its values on other countries and do not bomb them if they disagree.
Pffff!! That the Assad government is crumbling I hear since 2011. And it is not the size of instrument that matters, it is how you use it - that's matters! US poured billions of dollars in Afghanistan, and? Billions of dollars in Iraq, and? Whith all that funding and US-backing Iraqi army just collapsed last summer. To me Moscow's policy looks more clever and cost-effective.
Madverts
Your comments are laughable in light of recent Russian expansionism.
Yeah, so you can't afford to defend that naval base in Syria. I guess you'll just have to keep begging the Americans my friend.
Me, I'm just here to see how your compatriot above - our man in St Petersburg - morphs his agenda now that Turkey have finally chucked their love spuds on the barbecue. Note his failure to reply. Tinfoil on stand by.....
Wc626
LoL, look at our commander-in-chief. No spine in ME unless kissing up to axis of evil nations like Iran. The US Air Force can decimate that entire region, but what would the rest of global opinion say?
Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Besides, how can you nuke them into the stone-age when they're still living in the stone age?
Asakaze
Facts, please, and we'll laugh together. And for the West wars in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria - it is not expansionism? Or, yes, it's just "White Man's burden", I see.
First, there have been no attacks on Tartus. Second, if anti-Assad attack it, they (and you) are for a big surprise.
Here you again! My stubborn friend, one more time: St.Petersburg is sure a nice city, but I live in Tokyo. Ask your collegues from GCHQ. And I do not work for Putin. Need tinfoil?
Madverts
I realize English is not your mother tongue but I'm not talking about you here. Just your compatriot. Burning Bush. He's getting paid for what he does so ask yourself who's the sucker. But I digress;
Funny to see you mention Afghanistan after the misery Russia left there. You could say that the misery today in Afghanistan was started by the failed Russian occupation, no? Back when Russia was doing what you claim they are too smart to do?
As usual, your obfuscation doesn't cut it. The question is why won't Russia defend her so-called ally Assad.
The answer is because Putin's Russia has chosen a path of isolation and economic ruin. They cannot afford it. Just like Iran, it will be brought to it's knees, despite the shrieking of the insane people in the Republican party.
I'm keen to hear Burning Bush's flip-flop now. Not so long ago it was CIA and Blackwater before ISIL. Now Turkey are bombing Daesh the Putinbot's face a new story dilemma...
jeff198527
The U.S. is too broke to "decimate" anything. That strategy didn't work in Afghanistan or Iraq. It just caused more chaos.
SuperLib
I was asking an honest question. Why isn't Russia doing more to help their ally? How did they get sidelined so easily after standing next to Assad in the beginning?
Asakaze
@Madverts
I see your not so sophisticated tactics - just call your opponents "putinbots", change subjects and ignore questions you don't like. Too obvious, not persuasive.
After all its wars and invasions since 90s the West and its paid and unpaid bots completely and forever lost all moral high ground to give lectures on freedom, democracy and accuse other countries. Nevertheless, I'll answer this. USSR not only fought in Afghanistan, but also helped a lot in national building - Soviets built many schools, hospitals, a lot of infrastructure, trained many local specialists. How many hospitals and schools did the West build in Afghanistan and Iraq, how many doctors and teachers did it train? Who we'll recall you kindly there, wheh you're finally kicked out, except local hookers and booze dealers?
Russia does not need to "defend" Assad on the battlefield, he can defend himself. Russia provides logistic and political support, that's quite enough.
lol. No, LOL!!! You're pipedreaming, my friend. Russia has robust political and economic relations with BRICS countries, Asia, Middle East, Latin America, even with some EU countries (they circumvent US sanctions). Obama thanked Russia for its support with Iranian nuke deal. And you call it isolation and ruin?? LOL!!
@SuperLib
And I ask you an honest question: what do you mean by "more help"? Syrian planes are flying, tanks are rolling, armories are full. What else? Ever heard Syrians complaining about lack of support?
SuperLib
Asakaze, meet Burning Bush. Burning Bush, meet Asakaze.
Discuss.
Asakaze
Thank you! Oh, SuperLib, meet Madverts. Madverts, meet SuperLib. Enjoy.
SuperLib
Nice to meet you, Madverts!
lostrune2
But it's Burning Bush saying Russia is not involved.
How can ya talk about waste when targeting remote pickup trucks would be a bigger waste?!
Hours worth of premium jet fuel, million-dollar bomb, on a $10k truck with a few militants.
They're making better use of their bombs rather than targeting mere pickups.
Remember, would ya rather use that bomb on a command post or bridge or a pickup that ya can just steal another one on any street? And there's hundreds if not thousands of those trucks! So multiply those million-dollar bombs by hundreds or thousands! So now which one is costing a lot more for much lower returns? So don't talk waste when you'd be the one wasting those million-dollar bombs.
Asakaze
@lostrune2
Directly, on the battlefield - not involved. Logistic support - yes.
lostrune2
Imagine, right about now, Assad is wishing their ally is doing more for a true friend.
SuperLib
You are (intentionally) only looking at half the conversation. BB claims that Russia could end this quickly, but they choose not to. When I hear that it seems natural to ask why Russia isn't doing more to help their ally. Then you come in and tell us that Russia is helping. That's great, but we are having a conversation with someone who believes ISIS could be destroyed in a short amount of time. It seems that doing that would help a lot more than refueling planes.
So, in the context of our conversation, why isn't Russia doing more to help their ally? Obviously whatever help they are giving them isn't doing much.