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Turkey shoots down Russian warplane

66 Comments
By SUZAN FRASER and NATALIYA VASILYEVA

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66 Comments
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Burning Bush

The fact that they summarily executed the pilot in direct violation of the Geneva convention and any and all standards of human decency doesn't really lend any credence to your argument that these are the good guys here.

Do some research before you pull the trigger BB. The Russians have been attacking the Turkmen rebels opposed the the Assad regime - they have been bombing them and in all likelihood that's what they were doing when taken downtown by the Turkish Airforce. Clearly why the Rebels reacted the way they did to the pilots.

And for clarity, the SU-24 in question, did not conduct any sorties in that area, it was flying back to base from an anti-ISIS sortie.

Your source please?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Super,

Pretty much sums it up, old friend.

Was JT always such a hotbed of radicalism and intolerance or did we just get older and wiser?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Video so far suggests that the Su-30s are busy escorting the much more valuable (and vulnerable) strategic bombers, especially the Tu-160s. The Russians brought a somewhat-small number of air superiority fighters (6, I think), so there's not enough escorts to go around. Also, the Su-24s are both slightly more capable of self-defense or evasion, and are more expendable, so it's unsurprising they've been flying around without escorts, and probably will continue to do so, at least if they are far from Turkish airspace.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@Tamarama"It's a Russian error".

The main and fatal error was that bombers hadn't been escorted by interceptors. I think the situation has already changed.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

We have been already in an unsymmetrical warfare, now we are getting close to the "real deal".

0 ( +0 / -0 )

*LagunaNov. 24, 2015 - 10:58PM JST

Good point, Olegek. Now that the EU, Egypt and Turkey are no-go areas for Russians, one wonders where they will vacation.*

Please don't let it be Japan !! The last thing we need is arrogant Russians holidaying here.

About the above news ...

How many times has Russia violated our airspace and the airspace of Canada, England, Norway, Sweden, (the list goes on).... ? >>>>> so many times, and the incursions are increasing year by year.

Do you think Russia would allow so many incursions into it's airspace ?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The Plane flew through right through Turkish airspace - in fact directly over Turkey itself. So not only is it very, very close to the border - it's deliberately crossing over, so the actions of Russia are provocative at best and reckless and stupid at worst. It's a Russian error.

Secondly, the Russians are operating in areas held by Turkmen rebels fighting against both the Assad regime AND ISIS. The Russians have faced widespread condemnation for their attacks against such groups, so the question has to be asked, who were they attacking as part of the sortie? Reading the Turkish President's comments, you have to think they were, or have been attacking the Turkmen, who subsequently killed one of the pilots.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

@BurningB The plane went down 4 km inside Syrian territory.

What is your source?

According to Reuters: Russian President Vladimir Putin said the plane had been attacked when it was 1 km (0.62 mile) inside Syria

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/24/us-mideast-crisis-syria-turkey-idUSKBN0TD0IR20151124#7EMB2zVG0Td1QUrx.97

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

You said Russia would eliminate ISIS in a matter of days if they got their military involved. I told you I would be waiting a couple of months after Russia's attacks started asking why ISIS is still around. So far ISIS is alive and well and took down a Russian airliner. Now you've lost another plane.

How's that few days working out for you?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Well it looks like a couple of idiots got themselves into a fine mess.

Turkey isn't fighting ISIS. They are trying to advance their own interests. It's true that Russia often violates airspace but shooting the plane down creates more problems than it solves. There is a bigger picture in play here.

And Russia isn't fighting ISIS. They are bombing non-ISIS targets right on the damn Turkish border and even flying into Turkey on occasion. Just arrogant and dumb as a tactic.

Now these two idiots tripped up and things are escalating in a way that benefits ISIS.

Madverts: Not being blinded by religious or nationalistic poop I can only ask "WTF is really going on over there? This isn't going to end well.

Pretty much sums it up, old friend.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

@Fadamor

Russia is bombing rebel positions while pretending they're there to fight ISIS positions.

@ChopChop

Obviously, Russian military is bombing on all Syrian President Assad’s opponents and not jut bombing on ISIS and Al >Qaida affiliated militias.

Has Putin ever explicitly stated that he was solely interested in fighting ISIS? I think all along Russia has stated it's there to fight "terrorists", and they consider pretty much everyone who isn't pro-Assad a terrorist.....which is consistent with their domestic approach in Chechnya/Dagestan/etc.

The Russian is always acting arrogant and do not respect other country air space and territory.

Couldn't the same be said of the Turks, who are busy killing Kurds inside Iraqi territory? Nobody has the moral high ground in this giant mess...

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Willi,

Again, where is the outrage? In a sane world, Turkey would be out of NATO pronto presto.

You have no idea what the facts are as yet. The last thing anyone needs in this particular instance is acting hysterically as you are suggesting.

Let's see the evidence first.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

NATO partner Turkey shoots down Russian planes who are bombing ISIS. Again, where is the outrage? In a sane world, Turkey would be out of NATO pronto presto.

But now it becomes ever clearer to see who supports ISIS: Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the US.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Winter is coming...

Heh, true that is. & It'll be a cold day in hell when obama does a 180 and actually helps old allies like the french and drop the cesspool allies like Turkey. Why do the (D) have to be such wusses all the time?

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

One Russian Pilot was shot dead in air by Turkmen Brigades after he parachute when their fighter jet was shot down by Turkey Air Force F16s. Other Pilot fate was unknown.

Russian Fighter Jets should not have violated Turkish air space again and again after Turkish Government complaining about Russian Jets violating Turkish air space in the past. Now the Russian arrogance behavior may have cost one or two pilots' lives and lost fighter jet. Who has to blame for that accident? The answer is Russian Pilots and Russian Government.

The Russian is always acting arrogant and do not respect other country air space and territory. Now the Russian Pilots have picking up the wrong one and they were went down.

How many times Russian Fighter Jets have been violating Japanese Air Space in this year alone? Russian Military and Government need to educate for how to behave in civilized manner and respect others regardless of the country was small or large or weak or powerful.

Russian fighter jets have no business to fly inside or near Turkey’s Air space because there are no ISIS militants. That area was controlling by groups of Syrian Liberation Army and Syrian refugees. Obviously, Russian military is bombing on all Syrian President Assad’s opponents and not jut bombing on ISIS and Al Qaida affiliated militias.

Now Western Alliance and Russia must get agreement for flying zone inside Syria. Also now it’s time to declare no-flying zone over some areas where no ISIS and Al Qaida affiliated militants are present and that areas are under control of free Syrian Army and other opposition armed groups that are supporting by US and its alliance. There are over 2,000 civilians were killed by Russian bombing in non ISIS and Al Qaida Militants control areas. Russian Air Force bombing should be concentrating on ISIS and Al Qaida affiliated militants controlled areas.

No Flying Zone should be established over non ISIS and Al Qaida controlled areas especially over along the Turkish and Syrian border area.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

This one is Obama's fault because of his administration's lead-from-behind foreign policy decisions pertaining to Syria and the "JV team" that he claimed was "contained".

Ha-Ha . . .TX is spot on!! The commander-in-retreat, likely to retreat further n' further. What a cowardly president.

Woke up to this news this morning. Turkey is a NATO member nation. If Russia decides to retaliate, it could mean the start of WWIII.

This is why the Turks need to dropped like a hot potato. This is why obama, NATO, along with France's president are in "severe negotiations" right now.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Turkey has been a trouble-maker these days. I think all of this happened in Syria, where Russia was given the right to operate in by the Syrian government. Tureky recently warned the Russians not to bomb the region in Syria where there's a Turkmen community, but I feel like they want Russia to stop bombing key oil refineries and depots operated by Islamists who then sell this bootleg oil and fuel to Turkey. We all know the Turkish government has been directly helping ISIS and the other opposition too since they dislike Assad for geopolitical reasons. Turkey behaving this way while being a NATO member says a lot (or says the obvious to NATO members in general).

4 ( +5 / -1 )

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/11/12/video-shows-turkish-mob-attacking-us-navy-sailors/

Turkey deserves whats coming to it.

They're anti-US. They cannot be trusted. Putin will make them sorry. They already "back-stabbed" the obama administration by allowing them to use their airbase . . . then do a 180 and immediately bomb the Kurds. Its total nonsense.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Woke up to this news this morning. Turkey is a NATO member nation. If Russia decides to retaliate, it could mean the start of WWIII.

This one is Obama's fault because of his administration's lead-from-behind foreign policy decisions pertaining to Syria and the "JV team" that he claimed was "contained". I feel sorry for whomever becomes the next POTUS because they'll have the job of cleaning up this and so many other messes he's created . . . .

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

They are supposed to be allies in the war against the psychopathic ISIS. Turkey has been untrustworthy from the start re its attitude to ISIS. Turkey deserves whats coming to it.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

a plane whose nationality is not known violated the Turkish airspace despite several warnings (10 times within five minutes)

At least they were kind enough to give a warning. Russia would have never done that even to a commercial airliner.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Winter is coming...

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Turkey is ISIS' and Al Qaida's de facto Air Force.

@BBush. The Turks are shady. Remember they allowed the US access to their airbase? . . . then immediately attacked Kurds.

The US needs to drop them like a "hot potato". The Saudis too. Looks like a big one is brewing in the ME. Everyone get your popcorn ready.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Starting the count down for Russian Army to move into Turkey.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Well within their rights perhaps..but how about giving the Russian plane a bit of a break. Russians are bombing the jihadis ( and let's do away with that " moderate, vetted " myth) so NATO and Turkey could co operate with the Russians a bit more. Contrast that with the Russian response in ordering it's naval forces in the area to fully cooperate with the French aircraft carrier group and treat them as " allies". NATO is really determined to loose as much credibility over Syria as possible.

Russia is bombing rebel positions while pretending they're there to fight ISIS positions. Even when presented with irrefutable proof that their "ISIS" bombing runs were conducted where ISIS has never been but "just by chance" rebel activity had actually been occurring, they still weakly stuck to their claims it was an attack on ISIS. I guess they believe if they say something is so enough times, it actually DOES become so.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Some news reports say that the Turks were angered that the Russians were targeting Syrian Turkmen - Syrian by nationality but ethnically Turkish, anti-Assad but not aligned with the ISIS in any way.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Wow. This is some news! You don't just shoot Russians down out of the sky like that.

I agree with BBush. There will be hell and high tide to pay down the road for this one. Maybe sooner or later, they might down a US warplane. And god help them cause obama won't do a damn thing.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

As if anyone needed to be reminded why they should forget GLONASS and stick with GPS... Joking aside, this was really unnecessary of the Turks. Russia has every right to be displeased by this.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Now Turkey is officially on record to play airforce for ISIS. What a great NATO ally! What is next, Obama declaring WW3? It is an outrage.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Not being blinded by religious or nationalistic poop I can only ask "WTF is really going on over there? This isn't going to end well.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Good point, Olegek. Now that the EU, Egypt and Turkey are no-go areas for Russians, one wonders where they will vacation.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

@jerseyboy"Good. About time someone shows Putin that international borders are to be respected"

@JeffLee"Putin and the Russians are incompetent idiots, especially when it comes to aviation "

I see some lousy western supporters of ISIS are celebrating. Well, he who laughs last, laughs longest.

That's the problem when people listen to and believe the MSM. They become clueless on what's really going on in the world and become cheerleaders for the zionists and globalists. Pretty sad if you think about it.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

So - by the way - in one day Turkey lost 5 millions Russian tourists which come every year....

3 ( +6 / -3 )

There's just too much at stake for it not to.

Famous last words.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Putin called the Turks - accomplices of terrorists.

And he declared that Russia will not tolerate such crimes...

4 ( +6 / -2 )

This is the hornet's nest the neocons want us to leap into?..... Only a complete goober would buy into this one...

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Noble713, good rundown of the scenarios - thanks: it's a bit too late at night to be considering full-scale regional war. Russia has been playing both sides of the game (more ant-anti Assad than anti-ISIS), but so has Turkey (more anti-Kurd than anything else). Perhaps this will aid them in getting their gamebooks straightened out.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

My guess is that cooler heads will prevail. There's just too much at stake for it not to.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Holy crap. Hope they find the pilots before ISIS barbecues them.

Seems they already killed at least one of the pilots.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9UJcX_UVB0

I didn't look at the video, but the caption states:

GRAPHIC: Russian Su-24 pilot surrounded by armed rebels, allegedly dead

The video posted online shows armed men around an alleged Russian pilot who seems to be unconscious and immobile. His face is bruised and bloodied. The men seem to be happy and are praising Allah, with some regretting that they hadn’t burned him on the spot.

I think some in Turkey were just pissed off that Russia cut off the IS oil supply. But this will just increase Russia's resolve in wiping out all the terrorists.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

@jerseyboy"Good. About time someone shows Putin that international borders are to be respected"

@JeffLee"Putin and the Russians are incompetent idiots, especially when it comes to aviation "

I see some lousy western supporters of ISIS are celebrating. Well, he who laughs last, laughs longest.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Scenario 1: Russian jet in Turkish airspace, shot down by Turkish jet. Response: Russia so far is claiming it was shot down by ground fire, perhaps to avoid the need to retaliate. Downplays incident and everyone moves along. Russia doesn't forget but screws Turkey over in the future. IMO the best Russian response would be something like "Hey, sorry we made a mistake and especially sorry because it cost the life of our pilot....but we are over here killing terrorists and doing good things. The French are with us and we cooperating. So, Turkey, are you part of the solution or part of the problem?"

Scenario 2: Russian jet in Turkish airspace, shot down by Turkish jet. Response: Direct Russian retaliation in some form, hopefully not an actual military response. Nothing positive can come from increased escalation/tensions in the region. Increased instability almost guaranteed.

Scenario 3: Russian jet in Turkish airspace, shot down by rebel ground fire. Response: ......who gave the rebels the MANPADs needed to hit aircraft @ 6,000 meters? Saudi Arabia or Qatar most likely.....No idea how Russia would handle this. Increased instability almost guaranteed.

Scenario 4: Russian jet in Syrian airspace, shot down by Turkish jet. Response: Turkey would be clearly in the wrong. Perhaps Russia demands reparations? Else see Scenario 1 Response.

Scenario 5: Russian jet in Syrian airspace, shot down by rebel ground fire. Response: see Scenario 3 Response.

Bottom line is.....expect things to get worse. I don't expect Russia to "turn the other cheek" on this one, so my Scenario 1 Response strikes me as unlikely.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Holy crap. Hope they find the pilots before ISIS barbecues them.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Putin and the Russians are incompetent idiots, especially when it comes to aviation.

Obama and NATO warned a while back that Russia's unilateral bravado would cause a fiasco. They are being proved right.

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

Turkey confirmed that it shot down a Russian warplane Tuesday, claiming it had violated Turkish airspace and ignored repeated warnings. Russia denied that the plane crossed the Syrian border into Turkish skies.

Good. About time someone shows Putin that international borders are to be respected.

Well within their rights perhaps..but how about giving the Russian plane a bit of a break. Russians are bombing the jihadis ( and let's do away with that " moderate, vetted " myth)

Nonsemse. Russia is there primarily to support the Syrian regime that bombs and uses chemical weapons on their own people. Quit trying to put a noble spin on it. It is Putin supporting another despot -- nothing more, nothing less.

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

Marcelito - I fully agree.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Another "navigational error"? Russia is pushing it.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

Way to go turkey. Shoot down the planes that are attacking ISIS.

Turkey was well within their rights when they shot down this plane. This plane, and another, were warned several times before and after entering Turkish airspace.

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

Crashed well inside Syrian Airspace Yaylidag is less than 2km inside the Turkish border, Russian plane could have easily glided its damaged plane across the border to make it look like he wasnt in Turkish airspace.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Uh, I was being ironic. I

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Way to go turkey. Shoot down the planes that are attacking ISIS. actually Russia is playing both sides of the fence, they are attacking ISIS but theyre also attacking forces against Asad, which means Nato and those supplying the rebels. As good as it is to have Russia blasting those ISIS scum theyve also got to realise theyll get burnt if they cross the line

4 ( +10 / -6 )

Does ISIS operate in that area?

3 ( +5 / -2 )

This is another pure act of Turkish aggression to back its proxies in Syria. Turkey, which supports Jihadis, is trying to drag NATO into a fight with the Russians. Turkey should either get on-side or leave NATO. There are no moderates in the opposition to Assad; that is a myth.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

Way to go turkey. Shoot down the planes that are attacking ISIS.

-4 ( +6 / -10 )

Let the investigation begin. Russia does tend to push the limits of sovereignty rights though. I wouldn't deny the pilot didn't cross into Turkish airspace just yet.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Wars have started over these kinds of things. Hopefully the truth will be known.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

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