Posted on 07/02/2014 12:29:19 AM PDT by Trapper6012
Russia may not have boots on the ground in Iraqyet. But it will have them in the sky; Russian pilots could be flying over Iraq within days. While the Obama administration struggles to speed up delivery of U.S. military assistance to the government of Iraq, Vladimir Putin has already delivered not only fighter jets but also the pilots needed to fly them, diplomatic sources told The Daily Beast.
On Monday, Russian television trumpeted the arrival of the first five of 12 promised Sukhoi Su-25 combat fighter jets to the Iraqi government, saying it had also sent trainers to help the Iraqis use them. Gen. Anwar Hama Ameen, the commander of the Iraqi Air Force, told The New York Times the fighter jets would enter the battle against ISIS within a few days, after which the Russian trainers would leave Iraq. He said Iraq had plenty of pilots with long experience flying the Su-25. The Russian ambassador to Iraq also said Russian pilots would not fly missions inside Iraq.
Perhaps. But diplomatic sources told The Daily Beast that Russian pilots will fly the planes due to a lack of Iraqi pilots with the proper training. Neither Russia nor Iraq as explained how the Iraqi air force could possibly have pilots trained and ready to fly the Russian fighters. The Su-25 planes were used in the Iraq-Iran war but have not been employed in Iraq since at least 2002, when Iraqs military was controlled by the Baathist regime of Saddam Hussein.
(Excerpt) Read more at thedailybeast.com ...
Obama is a Muslim.
Sure seems like he is also a stooge of Russia, an actual agent of the Kremlin.
Obama never gets the best of Putin, and there is a reason for that.
Obama was countered by Putin in Syria, in the Ukraine, and now Iraq. And let’s not forget handling Iran, Putin’s buddies, with kid gloves since 2009.
We are seeing what “having more flexibility after the election” is all about now.
A real American President would be striking ISIS now, not because we care about Iraq, but because they are a terrorist entity that needs to be exterminated before they harm us.
But we trained them and armed them, as Obama wants to facilitate the Caliphate being re-born.
It’s not “dithering” on Iraq, it is deliberate stalling to buy time for ISIS to cement their gains.
And now, he is handing control of the skies over Irag to his taskmaster, skies that cost us 5,000 dead and one trillion dollars to liberate from Saddam Hussein.
yes, Russia actually was part of the DESERT STORM Coalition. Putin and Bush43 have different ideologies but they respected each other as men.
I think things would be a lot different now in Ukraine, Iran, Syria, and in the entire middle east if Putin had mature rational adults to deal with in the USG
ISIS is not a ‘terrorist grp’. It’s an army & perhaps soon to become a state of its own. They certainly don’t ‘move’ like a terrorist grp. The difference should be noted.
Um.. probably get in to hot water for saying so... Ukraine is part of ‘greater’ Russia, with a mixture of ethnic grps & languages. I know they want to be left alone. But they are really Russians (to be transparent, I’m not Russian). It’s a big issue for Russia & Ukraine to figure out. Also, any ideological differences between Russia & USA (Bush43 & Putin) would be insignificant vis a vis Islamic ones.
Some reality re who will be piloting the Russian Planes and now maybe Iraq’s planes:
‘Diplomatic sources told The Daily Beast that Russian pilots will fly the planes due to a lack of Iraqi pilots with the proper training. Neither Russia nor Iraq as explained how the Iraqi air force could possibly have pilots trained and ready to fly the Russian fighters. The Su-25 planes were used in the Iraq-Iran war but have not been employed in Iraq since at least 2002, when Iraqs military was controlled by the Baathist regime of Saddam Hussein.’
This news indicates that Iran has deployed its 7 SU 25’s to Iraq.
They will be flown by Iranian Pilots and serviced by Iranians
http://theaviationist.com/2014/07/01/iranian-su-25-iraq/
By David Cenciotti
Seven Su-25 Frogfoot attack planes operated by the Iranian Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution have arrived at Baghdad to join the war against ISIS militants.
On Jul. 1, all the seven operational Su-25 Frogfoot attack planes operated by the Pasdaran (informal name of the IRGC the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution) have completed their deployment to Imam Ali Airbase where they will join the ex-Russian Air Force Su-25s already delivered to Iraq in the air war against ISIS (Al Qaeda-linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant).
Our guys win the war, Putin takes the strategic relationship.
Iraq may have some leftover Su-25 pilots left over from pre-2003, who may be able to get up to speed fairly quickly.
For now let’s be real. Russia is making a statement. zer0 is being a zer0 as usual.
Thanks Odds! Your input is always a welcome site.
“...Putin will not listen to wimp. Obama is toast now....”
I often fantasize about having a ring-side seat to watch a 15-round boxing match between these two guys. Unfortunately, I don’t think it would last much over 15 seconds at best. Could odongo run away from him for longer than 15 seconds???? Naaaa....didn’t think so.
....” Putin.... he never misses an opportunity”....”The west has badly underestimated his ability”.
Putin sees an void or opening and goes for it ...but only after Obama fails to act.
Putin’s been spending billions upgrading his military....but the old cold war armchair idiots still think he’s operating with outdated equipment.......
...at least ‘our military people do recognize’ Putin has a new and very effective means to accomplish what he sets out to do.... they saw this clearly with Crimea. The only good that came from Crimea to the US was Putin revealed some of his capabilities to our military people....it left them stunned as many stated.
To date Putin continues to be steps ahead of current events......He’s not operating by cold war standards...only Obama is....and why he continues to outsmart the US. Unfortunately though many in our Military leadership understands the situation, Obama is not listening to them, and those with the cold war mentality are getting in the way as they fight against those who have grasped the real situation.
yep, caww. putin is playing crazy on zer0. zer0 has on knee pads.
Join a growing number of FReepers
and become a monthly donor!
please click the pic and sign up today
Thank you for your support!
putin is playing Barracuda and zer0 is playing shrimp.
....”lets be real. Russia is making a statement. zer0 is being a zer0 as usual”.....
It’s the difference between leadership and statesmanship and one who hasn’t a clue. Sad day when Russia keeps taking the lead and this administration hands it to him.
This in turn is creating an environment where EU and other nations are beginning to rely more on China and Russia and themselves....which is why Obama is itching for war over Ukraine....and supporting/ordering Poroshenko’s blistering bombing of the East. He must get Russia engaged in war so Nato can come into the mix. So far Russia hasn’t taken the bait.
We are listening ... I promise!
Putin’s terrorist allies Ayatollah Khamenei and Muqtada al-Sadr are not muslim radicals? News to me.
It was pretty easy to predict this would happen.
Zero’s simply bowing to those dictating to him what he must do or not....Soros too is in play now....what a mess!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.