We just got the clearest sign yet that Russia doesn't really care about fighting ISIS in Syria

Business Insider ^ | 12 Sep 15 | Natasha Bertrand

[elhombrelibre]

Moscow will reportedly provide Russian troops in Syria with an advanced antiaircraft missile system as part of its military support for Syrian president Bashar Assad.

"This system is the advanced version used by Russia, and it's meant to be operated by Russians in Syria," a Western diplomat who is regularly briefed on US, Israeli, and other intelligence assessments told Reuters.

And as The Daily Beast's Michael Weiss points out, any antiaircraft missiles deployed by Russian troops in Syria won't be directed at ISIS, since ISIS has no air force.

In fact, none of the rebels do — only government forces have access to aircraft.

Russia has substantially increased its military presence in Syria over the past two weeks under the guise of helping the embattled Assad fight ISIS and other extremists.

And now that US and Russian fighter jets are flying side-by-side — the US has been launching airstrikes against ISIS since mid-2014, and Russian drones and fighter planes are reportedly surveilling non-ISIS rebels in the country's north — Moscow sees it as an opportunity to force Washington to come to the table.

[lormand]

"And we have President Obama and every decision he has made thanks entirely to George Bush’s invasion of Iraq btw."

....aka, ITS BUSH'S FAULT

Most of us know that the Koran is the inspiration for terror, not George Bush. Also, I'm not fan of GW Bush, but he did say it right that this was going to be a long hard fight. Those looking to shift blame and not fight are in for some long hard lessons in survival and civilization.

[RC one]

Iraq had nothing to do with the WOT. they thought they would be greeted as liberators and celebrated as victors and it would all be OK in the end. they were wrong on all accounts.

[lormand]

Iraq had nothing to do with the WOT... Only head-in-the-sand ignoramuses would think such a thing. As a Bathist, Saddam and Assad were sharing many things, including WMDs, which were found by the way. As Muslims, they were in solidarity regarding the destruction of Israel, as his scud missile targets confirmed. I'm sure there are many more unclassified things that confirm the Iraqi regime's complicity on spreading terrorism.

So if Saddam was not part of the war on terror, why did he continually target our ally Israel?

I'm guessing that you are consistent in claiming that Iran has nothing to do with the WOT as well?

[RC one]

I am consistent with the opinion that Iran was our enemy all along and the war in Iraq contributed heavily to their current good fortunes. I knew it would end up with a stronger nuclear powered Iran which would be a far greater threat to Israel than Iraq ever was. I was never for it. I remain opposed to it. I believe it was a giant mistake and my opinion is shared by about 70% of Americans as evidenced by a recent opinion poll on the subject.

[AdmSmith]

Yes, to prevent a NFZ, and protect transports of X? against IAF sorties.

Confirmed: http://www.timesofisrael.com/in-moscow-presence-of-idf-generals-sends-a-message-of-military-urgency/

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks AdmSmith and ETL. A re-ping.

[ETL]

Thank *you* for the ping and the links.

[GOPJ]

Think for a moment what the world would have been like if after defeating Germany and Japan we had built a few schools, trained a few former NAZIS and ‘japs’, then supplied them with weapons and walked away....

If we must go to war - - the losers should be handed a Constitution when they formally surrender... based on the one we gave Japan... If we don’t have what it takes to do that then we need to stay the hell out of their problems.

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

..................

[darkwing104]

How can the diplomat be trusted. Obama inc. have been doctoring intelligence reports in the area since 2012. Russia's main concern is to protect it's assets in the region and keep Assad in power. Russia doesn't give a rats behind who they take out to keep Assad in power.

After the Iran deal. Russia and Israel know that Obama and Kerry are full of it. Atleast the Christians know thay will have someone in the country that will protect them.

[piasa]

The root ause was leaving Iraq, not invading Iraq. If you want to go further the root of the root was failure to take out the Iranian regime when it popped up its head in 1979.

[piasa]

They supply Hezbollah. Hezbollah’s preferred target is the USMC.

[piasa]

And it puts Russia in a better position to protect Iran’s nuclear sites.

[wrench]

0bama has the US and NATO obligated to protect those sites in his “Agreement” that was never approved by Congress.

[RC one]

I disagree.

[Mr. Jeeves]

You’re in sync with the Left when you say the invasion of Iraq is the cause of radical Islam.

There was a dark, hideous, ugly lid on radical Islam in Iraq. Its name was Saddam Hussein. Somehow, we thought pulling off and throwing away that lid would make things better.

We made the same mistake in Serbia, and Libya...and now Syria. And GOP office-holders from McCain on down have been right there leading the cheers.

Republicans do not deserve a pass on their geopolitical mistakes, whatever "good intentions" might superficially lie behind them. They are a party of insiders, well-connected to powerful financial interests who are profiting from these "wars for democracy" in unethical ways.

There is no need for any GOP voter to foolishly fall in line behind deliberate error.