Russian airstrikes in Syria: Pentagon says strategy 'doomed to failure'

Russia launched its first round of air strikes in Syria, hitting eight sites that it claimed were Islamic State targets only hours after president Vladimir Putin’s request to use military force was unanimously approved by parliament.
The Pentagon disputed Russia’s claim that it targeted only jihadi groups, with secretary of defense Ash Carter saying that evidence suggested strikes “were in areas where there probably were not Isis forces”. Carter said the Kremlin’s current strategy is “doomed to failure” and American air strikes will continue “unimpeded”.
Syrian activists, civilians and rebels asserted that Russian strikes had targeted moderate forces who were opposed to the regime of president Bashar al-Assad, a Kremlin ally. The president of an opposition group said that at least 36 civilians, including women and children, were killed in strikes in Homs.
The White House and secretary of state John Kerry said the US would be open to working with Russia to resolve the Syrian crisis – but only under amenable terms. “Russia will not succeed in imposing a military solution any more than the United States was successful in imposing a military solution in Iraq,” spokesperson Josh Earnest said.
Syrians in regime strongholds celebrated as terror took hold of civilians in disputed or opposition-held regions of the country. Videos from Hama and Homs showed ruined homes and bombing victims, and locals described their panic and belief that moderate and civilian areas were deliberately targeted: “We expected this to happen but there is no place to flee.”

The Pentagon disputed Russia’s claim that it targeted only jihadi groups, with secretary of defense Ash Carter saying that evidence suggested strikes “were in areas where there probably were not Isis forces”.

"Jihadi" does not necessarily mean "ISIS". Russia struck who they wanted to, and isn't inclined to be perfectly clear & honest when explaining their intentions to anyone else.

This is war, you (Mr. Kerry et al) see. It's not about talking until others agree to consent to you, it's about killing anyone who doesn't abjectly submit.

Syria is for Syrians, all others are invaders...

The US under Bamster wants immediate and continuous movement towards the Muslim Caliphate over the world. ValJar is all in on this one

I am with the Russians as the others involved (US & Iraq) are dirty dirty on this one and ultimately Bam wants Israel GONE

For Good

Syria is just a base to use, they really matter nothing to the power monkeys in the Islamic world

Really?

Well they first need to understand what the Russians goal is before they can legatametally critique their strategy.

And their goal is to side with Assad and Iran against us.
Then steam roll both take control of oil assets that they like, and blow up the ones that will result in benefit for their economy.

O, and to mock and discredit the U.S. So our allies will no longer believe in us.

I’d say they are being very successful so far.

Trust neither governments, but one thing is for sure and that is Russia will deal with these people much better than the fairy in the white house.

Already they have took out a mosque which we would never be allowed to do under the fairy in chief.

Saudis are Sunnis and Saudi Arabia is pumping so much oil they have damaged Russia’s economy. Saudi wants the Russians out of Syria. The Russians are punishing the Saudis back. Iran is Shia. Iran is a huge arms customer of Russia’s.

Saudi Arabia backed the revolution hoping to overthrow Assad so they could install a friendly government that would allow them to run a pipeline to the Mediterranean. Once Iran goes nuclear it’s unlikely they’ll let the Saudis ship oil through the Straits of Hormuz. Iran also has an estimated 50,000 mines which could shut off the Red Sea. Once they have nukes they can pretty much do whatever the heck they want. The most we’ll do is send a strongly worded letter.

Russian goals in the ME are coincident with Iran but not identical. Russia is broke. They are looking for Middle Eastern dollars to line their pockets. At the same time they get to stick a finger in the eye of the US and will end up with basing in Syria.

For their part Iran exerts influence in the ME, cranks up shia terrorism against us and Israel and sends petrodollars north.

Assad remains in power beholding to both Russia and Iran whose spheres of influence increase while the US is marginalized and Iran tamps down Russia’s Muslim problem.

Big win for Putin and shia nuts.

Syria is 74% Sunni Muslim.

Assad is an Alewite which is a Shia sect of Islam.

The Alewites and Shias (Assad’s power base) are outnumbered 4 to 1.

Trust that Assad populated the the officer corp (certainly the pilots) with Alewites and Shia. Assad would NOT want a disgruntal Sunni pilot dropping a bomb on his palace or defecting with a fighter jet.

Given the demographics, we can assume Assad’s infantry (the grunts) was majority Sunni. They have long since deserted or otherwise have no interest dying for Assad.

You CAN NOT take back and hold territory with air strikes, tanks and/or artillery strikes => UNLESS you have infantry to occupy the territory.

Russian air strike are not a game changer. There is a sniper rifle sticking out of every rat hole in Syria, Russian air strikes won’t change that.

Should have TAKEN THE MESSAGE of their “brothers in arms” that are re-populating Europe...rather than trying to dodge Russian bombs, as the Russians don’t care if they “break a few eggs” to achieve their objectives. But they did not - Jihad in the Middle East was JUST TOO TEMPTING, now they pay.

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