“Yes, Putin did announce the call up of 150,000 conscripts. But I was given to understand that it was a normal, scheduled call up and didn’t have anything to do with Syria?”
I agree. I think it’s just media hysterics, as usual.
I think so too. The source is The Daily Star. A British tabloid.
Besides which they are >untrained< conscripts ... normally many do not show up or find some out such that the 150K number falls significantly, Then later, many are severely beaten or killed during “training” and are no longer useful as soldiers. Of those that are deployed - not a small number defect or desert. The 150K conscript number could turn into just another usually unreliable brigade force not good for much and not useful except for show.
...”I think it’s just media hysterics, as usual”...
Me too.....Putin said he wouldn’t be putting actual troops on the ground in force fighting ISIS....he’s got Assads troops and Kurds fighting ISIS....if he sends any it would be out of the Caucases. Who likely will end up there.
Whatever he does he’s not going to reveal his true hand to get done what he wants...heck Obama and Kerry have been telling us for years we have ISIS on the run.....so nobody’s going to reveal their true plans.
“I was given to understand that it was a normal, scheduled call up”
So why does that mean they won’t be used for military purposes?