[Vermont Lt]

I just read some tweets that indicate Turkish tanks have crossed the Syrian border.

They are gonna get their asses kicked.

[bkopto]

Could you please provide the link to the article, rather than a link to the front page of his website? Thanks.

[Mariner]

"and everybody can get back to the business of partitioning Syria - which is what all the talk of a "cessation of hostilities" is really about. "

Syria and Russia have both announced on several occasions that their intent is to establish Assad's control over all of Syria.

There will be not political partition and the de facto partition will only last until the revitalized Syrian Army shows up with Russian Air.

[cloudmountain]

Erdogan's hatred of Assad is rooted in the fact that he is a militant Sunni Muslim while Assad leads a regime dominated by Shia Muslims. Both men rule countries that are officially secular, but Erdogan's long-term goal is to impose Islamic religious rule on Turkey.

The Sunnis are the "standard" Muslims of the world.
However, Iran is a SOLID Shia Muslim enclave. There were/are many Shia Muslims in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia as well. My boss (with ARAMCO) was one, as were many of the men in our department.

I'm not sure that they would go to war over it. This breach happened in 632 so they've had MUCH TIME, say 1,300+ years, to "get over it."

Personally, I would guess that it would be over power.

By the way, if it ever came to war my money would be on the Turks. They are ferocious fighters, a la the Indian Sikhs. The Arabs would run.

[McGruff]

I wonder if the Iranians would get involved. The Saudis against the Iranians would be popcorn time.

[familyop]

Saudi Arabia launches huge military exercise involving 20 nations - dubbed North Thunder - two months after forming anti-terror coalition
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3446708/20-nations-join-major-military-manoeuvre-Saudi.html

[familyop]

The Saudis also have ABM defense systems—the western kind, the kind that work.

[Jimmy Valentine]

Turkey and Russia have gone at each other many times going back to the time of the Tsars. The army knows that going after Russia is a bad idea.