| Mako11 | 06 Oct 2015 7:06 p.m. PST |
Heard on the news tonight, that over the weekend one of the Iranian leaders was discussing inviting the Russians to provide aircraft and ground troops to help them with their fight against ISIS as well. Seems they aren't too happy with the US assistance, and/or that of their Iranian allies either. Certainly an interesting development, and another domino to fall in the region, if it turns out to be true. |
| 15mm and 28mm Fanatik | 06 Oct 2015 8:27 p.m. PST |
Well, the US can't help the Iranians too enthusiastically so as not to anger Israel and her Gulf allies plus Turkey, so it makes sense for Iran to appeal for Russian aid. After all, they had much to do with the Russians establishing an airbase in Syria. A Russian ground presence would be the next logical step. |
| mandt2 | 06 Oct 2015 8:32 p.m. PST |
So, Putin is flirting with a quagmire in Syria, and he is considering getting into another in Iraq? Meanwhile, Russia's economy is in the tank and the prospects of an improvement any time soon look pretty slim. Fine. Let him at it. This is going to be fun. |
| Lion in the Stars | 06 Oct 2015 8:33 p.m. PST |
@Mandt2: at least ramping up production of military weapons will improve parts of the Russian economy… |
| John the OFM | 06 Oct 2015 10:00 p.m. PST |
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korsun0  | 07 Oct 2015 2:48 a.m. PST |
Russia is only shoring up Assad so they can have access to their base as it was getting threatened by one of the anti Assad groups. They aren't hitting areas Assad has given up on. I don't see them getting into Iraq, nothing in it for them. They have the initiative policy wise there, they will just keep doing what they are doing. |
| Oh Bugger | 07 Oct 2015 4:07 a.m. PST |
A week ago an inteligence and co-ordination centre was set up in Baghdad with a sister site at Damascus. The parties involved were Iran, Iraq, Syria and Russia. The aim is to coordinate inteligence and resources in the fight against ISIL/AQ and whatever else is bent on setting up a caliphate. Russia has said it will consider any request for military assistance from the Iraqi Government. The Iraqi's have said they are interested in Russian military aid and that's as far as it has gone so far. I'd say the Iraqis are trying to finesse the diplomacy with the USA while signalling to the Russians that they are on board. The Chinese are apparently sending additional forces to Lattakieh not in any great numbers but its interesting all the same. The Chinese have indicated that they feel their concerns about the region have been ignored in the past. I'd say the Saudis have over reached themselves and now need to do a bit of hard thinking. |
| 15mm and 28mm Fanatik | 07 Oct 2015 7:12 a.m. PST |
The US had pretty much given up on the spineless Iraqis, so now they're turning to Uncle Vladimir. Good riddance. |
| paulgenna | 07 Oct 2015 10:08 a.m. PST |
28mm I agree. Let them find a way out. |
| darthfozzywig | 07 Oct 2015 12:25 p.m. PST |
Russia wants to fight in Syria AND Iraq?
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| raylev3 | 07 Oct 2015 2:59 p.m. PST |
The enemy of my enemy is a friend who has an enemy who is my enemy who has a friend who is my friend who has an enemy of my friend who is an enemy of my enemy who is a friend…. right? Air power alone is a feel good strategy….troops on the ground is a commitment. Right now, Russia is willing to commit and we ain't…let them commit! |
