The Syrian Conflict Thread


Not quite, it certainly is a start, but it is the same kind of language used when Turkey shot down a Russian plane. "Urging", "we are concerned" etc

Clearly the diplomatic approach is not effective when it comes to Turkey and the US holds some real power over Turkey. They could easily just announce a suspension to Turkey's NATO membership until a future date.

Letting them officially know they are acting alone instead of leaving it open to interpretation. Or they could get the UN security council involved in an official capacity, joining the action, not just condemning the violence etc etc

If they talk nicely and patiently wait for Turkey to do the sensible thing it is bound to spiral out of control.
 
Clearly the diplomatic approach is not effective when it comes to Turkey and the US holds some real power over Turkey. They could easily just announce a suspension to Turkey's NATO membership until a future date.

That's not up to the US alone. It wont happen regardless, Turkey holds too much geographical importance.

Letting them officially know they are acting alone instead of leaving it open to interpretation. Or they could get the UN security council involved in an official capacity, joining the action, not just condemning the violence etc etc

They have done that already, if Turkey invades Syria they wont have any assistance from another NATO member.

If they talk nicely and patiently wait for Turkey to do the sensible thing it is bound to spiral out of control.

There is not much to be done unfortunately, Turkey is run by a mad man.
 
That's not up to the US alone. It wont happen regardless, Turkey holds too much geographical importance.

The US can make it happen if they wanted to, they surely have by far the most sway over NATO.

They have done that already, if Turkey invades Syria they wont have any assistance from another NATO member.

They seem to be making risky moves because they don't fear a backlash, if, for example, Turkey invades Syria and kills an Iranian or Russian and either of those declare war against Turkey and invades it to bomb the living hell out of some strategic targets ... will NATO still do nothing? That is the kind of risk Turkey should believe they are taking, potentially facing war on their homeland alone.

There is not much to be done unfortunately, Turkey is run by a mad man.

All the more reason to act decisively with whatever means you have available, talking nice is sure to fail.
 
The Kurds should shell the crap out of Turkey , then set an ambush for when they come over the border .
Shoot and skoot because for sure the Turks will retaliate .
 
So why are the pro-Russian gang getting their pants in a twist? Having read the article again he seems to be upset by civilian casualties (understandable sentiment) and isn't all that anti Russian in what he says.

What a waste of time and effort the crap of the dog has caused.

Storm in tea cup methinks...

What he said is not so much an issue as the level of editorializing by the "journalist", starting with the title of the article and it continues in that direct anti-Russia rhetoric all the way through to the end.

Ban Ki-Moon apparently said that bombing in Allepo made it difficult for the UN negotiator to continue peace talks, he never mentioned a country's name, he never directly attributed the collapse of said talks to that single factor, yet magically the headline reads: "Ban blames Russia for collapse of Syria talks"

Then it trails off to include quotes from various other sources with vested interests, it is clearly tailored to present a specific view.

If it stuck to the facts it wouldn't read like cheap propaganda, it didn't.

also why assume we're some "pro-Russian gang"? Can't we just be pro-facts? :)
 
The US can make it happen if they wanted to, they surely have by far the most sway over NATO.

Perhaps but all members still need to agree.


They seem to be making risky moves because they don't fear a backlash, if, for example, Turkey invades Syria and kills an Iranian or Russian and either of those declare war against Turkey and invades it to bomb the living hell out of some strategic targets ... will NATO still do nothing? That is the kind of risk Turkey should believe they are taking, potentially facing war on their homeland alone.

Yes i believe they will do nothing and i think Turkey knows that. If Russia invades Turkey it will be because of Turkeys aggression which is not covered in article 5, so members do not have to come to Turkeys aid.


All the more reason to act decisively with whatever means you have available, talking nice is sure to fail.

Acting aggressively with Erdogan doesn't help either, in fact if you push him into a corner he could act even more unhinged.
 
The Kurds should shell the crap out of Turkey , then set an ambush for when they come over the border .
Shoot and skoot because for sure the Turks will retaliate .

The Kurds dont have a hope in hell of taking on the Turkish military.
 
So why are the pro-Russian gang getting their pants in a twist? Having read the article again he seems to be upset by civilian casualties (understandable sentiment) and isn't all that anti Russian in what he says.

What a waste of time and effort the crap of the dog has caused.

Storm in tea cup methinks...
I guess we'll have to wait and see if anything else is said on the matter. Hopefully Ban Ki-moon says something in public that settles the matter once and for all.

But this is the second time in a very short period where Russia has tried to clarify public statements in Western media. Here's another one dated 12th Feb:
https://www.rt.com/news/332273-reuters-misquotes-medvedev-war/
A Reuters article quoted Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev as “raising the specter of a world war” in an interview to a German newspaper. The problem is – he didn’t say any such words.

The leading world news agency reported on an interview that Medvedev gave Germany's Handelsblatt newspaper on the eve of talks on Syria in Munich.

"All sides must be compelled to sit at the negotiating table, instead of unleashing a new world war," the agency quoted the head of the Russian government as saying.

The report referred to a German translation of his words, which is incorrect and implies that Russia is warning that a full-scale war between leading world powers may be ignited from the Syrian conflict.

The quote comes from the portion of the interview in which Medvedev argued against starting a foreign ground intervention against Syria, saying it would only prolong the armed conflict for years or decades to come.

Medvedev’s actual words, according to the Russian transcript on PM’s website were:

“What is necessary is to use strong measures, including those taken by Russia, by the Americans and even under certain provisions those that the Turks are trying to take, to sit at the negotiating table, instead of unleashing yet another war on Earth. We know all too well the scenarios leading to that.”
So I'm guessing that the Russians are feeling somewhat nervous about the political developments and exactly what they may be blamed for in light of the increasing tensions around Syria.
 
But this is the second time in a very short period where Russia has tried to clarify public statements in Western media. Here's another one dated 12th Feb:
https://www.rt.com/news/332273-reuters-misquotes-medvedev-war/

So I'm guessing that the Russians are feeling somewhat nervous about the political developments and exactly what they may be blamed for in light of the increasing tensions around Syria.

I posted about this one earlier in the thread, to be fair it came from what seemed to be a translation mishap which can easily happen.
 
Shadow CIA Warns Russian Air Power Would Stop Any Foreign Invasion of Syria

Stratfor, the US-based intelligence think tank often called the 'Shadow CIA', has released satellite photos showing a buildup of Russian air power at the Hmeymim Airbase in Latakia, northwest Syria. The think tank bluntly warns that if Turkey or Saudi Arabia were to attack Syrian forces, they would be "met with significant Russian air defenses."

In its report, Stratfor points out that "when Turkey downed a Russian Su-24 warplane on November 24, it did not just sour relations between Ankara and Moscow: It gave Russia a reason to build up its air defense capabilities in Syria."

And build up they did. "Before the incident, the Russian air cover burden depended on four deployed multirole Su-30 aircraft – clearly visible in a ready position near the runway in the recent imagery obtained by AllSource Analysis – that escorted strike packages."

"Turkey and Saudi Arabia, for example, have long sought to oust the al-Assad government, but any attempt to unilaterally support the rebels with their own assets would be met with significant Russian air defenses."

http://sputniknews.com/military/201...for-satellite-russian-syrian-air-defense.html
 
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Obama urges Russia to stop bombing 'moderate' Syria rebels

BEIRUT/RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIFORNIA – US President Barack Obama urged Russia on Sunday to stop bombing “moderate” rebels in Syria in support of its ally President Bashar al-Assad, a campaign seen in the West as a major obstacle to latest efforts to end the war.

Major powers agreed on Friday to a limited cessation of hostilities in Syria but the deal does not take effect until the end of this week and was not signed by any warring parties, the Damascus government and numerous rebel factions fighting it.

Russian bombing raids directed at rebel groups are helping the Syrian army to achieve what could be its biggest victory of the war in the battle for Aleppo, the country’s largest city and commercial centre before the conflict.

More at:http://ewn.co.za/2016/02/15/Obama-urges-Russia-to-stop-bombing-moderate-Syria-rebels
 
Syria conflict: Two hospitals hit in new air strikes

Two hospitals have been hit in new air strikes in northern Syria, medics and witnesses say, causing a number of deaths and injuries.

In Azaz on the Turkish border, at least 10 people reportedly died, including several in one hospital building.

Medecins Sans Frontieres said seven people died and eight are missing after another attack in Maarat al-Numan.

The strikes come days after Russia and other world powers agreed to a limited cessation of hostilities in Syria.
Almost five years of civil war in Syria have led to the deaths of more than 250,000 people. More than 11 million people have been displaced.

It has not been confirmed who carried out the latest attacks.

However, Mego Terzian, president of MSF France, said the Maarat al-Numan strikes were carried out by forces "loyal to President Bashar al-Assad".

More at:http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35579767
 
Hospitals in rebel areas hit by deadly 'Russian air strikes'

Deadly air strikes have targeted two hospitals in rebel-held areas of Syria's north west, where regime forces backed by Russian warplanes have launched a major offensive in recent weeks. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said a medical structure it supports in Idlib province was flattened by four rockets that hit within a few minutes of each other.

Rescuers could be seen searching through the rubble for the at least eight staff members that the humanitarian organisation said are missing, in online footage purportedly from the scene.

Separately, missile fire targeted a hospital and a school in the town of Azaz, north of Aleppo near the Turkish border, killing at least 14 people, residents told Reuters. The building housed some of the tens of thousands of refugees displaced by the advance of forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad in the area.

Full article: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/syria-nine-dead-msf-hospital-idlib-destroyed-russian-air-strike-1543875
 
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