Latest news from Syria . . .

Russia is letting the Turks and the US battle it out. Enjoy!

 

The Americans aren't going to fight the Turks. Not for a long time still.

 

You need to catch up.. the US and Turkey have agreed to work it out. Erdogan has an election to win that will help him stay in power for decades, he's not going to start a fight with the Americans.

Turkey-US agree to work on easing disputes over Syrian crises
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/tu...-on-easing-disputes-over-syrian-crises-127426

suppose this will be known as the period of "the rise of the dictators" Putin, Xi Jingping... Erdogan..

 

The people here are different. And all of them are interesting by their difference. It is good that they are posting here things I would never post myself, an obviously false, biased and senseless stuff. But it doesn't lower the quality of the forum. The more views we have here - the better the quality is. If the forum consisted of the only viewpoint even the most you like - the quality would be none.
If you want to ignore my messages - it is your choice. But I won't stop posting my thoughts and suggestions just because someone doesn't like it without even reading.

 

Letting? Please don't be ludicrous. It could be "cowering". Russia has no slightest credibility to mediate in between two NATO nations. Iran-Israel? Turkey-Iran? In between bunch of different proxies? Somewhat yes, but not US-Turkey. That would be "risking" the very hard-earned existence in the Middle East as Turkey is a "balancing" power and the US knows much better when it comes to calculate their moves, Russia does not. Russia has chosen to live the reality of a nostalgic dream and the only way it could show up in the region to fulfill this nostalgia was by playing so-called mediator role because acceptance of different parties could only be established through such role and that is only for "now" and to "some extend". Reasons why it is good only for the current conjunctures can be detailed as well but that would be a subject of another topic. All Russia cares -and to me should be caring- is the security of its naval bases. Still tho, it'll all come back at your door because no matter how strong the return of geopolitics are shielding Iran's state structure for the time being, they eventually will have to face with some strong winds of change. And that will be unraveling the nostalgia for good...

 

At the risk of repeating myself - the fact of the matter is that the westernised mind doesn't nor ever will understand regional minds, the most recent examples being southeast Asia (Vietnamese?) and now the middle east. For that reason, and the other two reasons viz. a multiplicity of mysterious cultist affiliations and various religious sects, not to mention all the cultural habits and customs, it's best that we should stay away and let them sort their own problems and wars out? They don't want our brand of democracy (can't say that I do either!), nor what they see as western stupidity and degeneracy, so who are we to force it upon them?

 

We each have our maps and the analysis that goes with it. For now, the latest news on the subject would be captured in these headlines:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...mit-on-syria-in-april-spokesman-idUSKCN1GI0RR

https://ahvalnews.com/syria/59-turkish-soldiers-killed-afrin-civilians-displaced

This below was last week:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/22/world/middleeast/syria-afrin-kurds-ypg.html

 

I'm not going to share how many iranian paramilitary troops got killed in the recent Turkish bombardment in Afrin. It's as much meaningless as Iran-Russia partnership thinks they could just drag Turkey to their side by forcing Erdogan's Atlanticists to recognize Assad. That recognition would not just be his death warrant because he would then be useless but would have had Turkey lost its precious "balancing" capability which is the very reason for much of the respect it's shown. So Im not so sure if the Eurasian clique is that reliable.

 

Partly yes. But Russia is benefiting from a conflict of interests between Turkey and the US whatever you think of Russia. It is just a fact. Russia tolerated a lot from Erdogan to find him and the US in a current situation. Technically Russia could choose the side of the US and support the independence of Kurdistan from Iraqian, Syrian and ... Turkish territory. Why not? There was nothing Russia would lose (in short and even middle term perspectives). Russia would just need to 'mediate' into this direction. I see no limiting factor for Putin to perform so today. But a Kurds completely gave in to americans and supported their game in the region, which is not to Russian interests.
Yes. You are right. Russia is balancing. It throws itself to the side it needs with a decisive effect. And that is what policy is! Erdogan wants a game of his and Russia is ready to play, while the US really tried to replace him with someone who would be their toy and not the partner for the game.

If all the local parties united against Russia... But that is not going to happen in such a complicated region. Russia is there not because of someones dreams but because of its national interests. The times when Russia could put everything at stake because of orthodox nations or communists have gone. Putin established a new Russia which leaves room for everyone to make mistakes, but if it is possible to capitalize on them - Russia would. I myself liked a past attitude more. There is some romantic attraction in suffering and dying to save a great idea for the humanity..., but humanity doesn't seem to have such a value.

You forgot ISIS. Russia has lots of muslims and the spread of ISIS is a vital threat to Russia. Before the intervention of Russia ISIS had all the perspectives to spread and get stronger. Now it seems and is of no threat. But it happened due to Russia. (and all those different nations of course who fought against ISIS).

Russia doesn't have any facts to feel nostalgic about Iran. Wars, provocations, hatred... I like Persian culture and history, but I can't say that I or Putin are dreaming about some return to 20th, 19th, 18th...10th century. Iran plays its own game in the region. It is among the majority of nations who perform independent policy out of the US dictatorship. Since Russia is now out of sane war plans with western countries it is time to extend their problems in the globe and force to negotiate and give up ideas about crushing Russia. Iran is temporary an ally. In future? It depends on Iran itself.
The naval base in Syria is only an option. It would be useless in a region controlled by the US or ISIS, which is about the same for Russian perspectives in the region.

 

The Russo-Persian wars of 1804-1813 and 1826-1828 are almost footnotes in Russian history, but they are remembered in Iran to this day. They were huge losses for Iran, severing and ending Iran's ties to the Caucasus (Tiblisi, Yereven, Baku) and ushering one of the darker chapters in Iranian history. Much of the mistrust and fear of Russia in Iran dates back to those wars and those losses.

At this time, though, Iran would be a lot more open to a genuine friendship with the Russians than the Russians appear to be. Unfortunately, these days ever, Russia often acts like a wheeler-dealer ready to turn its back on anyone for the right price. Indeed, the Russians sometimes dangle such prospects to exact a price they are looking for. It works so long as Russia is content with being a middling power. But if Russia aspires to something more, it will need to change this penchant it has developed -- and not just salvage its credibility as a reliable partner, but perhaps rethink its strategic calculations as well.

 

I agree. In the age of a Big Game between GB and Russian Empire the region was 'used' by the great powers of that time. It was a bloody age. And I wouldn't like to justify Russia's actions those time. The concept of international policy those days was a bit different. The people were proud of glorious aggressive campaigns of theirs. These wars are really neglected in school history in Russia. A long rivalry ended and Persia lost its position of a major regional power, which is never sweet.

At the moment Russia and Iran are not competing for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia. And neither Russia nor Iran cannot be called superpowers. It will be very nice and I do hope and pray for having and using the possibility to establish a better system for relationship in our regions. Russia needs to develop its economy but at this point we covered all the fast reasons to grow. We can't expect us to grow as fast as... Iran has all the potentials.

I wish it is possible to start a new good page in our relationship setting better rules and basis for interaction. Of course a lot would depend on China and the very shape of possible partnership. The risks for a possibility is even more risky than for the European states. I can't predict what would happen after Putin (in 10 years perspectives) and it is still an issue of what would Iran do once it grows stronger. I can only witness that at the moment Russia is not an enemy for Iran and needs allies. Our mutual weaknesses can play good for mutual benefits.

 

Latest news: the neocon, big government, collectivist, world hegemony war mongers haven't succeeded yet

 

Syrian army keeps advance in Eastern Ghouta.
Looks like the final devastation of the jihadists' enclave in Damascus suburb is just a matter of time.

 

According to the spokesman for the Russian Center for Reconciliation in Syria, a humanitarian passageway was established in E. Ghouta. About 1 kilometer away from the exit, a convoy of 300 families were fired on. Three cars were destroyed, but they don't know how many casualties there are yet. I guess someone would have to go back to check, and that would be dangerous.

Later on the terrorists fired on the exit where reporters and relatives were waiting, but they managed to find shelter so there were no casualties.

Of course there is no mention of this in the MSM, they are too busy with their blame Russia narrative. This is no difference than the humanitarian corridors that were established in Aleppo. So while Russia was doing everything to protect human lives, the anti Russian propaganda was going hog wild - yet in Mosul, where the official count of dead civilians is 3 thousand, and the unofficial count is 10 thousand or more, there were no humanitarian corridors established by the coalition.

Quite the contrary, before their death machines began their bombing campaign, they told the inhabitants not to leave Mosul and that they have precision bombs. Genocide anyone?

As for Raqqa, where again there was no established humanitarian corridors, no one knows what the death toll is? Seems like some kind of a cover up, maybe to kill off some of the population, and then repopulate the oil and gas rich area with US and Israeli friendly Kurds.

When some local tribesmen tried to take the area back, they were killed by the Americans there, but with typical Washington hypocrisy, they announced they are there to make sure the area goes back to the local inhabitants.

 

Is Russia holding back on why it deployed fifth-gen fighters to Syria?
https://www.defensenews.com/industr...ria/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Socialflow

 

"Latest news from Syria": MUSLIMS CONTINUE TO KILL OTHER MUSLIMS.....been going on for 1400 years - thanks to their religion.

 

If it was not for "Sam", you'd be under German or Japanese rule right now (we all would have been for the last 73 years.) Adolf Hitler IV would be your ruler right now. Or maybe there'd be a picture of the Kremlin's (USSR) current leader up in every public building that you'd go in, today.

 

Yes, and thanks to Dubya and his Global War On Terror, the United States and their tax payers are right smack in the middle of that 1400 year old conflict.

But it is good for business, if one is in the war business.