I’ve read that this may be in relation to the downing of a Syrian jet a couple of days ago, could the Russians fear the deployment to rebels/jihadists of new AA systems in Syria?
And where did you read that? Western MSM? They’re also saying “it’s because of the failing Russian economy” and that Russia can’t continue at this pace… I’m sure they’ll be saying that Putin is weaponizing peace sometime soon…
Anyway, they’re keeping the H’meim air base, and keeping their planes flying so that’s a moot point.
I think it’s rather a diplomatic (and a strategic) move: “We did in six months what “someone else” is pretending they’re doing in years”…
And there seems to be something else that I can’t wrap my head around. Something important. I just don’t know what it is.
It’s a giant chess game, and the players no longer feel the need to hide their moves. And if they are moving their pieces, there is a plan and there is a goal.
Speculation, yes, but a logical one. Something is happening on the grand chessboard. The US has surely not forgotten Ukraine, and it can print dollars at will, which Putin cannot.
I have read of many possible reasons for the withdrawal of Russian airplanes from Syria and none of them seem to be the real reason for the decision. Remember that the Russian air force in Syria consists mainly of old fighter-bombers (SU-24’s ans SU-25’s) which have very limited air defense capabilities. It appears that there are less than 20 airplanes with good air defense ability ( SU-30,34,35’s)
I posit that a major attack by the Turkish air force of over 300 modern fighter aircraft could easily overwhelm this very small Russian aircraft defense force. It would therefore be smart to pull them with supporting personnel out of Syria before any Turkish air attack. Of course, the Russian surface to air missiles and other necessary personnel would remain.
Am I the only one who thinks this is possible? It seems that almost everyone including the US and EU would like to see Erdogan replaced. The fact that Turkey has very serous economic problems is not often discussed in the western press. For years Turkey has relied on loans mainly from the Persian Gulf countries, that it will never be able to repay. A collapse is inevitable so why not start a war?
Well, Saker this question could be placed in any recent post but here will do as it is connected with timing and there are only a comments.
Re: Your “Dear friends, On Monday March 14th, Orthodox Christians will begin the 40-day long period known as the “Great Lent“. The single most important “theme”, so to speak, of that period is repentance which, itself, is one of the most important concepts in Orthodox Christianity….”
Would you care to comment, given Putin’s values, on any special significance to the timing of this announcement by Putin on “Monday March 14th”?
Very annoying, this headline:
Putin Shuns Syrian ‘Quagmire’
That is Consortium News.
The word “quagmire” does not appear in anyone’s quotation in the story. Certainly not in putin’s. But as written it looks as though Putin used that word. Did he?
I’ve read that this may be in relation to the downing of a Syrian jet a couple of days ago, could the Russians fear the deployment to rebels/jihadists of new AA systems in Syria?
A Saudi jet was downed in Yemen
And where did you read that? Western MSM? They’re also saying “it’s because of the failing Russian economy” and that Russia can’t continue at this pace… I’m sure they’ll be saying that Putin is weaponizing peace sometime soon…
Anyway, they’re keeping the H’meim air base, and keeping their planes flying so that’s a moot point.
I think it’s rather a diplomatic (and a strategic) move: “We did in six months what “someone else” is pretending they’re doing in years”…
And there seems to be something else that I can’t wrap my head around. Something important. I just don’t know what it is.
The downing of the Syrian plane was reported in Sputnik.
Something big is about to happen in Syria. I don’t know if it is something good or bad, but it is definitely going to be big.
I’ve got the same feeling
In short……no.
Same.
It’s a giant chess game, and the players no longer feel the need to hide their moves. And if they are moving their pieces, there is a plan and there is a goal.
Just speculation: the Russian planes will be needed closer to home soon.
Speculation, yes, but a logical one. Something is happening on the grand chessboard. The US has surely not forgotten Ukraine, and it can print dollars at will, which Putin cannot.
I have read of many possible reasons for the withdrawal of Russian airplanes from Syria and none of them seem to be the real reason for the decision. Remember that the Russian air force in Syria consists mainly of old fighter-bombers (SU-24’s ans SU-25’s) which have very limited air defense capabilities. It appears that there are less than 20 airplanes with good air defense ability ( SU-30,34,35’s)
I posit that a major attack by the Turkish air force of over 300 modern fighter aircraft could easily overwhelm this very small Russian aircraft defense force. It would therefore be smart to pull them with supporting personnel out of Syria before any Turkish air attack. Of course, the Russian surface to air missiles and other necessary personnel would remain.
Am I the only one who thinks this is possible? It seems that almost everyone including the US and EU would like to see Erdogan replaced. The fact that Turkey has very serous economic problems is not often discussed in the western press. For years Turkey has relied on loans mainly from the Persian Gulf countries, that it will never be able to repay. A collapse is inevitable so why not start a war?
Well, Saker this question could be placed in any recent post but here will do as it is connected with timing and there are only a comments.
Re: Your “Dear friends, On Monday March 14th, Orthodox Christians will begin the 40-day long period known as the “Great Lent“. The single most important “theme”, so to speak, of that period is repentance which, itself, is one of the most important concepts in Orthodox Christianity….”
Would you care to comment, given Putin’s values, on any special significance to the timing of this announcement by Putin on “Monday March 14th”?
Very annoying, this headline:
Putin Shuns Syrian ‘Quagmire’
That is Consortium News.
The word “quagmire” does not appear in anyone’s quotation in the story. Certainly not in putin’s. But as written it looks as though Putin used that word. Did he?
It is here:
https://consortiumnews.com/2016/03/15/putin-shuns-syrian-quagmire/
Katherine