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Russia begins airstrikes in Syria

106 Comments
By NATALIYA VASILYEVA and JIM HEINTZ

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The expression that comes to mind - the pot calling the kettle black -- doesn't begin to describe the hypocrisy of any U.S. criticism of Russia's intervention in Syria. The problem with U.S. interventionists is that they believe that all our interventions will be successful based on our pure hegemonic power and completely ignore any "side affects" or reaction to the United States' multiple decades of nearly daily bombing of targets in the Middle East.

9 ( +21 / -12 )

Agreed Crazy. Because, the rise of ISIS is a direct result of their years in Iraq after they brought down Saddam Hussein under the false pretence of him developing weapons of mass destruction.

What price oil, huh?

10 ( +21 / -11 )

@Tamarama What price oil, huh?

I'd add what profit weapon sales. The US and EU have bought, sold and field tested theirs, now the Russians can, too.

7 ( +12 / -5 )

I always decry airstrikes because its impossible to reduce the killing of innocents to anywhere near an acceptable level. But at least America her allies "sometimes" try to avoid loss of innocent life. With the Russians though, the losses are about to go through the roof.

Even so, I will say it again: airstrikes are the preferred method of the coward. Unless you are hitting clear bases, tanks or columns of uniformed soldiers you don't know what you are hitting, and there is very, very little risk to yourself as you hit such unclear targets and you won't be able to make identifications at the speeds it takes to keep a jet fighter/bomber airborn. And all we get back home are conflicting reports allowing these cowards to hide behind a wall of doubt as who they killed, whether a pack of militants or another wedding party of women and children.

Of course those brimming with nationalism and blind faith think they know what happened, and it always turns out to be either a success or an unfortunate but acceptable accident in their small, slow minds.

-8 ( +10 / -18 )

The expression that comes to mind - the pot calling the kettle black -- doesn't begin to describe the hypocrisy of any U.S. criticism of Russia's intervention in Syria. The problem with U.S. interventionists is that they believe that all our interventions will be successful based on our pure hegemonic power and completely ignore any "side affects" or reaction to the United States' multiple decades of nearly daily bombing of targets in the Middle East.

That was a big WTF statement. This president has yet, once again done the worst, just when I thought, he just sank to the deepest depths of incompetency, he manages to go deeper. As I keep saying, the day can't come soon enough until guy is gone!

-13 ( +8 / -21 )

He has nothing to loose at this point Bass and count on more controversy in the next 13 months.

In retrospect it may have been a mistake toppling Sadam, who knows what the present day situation would be at this time leaving him. It's easy to critisize the actions. It's not easy to predict the future. The DNC #1 also made the same conclusion at the time yet she gets a free pass. It must be a gender thing.

-4 ( +6 / -10 )

In retrospect it may have been a mistake toppling Sadam

Not 'may have been', 'was'.

The DNC #1 also made the same conclusion at the time yet she gets a free pass

No, it was a bad decision on her part. That said, it does show that she has one redeeming factor that today's republicans don't appear to have - the ability to support the other side when she believes it's the right thing to do for her country. None of the Republican candidates appear to have that quality.

1 ( +10 / -9 )

Once again we will the US haters making excuses to support Russia in doing something that they routinely criticize the US for.

0 ( +11 / -11 )

The day after Obama buddies up with Putin at the UN pledging to 'deconflict' in the region, Putin starts a proxy war with the US in Syria. So what does Obama do after getting poked in the eye? He sends Kerry to make nice with the Russian foreign minister. It seems that no amount of humiliation is enough for Obama. Everyone in the region sees Obama's weakness and will gravitate to Putin who is showing strength.

-7 ( +9 / -16 )

Russia followed the airstrikes with a call for the world to unite in the fight

Great! Now Putin is calling the ball. Since AWOL Bush's war of lies produced zero benefit to anyone, except his war profiteers, why not let Vlad lay down some heat with the same accountability. Monkey see, monkey do.

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

If the US is already fighting ISIS in Syria, doesn't that make this extremely awkward?

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Great! Now Putin is calling the ball. Since AWOL Bush's war of lies produced zero benefit to anyone, except his war profiteers, why not let Vlad lay down some heat with the same accountability. Monkey see, monkey.

Well, if Obama wouldn't have been so stubborn and done the right thing and listened to his senior military advisors, we wouldn't even be close to where we are now. Russia bombing our allies and Kerry looking lost and as usual, allowing the Russians and everyone else push us around as if we're a 3rd world insignificant gnat. Thank Obama and his glorious minions

-8 ( +8 / -16 )

if Obama wouldn't have been so stubborn and done the right thing

What are you talking about? Obama did do the right thing.

0 ( +9 / -9 )

Partial translation, if only Obama would listen to the opinions of the expat blogosphere, then the outcome would be (fill in blank).

6 ( +8 / -2 )

These complaints of western leaders look out pretty laughable if not plain stupid. 'French Defence Minister said that Russian airstrikes aren't accurate'.Sure that Russians have far more rich experience of combat operations let alone intelligence satellite data than French 'warriors'.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Good luck to Russian pilots!!

2 ( +8 / -6 )

Well, if Obama wouldn't have been so stubborn and done the right thing and listened to his senior military advisors, we wouldn't even be close to where we are now. - comments

A word of wisdom from the Shia-Tea crew.

Our friend supports a second decade, and now a third, of ground war in a Guerilla combat scenario? (Maybe he'll send his daughter to show his patriotism? Why not? As he brings his family story into his posts here over and over, why not?)

Maybe Mr. Wisdom will crack out his check book to pay for it? Oh, wait, he keeps saying how he fled his country because the President is a Kenyan. What a surprise those suggestions are just political patter he heard on some AM band religious repeater.

Thanks for your comedic illustrations of the Shia Tea fans and their Rumptilian brain case capacity.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Obama is as soft as ice cream. The mullahs, Putin and Assad can read him and his administration with their eyes closed. Back to tha drawing board.

He has nothing to loose at this point Bass and count on more controversy in the next 13 months.

Controversey?? More like a national embarrassment. The more stories I read and more video (of russian involvement in syria) I see only shows obama taking it "up the butt" in front of the global community. Commander-in-Chief or clown. . . ? I say the latter.

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

What are you talking about? Obama did do the right thing.

If you believe capitulation and waving a white flag is the right thing, then you are correct. It wouldn't be the first time, this president was backtracking. I believed he admitted that Yellow was his favorite color.

A word of wisdom from the Shia-Tea crew.

That would be the cowardly DNC.

Our friend supports a second decade, and now a third, of ground war in a Guerilla combat scenario?

Yes, I support our troops getting rid of Assad. But now this is such a cluster......Obama doesn't know what's up or down (as if he ever really did)

(Maybe he'll send his daughter to show his patriotism? Why not? As he brings his family story into his posts here over and over, why not?)

Obama's kids are almost old enough, they should enlist.

Maybe Mr. Wisdom will crack out his check book to pay for it? Oh, wait, he keeps saying how he fled his country because the President is a Kenyan. What a surprise those suggestions are just political patter he heard on some AM band religious repeater.

Didn't Obama say, he was smart?? Someone definitely lied to him.

Thanks for your comedic illustrations of the Shia Tea fans and their Rumptilian brain case capacity.

If that was an attempt at being politically funny, just leave it, libs are not good at comedy.

-9 ( +5 / -14 )

If you believe capitulation and waving a white flag is the right thing, then you are correct

It doesn't say much for you that you can only see 'capitulation' and 'waving a white flag' as alternatives. The world isn't black and white.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

How in this world could Shia and tea go together? Shia-DNC is closer to the truth. More regulation and less freedom=shi and Democrats.

Putin has won, Russia seems to have been setting up this perfect storm for a few years now. They have all green lights ahead! The result is not for the good of humanity but let's just blame Bush, it's all his fault. Obama supported the Arab Spring, not Bush. Obama drew those red lines with dissapearing ink. Obama is STILL trying to figure out a solution. The regional experts go ignored.....

0 ( +8 / -8 )

It doesn't say much for you that you can only see 'capitulation' and 'waving a white flag' as alternatives. The world isn't black and white

I would expect no less of an answer from liberals. This is exactly what I'm talking about.

How in this world could Shia and tea go together? Shia-DNC is closer to the truth. More regulation and less freedom=shi and Democrats.

And you said that without all the Shakespearian diatribe.

Putin has won, Russia seems to have been setting up this perfect storm for a few years now. They have all green lights ahead! The result is not for the good of humanity but let's just blame Bush, it's all his fault. Obama supported the Arab Spring, not Bush. Obama drew those red lines with dissapearing ink. Obama is STILL trying to figure out a solution. The regional experts go ignored.....

Yup, that's exactly what's happening and his majesty just could give a fig, he's out soon, so why should he care? Let the next president handle this mess.

-7 ( +4 / -11 )

After all the partisan chuckles are wasted, what Russia begins airstrikes in Syria shows is a hornets' nest of multi-national bickering.

Italian, French, German, British, US and Russian sorties complaining about each other.

Smart bet? ISIS is a paper tiger that dissolves in the sands and reappears slicing off the heads of ten year old girls from sunup to sun down and melts again into the sands.

Wasting time with blame and paranoia won't save one of those children. Either the international community garrotes ISIS together or these worshipers of bloodshed will fill the desert with children's bodies. There is no in-between and there is no excuse except using ISIS as a puppet from hell.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Smart bet? ISIS is a paper tiger that dissolves in the sands and reappears slicing off the heads of ten year old girls from sunup to sun down and melts again into the sands.

ISIS is a paper tiger??? My God man, where have you been the last 4 years?

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

I would expect no less of an answer from liberals

I would expect the same answer of anyone, republican or liberal, if the person was trying to pigeonhole them into a black/white answer that ignores the truth.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Why is it so hard to see this for what it is? Putin is obviously much less interested in fighting ISIS than protecting Assad. And he'll continue bombing Assad's political enemies while always claiming he's fighting "terrorists".

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Dear moderator.

At some point can you print JT's policies on posting and maybe even let readers comment on them? Is it possible to inform readers what is considered an appropriate comment and what not, and then give the paper's reasons? If not, I'll just assume the censorship is random ala Catch 22.

Moderator: Terms of moderation can be seen by clicking on the link at the bottom of the home page. http://www.japantoday.com/moderation_policy They are not subject for discussion by readers.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I have seen American mothers who were begging IS for not taking their sons lives. However ISIL members are not like Obama who will pardon Turkey for Thanks giving day. They love beheading defenseless people with barbaric manner.Obama spent more than 500 millions for training Syrian Rebels for toppling Assad. Many of US weapons supplied were ended up at IS terrorists. Many of US trained Syrian Rebels betrayed Obama for running away. There are only 5 or 6 U.S. trained rebels are fighting IS.

For Obama, defeating IS like cross examination at the court. He has not realized IS members are not law abiding decent people. Unlike Obama, Putin will not talk and talk like Lawyer. Putin is a martial artist who will show lightening speed for saving Syria. if Syria fall under IS, Irag and Jordan will follow Syria fate. Many more people wifi lose their heads. Middle East will become IS caliphate.

Assad may be Saturn however he is the lesser evil and friendlier to west. Putin priority is the defeating IS with United force. If Obama can not defeat IS he should shut up and let Putin to perform the payback mission for American mothers who lost their sons heads.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

I would expect the same answer of anyone, republican or liberal, if the person was trying to pigeonhole them into a black/white answer that ignores the truth.

Then you must really have a distain for liberals if that is true.

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

@paulinusa. Yup and now the americans have taken an unprecedented defensive role n the ME. Obam will come out and say . . . bla-bla-bla. But Puin knows obama is inept in these circumstances so obama will do nothing.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Then you must really have a distain for liberals if that is true.

Why?

3 ( +7 / -4 )

That's the sad part. Since Obama has been in office, what did Putin accomplish? He took Crimea, Eastern Ukraine and did everything, laughing and not feeling or fearing anything coming from Obama.

-5 ( +6 / -11 )

Finally. Hopefully the pathway to peace with be carved out of this. YES, we all know that Russia will target all of Assad's enemies which includes ISIS, Al-Nusra, and whatever rebel Islamist there is. And yes, there will be civilians slain, unfortunately. But we gotta bring it back to the pre-war status quo (which the US doesn't want) and reestablish the multicultural, multi-religious, and tolerant Syria again. You can already see the Western media condemning these strikes because "they're not ISIS". Well, they may not be ISIS, but they still are radical Islamist (who get support by the US by labeling them as "moderate"). I also heard Chinese naval ships are in or are heading to Syria, I wonder if they're going to help Russia and Syria out.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Russia is Bombing the people in Homs right now may God be with the Syrian Freedom Fighters right now and protect the people of Homs.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

@Victory Nippon"may God be with the Syrian Freedom Fighters right now"

Do you mean "may Allah be with ISIS now"?

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Finally. Hopefully the pathway to peace with be carved out of this.

That will NEVER happen, in fact, one might argue the opposite could happen.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

bass: If you believe capitulation and waving a white flag is the right thing, then you are correct. It wouldn't be the first time, this president was backtracking. I believed he admitted that Yellow was his favorite color.

This is the part where I ask you to tell me what exactly Obama should do, and your answer will most likely have a lot of catchphrases and bumper stickers. But, I'll ask anyway.

What specific steps do you think Obama should take regarding Syria?

5 ( +7 / -2 )

yamashi Russia is bombing the Syrian rebel right not ISIS they already killed 27 people. Here is a report from Ukraine Today Washington and its allies claim the bombs were dropped in the country's Homs area, not controlled by IS but by other forces opposing Syrian President Bashar-al-Assad. Dozens of civilians have been killed, the head of the Syrian political opposition said.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Remember that War is BUSINESS.

And it's crazy that they have brainwashed so many people into thinking that war is sometimes necessary.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

'Obama's kids are almost old enough, they should enlist.'

'....ah yes...the delight of having your own children returned to you inside body bags....GO USA!! #sarcasm'

The definition of 'brave' from the US right is flabby millionaires sending people to die in unwinnable wars in hellholes with the same idiots dressing up in military gear for photo ops on ships. Whether the decision to send them was an appalling or deceitful one is incidental as it shows the 'bravery' of the leaders and their 'patriotism'. The same people and their supporters can often be found in forests shooting squirrels.

Lower than low can get.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The definition of 'brave' from the US right is flabby millionaires sending people to die in unwinnable wars in hellholes with the same idiots dressing up in military gear for photo ops on ships. Whether the decision to send them was an appalling or deceitful one is incidental as it shows the 'bravery' of the leaders and their 'patriotism'.

But, but, they're fighting for our freedom.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Obama and his bots thought that retreat U.S .power from the region would bring about a fairy tale of coalition toward peace! Reality check! this vacuum is being filled by dictators including Russia, Iran.. Basically Obama delivered Iraq into the Mullahs of Iran, and now Putin backs up Assad of Syria, Iran, and Iraqi Shiites to be a major player in M.E. oil in the future. First day of Obama's presidency- the dictators gone wild, and now they are even wilder from Crimea to M.E. America and the world will pay a heavy prices in the future out of these ignorance, naivety, and narcissistic retreat-er in chief.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Obama and his bots thought that retreat U.S .power from the region would bring about a fairy tale of coalition toward peace!

I don't think they ever thought that. It was more about not throwing good money after bad. It was a horrible idea to go into Iraq in the first place, and staying in there any longer would have been an enormous mistake (which you can be sure the right would have jumped all over - damned if you do, damned if you don't). The US never should have been there in the first place, and getting out was a good idea. Getting back in to play with ISIS has been a horrible mistake. Leave the Middle East to the Middle East.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

It was more about not throwing good money after bad. It was a horrible idea to go into Iraq in the first place, and staying in there any longer would have been an enormous mistake - comments

Quite right. AWOL Bush handed off his Commander in Chief robes to Stephen John Hadley and spent his administration in Texas. All the blame of the Shia-Tea rests on the central failure of ignoring who got the States into the Iraq mess. AWOL Bush's Lies.

Syria's VX and Sarin gas stockpiles, provided a al Putin, were an easy sleeping giant. Now, the Shia Tea stalks Obama. They never heard of Bush, Bush Who?

They cry. It's the Kenyan guy, you know that Kenyan dude who crippled the occupation of the Middle East!

Easy racism, easy fall guys and now an easy racist GOP-Shia-Tea candidate Rumps into the White House to lick the bowls of Government spending to enrich himself. All very predictable.

AWOL Bush sold a war on lies and the Shia-Tea blames the Americans now who are on the hook for the Three Trillion dollars War for Profit. That's a tidy little game that also gave Comrade Putin control over the Middle East.

Well done GOP-Shia-Tea, your America just inherited AWOL Bush's forever war. Hope your kids like working for Bush's lies. Hey, your Papa pizza salesman made a good buck. What else does a Shia-Tea want? Oh, yeah, religious domination of the US Constitution, don't forget that little perk.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

This is the part where I ask you to tell me what exactly Obama should do, and your answer will most likely have a lot of catchphrases and bumper stickers. But, I'll ask anyway.

No, just the fact and that is Obama should have kept his Red Line promise, we wouldn't be here now.

What specific steps do you think Obama should take regarding Syria?

Go after Assad aggressively and remove him. Stop showing Putin that he likes to roll around in kitty liter. Show him that he's a man and he's a leader of mightiest nation on the planet, but as I said before, Obama's favorite color is "yellow."

Absolutely...as long as we have superpowers like the U.S.....the rest of the World shall never know peace. Remember that War is BUSINESS. ;-)

South Korea, Germany, France, most of Europe and Japan would probably disagree with you on that, get real! And remember, whenever the poo hits the fan, who's the first country EVERYONE calls?

'....ah yes...the delight of having your own children returned to you inside body bags....GO USA!! #sarcasm'

I keep forgetting, loving your country and being patriotic is just so beneath Europeans, Hey, that's ok. I'll keep praising and if you guys don't, then you don't, doesn't matter.

The definition of 'brave' from the US right is flabby millionaires sending people to die in unwinnable wars in hellholes with the same idiots dressing up in military gear for photo ops on ships.

When we saved Europe that was somehow Ok, but when the paradigm shifts, that's different all of a sudden?

Whether the decision to send them was an appalling or deceitful one is incidental as it shows the 'bravery' of the leaders and their 'patriotism'. The same people and their supporters can often be found in forests shooting squirrels.

Spoken like a true liberal.

Lower than low can get.

That's why America is in the state that its in. We've damn hit rock bottom.

The US never should have been there in the first place, and getting out was a good idea. Getting back in to play with ISIS has been a horrible mistake. Leave the Middle East to the Middle East.

To get rid of Saddam, we had every right to go in and No one misses the butcher of Baghdad, good riddance. But you still want to give Obama a pass. Again, you may not want to fight a war, but a war may want to fight you and anyone that thinks walking away and the Jihadists would just walk away and leave us alone is living in a world of incense and peppermint candies and vivid colors.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

Well done GOP-Shia-Tea, your America just inherited AWOL Bush's forever war.

Fighting in the region predates the founding of the United States and may well outlast it. What Obama has done is to gingerly make it no longer America's responsibility - sort of the opposite of the Pottery Barn rule. In fact, having Russia jump in could turn out to be a big plus for the US: Everyone likes to point fingers, and now there is an alternative target.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Hmmmm, not buying that argument.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

bass: Go after Assad aggressively and remove him.

So regime change in Syria?

3 ( +5 / -2 )

@Victory Nippon "Here is report from Ukraine"

Lol. Do you seriously think someone from Ukraine is in Syria now and even able to report specific details about current air strikes ?

"Washington and its allies claim...Dozens of civilians"

Usual misinformation, a part of well-known, traditional Fox News-style propaganda targeted to demonize Russians. A boring hit from antique billboard.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

'....ah yes...the delight of having your own children returned to you inside body bags....GO USA!! #sarcasm''

'I keep forgetting, loving your country and being patriotic is just so beneath Europeans, Hey, that's ok. I'll keep praising and if you guys don't, then you don't, doesn't matter.'

There we have it. The definition of patriotism Bass-style - answering a comment about people killed in a war of choice which turned into a catastrophe and was based on a pack of lies with....patriotism. For many on the US right, war and patriotism are inseparable. The deaths of others while they watch footage of missiles flying through front doors on Fox makes them drop their snacks and rise off the sofa to salute the TV.

It never ceases to amaze me just how little these people value human lives.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Yeah, anyone who wants a military assault on Assad is pretty much insane. The other Repubs here at least have the smarts to not go on record saying something like that.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Fighting in the region predates the founding of the United States and may well outlast it.

Well said. After Saddam, Uday and Qusay were removed, al-Maliki couldn't get it right. Seems like Sunni and Shia, both trying to interpret and tailor their islamic beliefs are their outright downfall.

Obama's favorite color is "yellow."

Ha-ha, good one bass. That was a knee slappet.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

@bassfunk

Go after Assad aggressively and remove him.

And then what? There is no one capable of replacing him. We've tried this before with Iraq and Libya with dismal results. Doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome is the definition of insanity.

To get rid of Saddam, we had every right to go in and No one misses the butcher of Baghdad, good riddance.

Given the state of security and general infrastructure in Iraq today, I'm sure you can find millions of Iraqis on the ground who would argue otherwise.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Gotta love Bass preaching regime change - something that has only ever caused troubles for the US in the past. Because if something doesn't work, and doesn't work again and again and again (and again and again), it's obviously going to work the next time, right?

3 ( +6 / -3 )

But French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told lawmakers in Paris: “Curiously, they didn’t hit Islamic State. I will let you draw a certain number of conclusions yourselves.

He is surprisingly good informed about Islamic State military problems...

But what have in common Islamic State and Fifth Republic ?

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

"U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter... said the Russians should not be supporting the Assad government and their military moves are “doomed to fail.”

Damn, I guess ISIS lives!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The US should be too ashamed to criticize Russia for its intervention in Syria after war criminal Bush invaded Iraq on false pretexts, killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, caused the displacement of millions and destroyed the country's unity making it easy prey for the head-chopping savages IS. France should also be ashamed of itself for removing Libya's Gadhafy and leaving the country in lawless shambles in the hands of terrorist militants and civil war. The destruction of these two countries at the hands of democracy and freedom-loving US and France just goes to show they may be 'might' but definitely not 'right'.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Bass: 'Go after Assad aggressively and remove him.'

Noble: 'And then what?'

Planning? Rebuilding? Consideration of the consequences? I'm sure you remember Iraq. This is the US rightwing we are talking about. It's like shaking a rolled-up newspaper at a bulldog puppy who's just had yet another crap on the carpet.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Jimizo;

" Planning? Rebuilding? Consideration of the consequences? I'm sure you remember Iraq. This is the US rightwing we are talking about. It's like shaking a rolled-up newspaper at a bulldog puppy who's just had yet another crap on the carpet. "

Err... Obama now represents the "US rightwing"??

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Err... Obama now represents the "US rightwing"??

No, Bass is the one promoting regime change. Or has Obama also proposed it? If he has, I'd be amazed that Bass would have put forward an idea that Obama has, but I'd guess that Bass just hadn't realized Obama had said that.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Gotta love Bass preaching regime change - something that has only ever caused troubles for the US in the past.

@Strangerland Define "trouble". I don't define getting filthy rich as "trouble", well, not if its me getting rich anyway!

And its not like America has received anything more horrible than a tongue lashing for all its done.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

@Strangerland Define "trouble"

Sure: ISIS

0 ( +3 / -3 )

The americans, turks, saudis, brits & french oppose Assad's government. The russians and iranians support Assad.

Next few weeks could get interesting. Wonder what obama comes up with after coming out of the think tank in DC. Even JFK had a bold plan during the dramatic escalation of the cuban missile crisis. Meanwhile let's hope russian and american fighter jets do not end up in mid-air confrontation. Prudence demands the US watch their own backs.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

We are not at war with Assad. The issue is that if he wants our help fighting ISIS he needs to step down because we aren't going to fight only to hand the country back to him. If he doesn't want our help, then so be it. Stay in the stalemate for as long as you want. Obviously Russia is hitting the anti-government forces which isn't going to do much of anything to ISIS.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The whole world should be united against IS. Air strike alone will not enough for defeating IS. If US, Russia, China,UK and France are united for sending Commandoes that impossible dream can become the reality.

No pain no gain. Syrian Rebels are toothless tigers unlike Kurdish women fighters who will fight until last breath. They are Joan of Arcs of Middle East. US should support them regardless of Turkey protest. Turkey does not want to fight IS. It is unhelpful.

France should realize that supporting run away warriors of Syrian Rebels is fruitless and waste of resources. Russia will be praised for bombing over them.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The americans, turks, saudis, brits & french oppose Assad's government. The russians and iranians support Assad.

This week's musical chairs game of 'my enemy's enemy is my friend' continues to change. And no one's mentioning China.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

So regime change in Syria

Yes.

There we have it. The definition of patriotism Bass-style - answering a comment about people killed in a war of choice which turned into a catastrophe and was based on a pack of lies with....patriotism.

Has nothing to do with patriotism, as usual, European libs conflate the entire issue and are in the dark of what it means to be patriotic. I make NO apologies

For many on the US right, war and patriotism are inseparable.

No, we just don't believe in being pansies and let others dictate to us how we should live or think.

The deaths of others while they watch footage of missiles flying through front doors on Fox makes them drop their snacks and rise off the sofa to salute the TV.

Good lord what in blazes are you talking about? Lol

It never ceases to amaze me just how little these people value human lives

I feel the same about the people that would do the same to our allies, screw them over.

And then what? There is no one capable of replacing him. We've tried this before with Iraq and Libya with dismal results. Doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome is the definition of insanity.

Sure, I get it, but the first priority a few years back was to get rid of Assad and then let the chips fall where they may, but getting him out was a given!

Given the state of security and general infrastructure in Iraq today, I'm sure you can find millions of Iraqis on the ground who would argue otherwise

Or vice versa as well.

Gotta love Bass preaching regime change - something that has only ever caused troubles for the US in the past.

As if we don't have troubles right now. Now thanks to his royalness, we have Iraq cooperating with Syria and with Iran, I would call Obama's lack and irresponsible behavior in this region deplorable as well as dispicable

Because if something doesn't work, and doesn't work again and again and again (and again and again), it's obviously going to work the next time, right.

General "Keane and Patreaus" would vehemently disagree with you on that point. But if you don't have a fighting president and one that likes

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

'For many on the US right, war and patriotism are inseparable.'

'No, we just don't believe in being pansies and let others dictate to us how we should live or think.'

Who is dictating to Americans how they should live or think? Are your freedoms under attack yet again? Who from this time? Assad?

As for 'European liberal', you do know Europe is a continent with many different countries and political leanings, right? It's just that many on the US right have a very patchy knowledge of geography. Fox is often helpful in this regard by showing maps of where the US is currently at war or planning to start one. You don't hear 'North American conservative/liberal', do you? That aside, please teach me what being a patriot entails. I remember Sarah Palin saying she'd never apologise for America. Is that a good start?

I like the 'pansies' idea. People who are against sending others to die in a hellhole of a country ( in an area of the world where the US saw one of its many catastrophic interventions ) are 'pansies'. Will this keep these people from threatening your liberty to believe in sending other people to die from your keyboard?

3 ( +5 / -2 )

The US should be too ashamed to criticize Russia for its intervention in Syria

The US should be ashamed for electing Obama, now that's shameful!

after war criminal Bush invaded Iraq on false pretexts, killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, caused the displacement of millions and destroyed the country's unity making it easy prey for the head-chopping savages IS.

But you're giving the sectarian violence that caused most of the deaths a pass, right?

France should also be ashamed of itself for removing Libya's Gadhafy and leaving the country in lawless shambles in the hands of terrorist militants and civil war.

You can thank Hillary for that.

The destruction of these two countries at the hands of democracy and freedom-loving US and France just goes to show they may be 'might' but definitely not 'right'.

Or maybe the US and France know something that a lot of people with blinders don't want to see.

Planning? Rebuilding? Consideration of the consequences? I'm sure you remember Iraq. This is the US rightwing we are talking about. It's like shaking a rolled-up newspaper at a bulldog puppy who's just had yet another crap on the carpet.

Who said anything about nation rebuilding????

No, Bass is the one promoting regime change. Or has Obama also proposed it? If he has, I'd be amazed that Bass would have put forward an idea that Obama has, but I'd guess that Bass just hadn't realized Obama had said that.

As if anyone listens to Barack Hussein.

We are not at war with Assad.

Yeah, ok... he's our best friend. Rofl!

As for 'European liberal', you do know Europe is a continent with many different countries and political leanings, right? It's just that many on the US right have a very patchy knowledge of geography.

And many Europeans are also equally ignorant about geopolitics and about Americans in general. I lived in Europe for over 20 years.

Fox is often helpful in this regard by showing maps of where the US is currently at war or planning to start one. You don't hear 'North American conservative/liberal', do you?

No, it's just that FOX is tired as well as many people in America are tired of liberal PC politics. And they're not apologizing for it, kudos to them.

That aside, please teach me what being a patriot entails. I remember Sarah Palin saying she'd never apologise for America. Is that a good start?

I can't. You need to be born American to feel effect.

I like the 'pansies' idea. People who are against sending others to die in a hellhole of a country ( in an area of the world where the US saw one of its many catastrophic interventions ) are 'pansies'.

True, but if it's worth fighting for or if they had a strong leader that cared about America, then maybe we wouldn't have leaders that are pansies.

Will this keep these people from threatening your liberty to believe in sending other people to die from your keyboard?

What do you think?

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

The trouble with IS is that they think that if they win, they win, and if they lose, Jesus will return and save them in the final battle. So they are difficult to demoralize.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Well, whatever you may think you have to admit one thing. Russia moves fast. It was only a week or so of hearing them start to move in, and they are already starting to bomb.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Obama is awaring his mecenaries ISIS will get hurts. He and his bombing for a whole year but nothing change the situations because those assaults were not aiming at ISIS group but the civilians

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

And the Liberals weep like school girls because the Sovi......opps, I meant to say, Liberals have zero problem when Russians bomb civilians, Liberals call those casualties Terrorists. But when the US kills Islamic terrorists, oh well, then they are murderers. There is a word for that.......It used to be called Hypocrisy......Today it is called CNN.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

110% Agreed!

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

And the Liberals weep like school girls because the Sovi......opps, I meant to say, Liberals have zero problem when Russians bomb civilians, Liberals call those casualties Terrorists.

I'm not sure why you think this. I'm as liberal as anyone, and I have a big problem with dropping bombs on civilians when anyone does it, regardless of the country.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Sure: ISIS

@Strangerland Call me when ISIS kidnaps and beheads an American federal politician or official, or an exec or major shareholder of Halliburton, DynCorp, Bechtel, or any of our other wonderful war profiteers and pro-war pundits and interest groups. Otherwise ISIS is not a problem for those who engineer these wars.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

I just meant it's a political headache. I agree it's not a real problem to the US - I've been advocating the west pulling out of the middle east for years.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

'And the Liberals weep like school girls because the Sovi......opps, I meant to say, Liberals have zero problem when Russians bomb civilians, Liberals call those casualties Terrorists. But when the US kills Islamic terrorists, oh well, then they are murderers. There is a word for that.......It used to be called Hypocrisy......Today it is called CNN.'

Bombing civilians is a disgrace no matter who carries it out. Who is justifying it?

I know the paranoid and the partisans can't see past a battle between the liberals/commies and the 'Patriots' but there is a school of thought which simply says 'get out and stay out of the Middle East and stop making things worse'. It isn't liberal, commie, patriotic, 'pansy', vegan, atheistic, Christian nor Prius-driving. It's based on common sense after looking at past debacles.

By the way, you do know that the Soviet Union has gone, don't you?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Proposing that Assad must go, and actively removing Assad are different things. Though to be fair, I worded it incorrectly. Bass is pushing for the US to remove Assad - this is what I have an issue with. Stating that Assad must go, without actively removing him, is not an issue in my books.

Exactly my sentiments. But unfortunately the big wig nuts in the US government can't seem to wrap their stupid heads around this simple fact. How many times has this exact same mistake been committed? How many times has there been a power vacuum left behind, that they try to fill in a half-assed way if at all? One would thing our government would have figured it out by now after all these decades. But (and I hate to sound like a conspiracy theorist), it appears some groups of people in our government still believes it will get them more cash in their pockets someway, somehow.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I'm as liberal as anyone, and I have a big problem with dropping bombs on civilians when anyone does it, regardless of the country.

Liberals aren't the only ones that have a problem with bombing innocent people, but at the same time, that doesn't mean, you allow your enemies to try and kill you. That's the bad thing about war, sometimes you need war in order to keep the peace. It is ugly, it is brutal, but it is also reality and when you are soft and don't have the guts to pull the trigger when the time arises, then you will NEVER be respected particularly by your enemies and you will never be a true leader.

Really? Where? I have to admit, I'm amazed that Bass is in agreement with Obama for once.

But the idiot in chief still doesn't have the coconuts to do it himself, dumb and indecisive as usual, nothing new.

this is what I have an issue with. Stating that Assad must go, without actively removing him, is not an issue in my books.

We'd all be better off if Assad were to be ousted, NO ONE would miss him either.

I've been advocating the west pulling out of the middle east for years.

We could have if Obama would have taken the advice he was given to handle the ME, but he didn't and here we are because of us being disengaged from the fight.

Bombing civilians is a disgrace no matter who carries it out. Who is justifying it?

I know the paranoid and the partisans can't see past a battle between the liberals/commies and the 'Patriots' but there is a school of thought which simply says 'get out and stay out of the Middle East and stop making things worse'.

Russia has made it worse and Obama being....well...Obama has made things worse.

It isn't liberal, commie, patriotic, 'pansy', vegan, atheistic, Christian nor Prius-driving. It's based on common sense after looking at past debacles.

From a liberals base world loonville, I think you guys are right.

By the way, you do know that the Soviet Union has gone, don't you?

Sure, I do. And you do know that Obama has 413 more days left in office, right?

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

This week's musical chairs game of 'my enemy's enemy is my friend' continues to change. And no one's mentioning China.

Why do you have such a hard-on for China?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

'I know the paranoid and the partisans can't see past a battle between the liberals/commies and the 'Patriots' but there is a school of thought which simply says 'get out and stay out of the Middle East and stop making things worse'.'

'Russia has made it worse and Obama being....well...Obama has made things worse.'

Which part of 'get out and stay out' don't you get?

'From a liberals base world loonville, I think you guys are right'

A 'liberals base world loonville'? That's just semi-literate, incomprehensible drivel. Please address the point of past debacles in this part of the world and why you advocate another one.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

But French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told lawmakers in Paris: “Curiously, they didn’t hit Islamic State. I will let you draw a certain number of conclusions yourselves.”

...His friend from ISIS Headquarter just call him. "We are safe and sound - Russian missed !!! bon journee!"

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Which part of 'get out and stay out' don't you get?

Translation: leave the jihadists alone and when they kill more westerners, then we will try and find a way to decide what to do, either nothing or pay they don't harm or kill us, until them, do as they say.

That's just semi-literate, incomprehensible drivel. Please address the point of past debacles in this part of the world and why you advocate another one.

Translation: We are content to surrender, why you conservatives just don't get that. Give them what they want, let them do as they wish with us and hope and pray they will go away.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

I do not carry water for Russia but the United States needs to stay out of Syria. They have no legal authority to intervene in the civil war. Russia has been invited in to defend the sovereign government.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Reading the US Shia-Tea leaves here suggests these posters want America to (A) Lead a forever war everywhere, (B) Create a forever American World Policeman and (C) Remove any Government they disagree with. In essence a global Dictatorship that operates for their own amusement.

Of course, for these Super Patriots, AWOL Bush's disastrous wars of lies never happened and kicking Assad out is as easy a picking up the blower and telling him to get lost.

Talk about a Fantasy Island solution. These guys would better worry about the butterfly nets coming to get them.

The unsurprising omission is how do these loonies think the Americans will pay for the occupation of the half dozen countries they want to topple and install American Dictatorships in half a world away? It never seems to occur to them that Americans have had enough of wars of private profit created with willful deceit.

The more one reads of these ignorant ravings, always sprinkled liberally with racial hatred, the more it looks like the butterfly nets cannot come soon enough. For what it's worth they illustrate their megalomania without any reality and no potential to ever achieve any of their hair-brained assumptions. That, at leaste, is very comforting.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

If Obama doesn't want to get involved in the business of other countries why will he not stop sticking his nose in other peoples business all the time? He is only making matters worse and he is making America look like the fool.

http://news.yahoo.com/russian-strikes-again-expose-us-disarray-201634156.html

Why send Kerry around the world to be diplomatically embarrassed time after time when he would be better off staying home and shutting up. Hey, it's none of America's business right? After all, Obama only sees two options. Diplomacy or war. He has announced to the world that Iraq, Iran, and Syria are not worth going to war for. If that's really the case, he should just shut up and stay home. Diplomacy doesn't work when you are not willing to get your hands dirty. Pretending he has clout when he is unwilling to back up his words with actions is only making him look like a fool.

Putin knows that Obama will not do anything to stop him from throwing his military weight around. Obama has told everyone that he doesn't do military interventions (well, especially since the failed state he caused in Libya). Under Obama's leadership, America foreign policy is in disarray.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Why send Kerry around the world to be diplomatically embarrassed time after time when he would be better off staying home and shutting up. Hey, it's none of America's business right? After all, Obama only sees two options. Diplomacy or war. He has announced to the world that Iraq, Iran, and Syria are not worth going to war for. If that's really the case, he should just shut up and stay home. Diplomacy doesn't work when you are not willing to get your hands dirty. Pretending he has clout when he is unwilling to back up his words with actions is only making him look like a fool.

Obama sees that he is the one who screwed up Iraq , Libya and he want to fix something can't be fixed

As of syria , Putin is surely doing well against ISIS , Hm Well he is seeing that the civilian is the problem

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

@maglev101OCT. 02, 2015 - 12:02AM JST This week's musical chairs game of 'my enemy's enemy is my friend' continues to change. And no one's mentioning China. Why do you have such a hard-on for China?

Not sure what you mean, but the point I try to make - sorry it's not been clear - is that while the US, the EU and Russia continue to get involved militarily spending their taxpayers money (but adding to their arms makers wealth) on questionable invasions China gets richer by standing aside and looks like it could be a better empire option to most parts of the world.

I keep saying they have finlandized areas in and beyond their spheres of influence, used business tacts not military to further build their empire. I keep saying they're building up their navy to say that they have plans to protect their empire.

I think China is being much wiser than any other nation. That does not mean, though, that I am siding with China nor pleased in any way about their expansion.

I also think India needs watching. Just my worldview.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I do not carry water for Russia but the United States needs to stay out of Syria. They have no legal authority to intervene in the civil war. Russia has been invited in to defend the sovereign government.

So what you're saying is, leave all the Jihadists alone and when they kill Americans or better WESTERNERS then we should do something, but preemptively, forget about it. Well, for NOW that seems to be the strategy at least until January 20th 2017.

Reading the US Shia-Tea leaves here suggests these posters want America to (A) Lead a forever war everywhere,

No, just kill as many of the Jihadists as we can, the one thing I do like about Russia, they don't care about the Rules of engagement. They will do whatever they have to do to win and if you want to win, you need to be brutal and that would take a lot of the fight out them.

(B) Create a forever American World Policeman

As the ONLY superpower, that is one of the big responsibilities that we have, I don't like it that much, but look what happens to the world when the US withdraws, s*** happens!

and (C) Remove any Government they disagree with. In essence a global Dictatorship that operates for their own amusement.

No, just get someone in that can keep the boot and eyes on the people that want to harm infidels.

Of course, for these Super Patriots, AWOL Bush's disastrous wars of lies never happened and kicking Assad out is as easy a picking up the blower and telling him to get lost.

Years of sectarian violence has torn the country apart, killed thousands of people and if the main cause of death for the Iraqis and Syrians, but as long as Assad remans in power and and embolden and the alliance with Iran and the crazy Mullahs, the degradation and turmoil in the ME will only worsen.

Talk about a Fantasy Island solution. These guys would better worry about the butterfly nets coming to get them.

That's the reason why the Dems live in a world of pure incense and peppermint candies and controlled by a president that wears yellow boxer shorts.

The unsurprising omission is how do these loonies think the Americans will pay for the occupation of the half dozen countries they want to topple and install American Dictatorships in half a world away? It never seems to occur to them that Americans have had enough of wars of private profit created with willful deceit.

We could cut a big portion of the out of control spending on failed pet projects, Obamacare and other entitlements that are way over the top as a start, including defunding parts of Planned Parenthood

The more one reads of these ignorant ravings, always sprinkled liberally with racial hatred, the more it looks like the butterfly nets cannot come soon enough.

So then you agree, the last 7 years, we are all still waiting for the Monarchs to come back.

For what it's worth they illustrate their megalomania without any reality and no potential to ever achieve any of their hair-brained assumptions. That, at leaste, is very comforting.

So why are Dems hurting overall in the polls and non-establishment Repub. Trump, Carson, Fiorina and to a lesser extent Rubio creating a Beatles hysteria frenzy?

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

I just meant it's a political headache.

@Strangerland

Oh, I see. But money is better than aspirin for that kind of headache! I am sure our politicians, exec and pundits barely noticed the migraine! I wish we could throw them to ISIS.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

After one year of bombing and 7000 US air strikes it was no big deal but only few Russian precision bombing air is field with panic fear and anger and what is this suppose to mean....

1 ( +1 / -0 )

More good news. Terrorist training camp & command HQ blown to kingdom come in precision, surgical Russian airstrikes. Russia was able to do in a few days what the U.S. wasn't able to do in a year. What that says is that the U.S. had no intention of ridding of IS at all and just wanted regime change by getting rid of Assad. Looks like Russia just embarrassed the world's foremost war-mongering country and terrorism sponsor that is the U.S.A.

https://www.rt.com/news/317308-syria-targets-combat-video/

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Russia was able to do in a few days what the U.S. wasn't able to do in a year.

Genjuro. Nice observation. . . . but look at the cards the US has. obama and Kerry are Beavis & Butthead when it comes to foreign policy/military efficiency.

Or like the so-called commander said himself- any half-baked plan in syria . . . . bla-bla-bla, is just "mumbo jumbo."

As the ONLY superpower, that is one of the big responsibilities that we have, I don't like it that much, but look what happens to the world when the US withdraws, s*** happens!

I don't like it either. And it was especially worse when Bill Clinton was getting monica lewinski BJ's on the job while the USS Cole got bombed and Blackhawks in somalia were getting down. US Special Forces dead bodies being daragged down a Somali street. Al Qaida setting up 9/11 under the Bill Clinton administration's nose.

Worse. What's to come from obama's failure? The russians are calling the shots. obama has NO answer. And the mullahs got their fill (nuke deal). Thank god Bibi is still focused!

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I'm sure while Russia anihilates everyone and everything regardless except Al-Asaad, it will kick out Ukrainians completely out of the eastern Ukraine. Mysteriously this time, Europe and the US suddenly realize intricacies in the matter and stay quiet as nothing has ever happened.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@Peace Out,

"air strikes are the preferred method of a coward" Oh really? And you'd know all about it, wouldn't you, having flown operations over hostile territory - where in this case, btw, ISIS will put a captured pilot in a cage and burn him alive. Tell us more. We're all ears.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Fact is, Putin`s Middle East policy is consistent and intelligent. He wants to a) support the Assad government, which is a long-term ally and gives Russia a presence in the area, and b) he he wants to put as many Chechen terrorists, who are fighting for ISIS, out of existance as possible. In order to that, he cooperates with Iran, which is also a long-term supporter of Assad, so this is a completely consistent policy.

Obama on the other hand, has been trying to weaken Assad (thus helping the rise of the ISIS caliphate), and worse than that, giving arms to the fictional "vetted rebels" aka ISIS in dr ag. Of course, the radical Gulf Sunni governments love that; their priority is to remove the Shiite-friendly Assad regime and replace with a Sunni islamist regime.

But Obama, in his bott omless wisdom, AT THE SAME TIME lifted the sanctions against Iran, thus giving Iran more power to support Assad and Hezbollah, and royally p1ss1ng off the same Arab gulf states who he tried to appease by sanctioning Assad. Plus, he is running some ridiculous pin- pr1ck bombing campaigns against ISIS (but not against junior ISIS aka his "vetted rebels", which has ISIS laugh and the Gulf Arabs scratching their head. And oh yes, now he is hinting against protecting his "vetted rebels" aka ISIS from Russian attacks. Confused already?

It is really bizarre watching this in sane situation. Geopolitically, Putin is playing chess, and Obama is playing tic-tac-to, if that.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

It is rather interesting how, mere days after an American General admitted to Congress that there were no (well, the difference between 6 in a country of millions, and 0 is meaningless, but the America über alle crowd would scream if I didn't mention those 6) 'moderate extremists' in Syria for anyone to bomb, suddenly they control vast swaths of land. At least when the same sources were nattering on about there being WMDs minutes away from launch in Iraq, there wasn't official, public statements to the opposite.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Only two out of the latest 19 cruise missiles were actually aimed at ISIL, according to a recent Foxy news source, for whatever that's worth.

Genjuro's "Terrorist training camp & command HQ blown to kingdom come in precision, surgical Russian airstrikes" may indicate non-ISIL groups.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Nandakamanda:

" Only two out of the latest 19 cruise missiles were actually aimed at ISIL, according to a recent Foxy news source, for whatever that's worth "

So there were aimed at Al Nusra, or the Free Syrian Armee, or any of the dozens of other little "vetted rebels" which morph into ISIS at the drop of a hat. So your point is? That you still believe the White House fiction that there are wonderful secular democrats out there, who are fighting both ISIS and Assad?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Exactly , WilliB.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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