What is Going On?

[randolph85]

mY QUESTION WOULD BE DID THE RUSKIES GIVE ASSAD THE GREEN LIGHT TO USE THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS BECAUSE THE ONLY THING THAT IS PREVENTING AN AMERICAN ATTACK ARE THE RUSKIES. WOULD ASSAD USE THEM KNOWING IT WOULD PROVOKE THE AMERICANS WITHOUT HAVING THE RUSKIES WATCHING THEIR BACK.

I THINK THE RUSKIES ARE AFRAID OF THE SO CALLED ISLAMISTS COMING INTO CENTRAL ASIA WHICH IS WHY IT SEEMS THEY HAVE DRAWN THE LINE IN SYRIA. AFTER THAT OBAMA/PUTIN MEETING, OBAMA SEEMS TO HAVE BACKED OFF FROM AN ATTACK.

I doubt the russians knew anything of the regimes intentions to use chemical weapons, the regime probably thought that the usage wouldn't of gotten as much press as it did considering there have been reports of them using these weapons in the past.

the russians were trying to play the same big brother role with iraq, but in the end they didn't matter and they had to accept it. the fact that the russians haven't sold iran the s-300 anti air craft missiles after so many years of being on hold just goes to show that russia will not do anything it takes to protect these fair weather allies of hers.

[Shah-i-Kot]

I doubt the russians knew anything of the regimes intentions to use chemical weapons, the regime probably thought that the usage wouldn't of gotten as much press as it did considering there have been reports of them using these weapons in the past.

the russians were trying to play the same big brother role with iraq, but in the end they didn't matter and they had to accept it. the fact that the russians haven't sold iran the s-300 anti air craft missiles after so many years of being on hold just goes to show that russia will not do anything it takes to protect these fair weather allies of hers.

I also dont think Russia knew of it, or encouraged that Bashar use chemical weapons, well aware that it could be used as pretext for Western intervention.

US and the larger NATO establishment do not have the stomach for an intervention in Syria.

US/NATO do not take military action against nations that are well armed and have high air defense and missile capabilities, especially a nation that has nuclear weapons (North Korea) or chemical weapons (Syria).

[Shah-i-Kot]

^You could also ask yourself why the Americans etc. back various proxies around the Islamic world. There are a lot of players out there willing to manipulate the sentiments of ordinary folk.

There is another recent thread on the forum that asks Why Muslim Blood Is Cheap.

The US directly supports and props up secular autocratic regimes (usually military) in that part of the world (this has happened since the end of World War II). Just last month, the Sisi led military coup of the elected government of Morsi was endorsed by Kerry as a move to support the democratic process.

No nation outside of Qatar, Sudan, and Turkey are supporting the Syrian insurgency. The US as well as Saudi Arabia have been directly opposed to arming the Syrian insurgency.

[Shah-i-Kot]

mY QUESTION WOULD BE DID THE RUSKIES GIVE ASSAD THE GREEN LIGHT TO USE THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS BECAUSE THE ONLY THING THAT IS PREVENTING AN AMERICAN ATTACK ARE THE RUSKIES. WOULD ASSAD USE THEM KNOWING IT WOULD PROVOKE THE AMERICANS WITHOUT HAVING THE RUSKIES WATCHING THEIR BACK.

I THINK THE RUSKIES ARE AFRAID OF THE SO CALLED ISLAMISTS COMING INTO CENTRAL ASIA WHICH IS WHY IT SEEMS THEY HAVE DRAWN THE LINE IN SYRIA. AFTER THAT OBAMA/PUTIN MEETING, OBAMA SEEMS TO HAVE BACKED OFF FROM AN ATTACK.

I dont think that Russia can stand in the way of an American strike other than through military support. What is standing in the way of an American strike is the Assad regimes air defense systems, anti-ship systems, and missile capabilities which is made ever more dangerous when you consider Assads' chemical stockpile. If he had none of the former, he would have been long gone like Saddam and Qaddafi- for the geopolitical interests of others. And Bashar being a tyrant doesnt have the support of majority Syrians, and obviously commands no guerrilla forces like Ho Chi Minh. It was ridiculous how he was trying to compare his regime forces to those of Vietnam in the Charlie Rose interview.

The only nation that has conducted airstrikes against Assad's forces is Israel for their own interests.