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Activist Post
August 31, 2015
If reports coming from YNet News are accurate, the Syrian crisis just became more complex and more dangerous. The report would be great news for the Assad government, however, as it suggests that, in addition to providing Syria with six new MIG 31 jets and providing satellite images with the SAA, the Russians will also be delivering an expeditionary force of Russian soldiers.
YNet claims that the Russian force will be made up of fighter pilots, attack helicopter pilots, advisors, technicians, logistics personnel, instructors, and members of the aerial protection division. The forces are to be stationed at a permanent base in Syria. Although the Russians already maintain the Port of Tartus, YNet suggests that the new base of operations will be an “Assad-controlled” location in an area surrounding Damascus.
YNet refers to the alleged Russian base as “Forward-Operating Base” and has estimated the number of Russian personnel scheduled to enter Syria as being in the “thousands.”
What A Russian Force Would Mean For Assad
If we are able to work on the assumption that the YNet report is accurate, a Russian “expeditionary force” would be a major shot in the arm for the Assad government, even if this force is only operating on the periphery of the conflict. The provision of the MIG-31 jet aircraft was extremely important in terms of technical capabilities for the Syrian government’s necessity to bomb ISIS held territory while avoiding relatively sophisticated anti-aircraft weapons provided to the terrorists by the West. It was also because of what it meant in terms of international relations and the stance of the Russian government in the context of the Syrian crisis. Essentially, it was a clear statement that “Russia stands with Syria.”
Even more important was the agreement to share satellite imagery taken from Russian satellites with the Syrian government so that terrorist movements could be seen with pinpoint accuracy.
Still, an actual Russian force – complete with equipment and personnel – would be a major development in the fight against ISIS. The technical knowledge, the military capability, and the political support would provide Assad with an invaluable resource in locating and eliminating the terrorists.
In addition, the presence of Russian military personnel on the ground in Syria and Russian aircraft in Syria’s skies might also serve to provide both a warning and a reason to exercise more caution on the part of the NATO “coalition” and the United States that are currently bombing Syria.
YNet reports that the Obama administration is fully aware of the Russian plans but that it has yet to announce its reaction to those plans.
What A Russian Force Might Mean For The World
While a Russian military presence in the Syrian capitol will undoubtedly provide an important boost to the Syrian military’s battle against ISIS and other Western-backed terrorists, it will also provide the world with the potential for direct military confrontation between the two major world powers, both of them armed with nuclear weapons.
If YNet is correct in its report and Russian pilots will be flying Russian planes in combat missions against ISIS in Syria, there is the very real potential that rogue nations like the United States and its “coalition” aircraft may find themselves in direct confrontation with Russian air forces.
Considering the aggressive manner in which NATO powers have engaged in military provocations in places like Ukraine, an “accidental” brush with Russian fighter jets could not be ruled out in Syria, as dangerous and potentially destructive as such an act might be.
With the United States engaging in airstrikes all across Syria, there exists the real possibility that lines of communications may become crossed – intentionally or unintentionally – between the United States and Russian forces, resulting in the downing of one or the others’ jets. If that happens, the level of tensions between the two powers will be increased to unprecedented levels, leaving open the question of whether or not the “victim” of the incident will opt to show restraint or engage in retaliatory measures.
Likewise with the Israeli forces that continually launch bombing missions in Syria, and act as air cover for death squad fighters operating on the ground. The Israelis are notoriously provocative in their military adventures, encouraged by the fact that they have the United States military to back them up whenever they find themselves in trouble. Both destabilizing and unpredictable, the Israelis always stand as a potential trigger for dragging the United States into a war. While the Russians are fully supportive of an Israeli (Zionist) settler state, by supporting the Syrians against the Israeli-supported terrorists on the ground, the Russians run the risk of an “accidental” (or otherwise) confrontation with Israeli aircraft.
The Turks too have proven themselves erratic and irrational in regards to their bombing campaigns. It could not be ruled out that the Turks might be able to be convinced to take the lead in provoking the Russians who, if they respond, would be launching an attack on NATO forces. After all, the Turks have already begun creating a “Muslim Brigade” in Ukraine using ISIS terrorists to fight against Russia in a number of locations.
All of these situations could potentially lead to a catastrophic war.
Conclusion
At this point, there has been no confirmation of the report coming from YNet News and the Israeli news agency is the only outlet reporting the story. If the report is accurate, it represents a dramatic new step by Russia in support of the Assad government and a major step forward for human rights in Syria. However, it is also a move that could potentially result in the direct confrontation between two nuclear powers.
If such a confrontation does result, it is important to remember that it is not the Syrian government nor is it the Russia government who is ultimately responsible. The United States, Israel, Turkey, and NATO have all trained, directed, armed, and supported ISIS/”rebels” since the very beginning of the Syrian crisis and, because of this, it is they who bear the responsibility for the fallout from the terrorist actions and the attempt to support them through military force.
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Brandon Turbeville – article archive here – is an author out of Florence, South Carolina. He has a Bachelor’s Degree from Francis Marion University and is the author of six books, Codex Alimentarius — The End of Health Freedom, 7 Real Conspiracies, Five Sense Solutions and Dispatches From a Dissident, volume 1 and volume 2, and The Road to Damascus: The Anglo-American Assault on Syria. Turbeville has published over 500 articles dealing on a wide variety of subjects including health, economics, government corruption, and civil liberties. Brandon Turbeville’s podcast Truth on The Tracks can be found every Monday night 9 pm EST at UCYTV. He is available for radio and TV interviews. Please contact activistpost (at) gmail.com.
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