Russian airstrikes in Syria

[Olerand]

Warm water port.

They need one in the bloody Middle East?
Huh...well, they're supposed to be a world power, so Tartus is a legit start.

It's Russia's last power projection base in a strategically important region. But it's also more than that, Russia is trying to reinsert itself into global politics as a major power, and it needs allies and power for that.

The Assad regime is such an ally in a strategic zone. So Russia wants to keep it that way.

[Esternial]

Ooh, the struggle of juggling your illegal arms sales and the continued existence one of your closest allies.

Poor Russia.

I have two questions. I'm asking you because I trust you to be truthful.
1. Russia is illegally selling arms? How?
2. Why, besides obviously wanting to keep more dictators in power, does Putin support Assad?

Meh. It's mere speculation, but I've got the feeling it's one of the reasons why they aren't really joining in the attacks against IS. Moscow is benefitting from export of arms to Syria. I guess it is actually legal export, perhaps, but I think IS ends up getting some of those weapons. That said, even if IS doesn't get a chunk of the Russian weaponry being imported, destroying them would reduce friction in the region and reduce the prospective needs for more weaponry.

No clue why Putin supports the Assad regime, but the promise of friction and continued armament export might be one of them.

[The United Colonies of Earth]

They need one in the bloody Middle East?
Huh...well, they're supposed to be a world power, so Tartus is a legit start.

It's Russia's last power projection base in a strategically important region. But it's also more than that, Russia is trying to reinsert itself into global politics as a major power, and it needs allies and power for that.

The Assad regime is such an ally in a strategic zone. So Russia wants to keep it that way.

Interesting. I knew they wanted to ascend back to major-level importance. I didn't realize until now that it was a linchpin in that effort.

I have two questions. I'm asking you because I trust you to be truthful.
1. Russia is illegally selling arms? How?
2. Why, besides obviously wanting to keep more dictators in power, does Putin support Assad?

Meh. It's mere speculation, but I've got the feeling it's one of the reasons why they aren't really joining in the attacks against IS. Moscow is benefitting from export of arms to Syria. I guess it is actually legal export, perhaps, but I think IS ends up getting some of those weapons. That said, even if IS doesn't get a chunk of the Russian weaponry being imported, destroying them would reduce friction in the region and reduce the prospective needs for more weaponry.

No clue why Putin supports the Assad regime, but the promise of friction and continued armament export might be one of them.

What you say about Moscow's motivations reminds me of something Imperium Sidhicum said about the Saudi-US relationship- alleging that the Saudis crank out fundie terrorists so our military-industrial complex and government have something to mobilize the people against. Still disappointing that the Russians are engaging in such a brutal calculus, but I can't expect anything less from them.

[Geilinor]

It's Russia's last power projection base in a strategically important region. But it's also more than that, Russia is trying to reinsert itself into global politics as a major power, and it needs allies and power for that.

The Assad regime is such an ally in a strategic zone. So Russia wants to keep it that way.

Interesting. I knew they wanted to ascend back to major-level importance. I didn't realize until now that it was a linchpin in that effort.

Russia has come out to be more desperate for power than I thought.

[Kraylandia]

Good, and it's even better they're doing something about these so called "rebels" as well.

[Olerand]

Interesting. I knew they wanted to ascend back to major-level importance. I didn't realize until now that it was a linchpin in that effort.

Russia has come out to be more desperate for power than I thought.

I think Russia's declining demographics, and the West chipping away at what Russia considers its land in Ukraine, the Caucasus etc has really galvanized Putin to do something.

[Geilinor]

Russia has come out to be more desperate for power than I thought.

I think Russia's declining demographics, and the West chipping away at what Russia considers its land in Ukraine, the Caucasus etc has really galvanized Putin to do something.

Russia's population has recently returned to growth, I don't think it's the demographic issue.

[Olerand]

I think Russia's declining demographics, and the West chipping away at what Russia considers its land in Ukraine, the Caucasus etc has really galvanized Putin to do something.

Russia's population has recently returned to growth, I don't think it's the demographic issue.

Has it? Native growth, or immigration from Central Asia? It was sharply decreasing as soon as the late 2000s.

[Geilinor]

Russia's population has recently returned to growth, I don't think it's the demographic issue.

Has it? Native growth, or immigration from Central Asia? It was sharply decreasing as soon as the late 2000s.

A combination of a higher birth rate and immigration.

[New Werpland]

Russia has come out to be more desperate for power than I thought.

I think Russia's declining demographics, and the West chipping away at what Russia considers its land in Ukraine, the Caucasus etc has really galvanized Putin to do something.

Putin & friends survive on "standing up to Western aggression".

[Nirvash Type TheEND]

Russia has come out to be more desperate for power than I thought.

I think Russia's declining demographics, and the West chipping away at what Russia considers its land in Ukraine, the Caucasus etc has really galvanized Putin to do something.

Remember when Putin straight up disappeared for a week? He wasn't out with a cold, he was conducting dark necromantic rituals on the Kremlin floor to resurrect the great Stalin for spiritual guidance.

[Olerand]

I think Russia's declining demographics, and the West chipping away at what Russia considers its land in Ukraine, the Caucasus etc has really galvanized Putin to do something.

Putin & friends survive on "standing up to Western aggression".

Well, it does bolster him in the polls.

I think Russia's declining demographics, and the West chipping away at what Russia considers its land in Ukraine, the Caucasus etc has really galvanized Putin to do something.

Remember when Putin straight up disappeared for a week? He wasn't out with a cold, he was conducting dark necromantic rituals on the Kremlin floor to resurrect the great Stalin for spiritual guidance.

Whatever works.

[The balkens]

Warm water port.

They need one in the bloody Middle East?
Huh...well, they're supposed to be a world power, so Tartus is a legit start.

Apparently, though useless as shit should unforeseen events happen.

[West Aurelia]

Russia's airstrikes are projected to last three to four months.

[Roski]

I have two questions. I'm asking you because I trust you to be truthful.
1. Russia is illegally selling arms? How?
2. Why, besides obviously wanting to keep more dictators in power, does Putin support Assad?

Meh. It's mere speculation, but I've got the feeling it's one of the reasons why they aren't really joining in the attacks against IS. Moscow is benefitting from export of arms to Syria. I guess it is actually legal export, perhaps, but I think IS ends up getting some of those weapons. That said, even if IS doesn't get a chunk of the Russian weaponry being imported, destroying them would reduce friction in the region and reduce the prospective needs for more weaponry.

No clue why Putin supports the Assad regime, but the promise of friction and continued armament export might be one of them.

Putin supports Assad for the same basic reasons the US supports Israel, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, and Iraq

[San Verucia]

Deleted.

[Risottia]

They need one in the bloody Middle East Eastern Mediterranean?

Yes, they do.

As for the Middle East, given how they're best buddies with Iran they also direct access to the Gulf and the Indian Ocean.

Now, the strategic plan of Russia looks like creating a Russian-friendly East-West strip linking the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean via Syria-Iraqi Kurdistan-Iran, with Russia accessing Iran via the Caspian Sea, which is under de-facto Russian control.

[Redsection]

I wonder if they will try to take afhganistan,if so .

[Baltenstein]

Time to send in Agent Ivan:

[Roski]

Time to send in Agent Ivan:

(Image)

The United States used Agent Orange, will those filthy commies (joking before you get all "MODS!" about it) use Agent Red?

[San Verucia]

Deleted.

[West Aurelia]

Kadyrov wants Chechen troops in Syria.

[Vistulange]

Ah ofcourse, an invasion is only an invasion when it suits you. Good to know.

I'm pretty sure NATO is not invading Turkey at all since in fact Turkey is part a member of NATO. I'm pretty sure when you "intervene" in a country and decide to kill the president and mount a coup in it's government it's not an intervention but an invasion.

Learn history before talking about Turkey. The United States, did, in fact, execute a coup d'etat in Turkey.

[Calimera II]

Even if you were to be right, Wikipedia is the worst source you could possibly use. Very biased. The Spanish version says something else than the English, Dutch and Russian version.

Biased as in less like what rt says?

Wikipedia is biased as hell. That's also one of the reasons why you are not allowed to use it as a source when at university.

[New Werpland]

Biased as in less like what rt says?

Wikipedia is biased as hell. That's also one of the reasons why you are not allowed to use it as a source when at university.

Larger, more important pages, tend to recieve more scrutiny from Wikipedia users, and usually end up relatively accurate. I read that specific page, and it isn't visibly biased.