Russian airstrikes in Syria

[Calimera II]

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.

You should look at the differences between English and Spanish Wikipedia pages. They are massive, especially when it comes to politics and geopolitical issues. Wikipedia is biased and there is a reason why university students are not allowed to use it (source it).

[Glamour]

But what about when they and the Americans start killing each other? Make no mistake, it will happen.

[Conserative Morality]

You should look at the differences between English and Spanish Wikipedia pages. They are massive, especially when it comes to politics and geopolitical issues. Wikipedia is biased and there is a reason why university students are not allowed to use it (source it).

Having discussed the issue with my professors on several occasions, it seems to come down more to:

1. Content on Wikipedia is variable and may be moved, rephrased, or declared to irrelevant.

2. It's a fucking encyclopedia.

They themselves confess that it's a great learning tool. It's just not an academic source.

[The Qeiiam Star Cluster]

But what about when they and the Americans start killing each other? Make no mistake, it will happen.

Will it?

[New Frenco Empire]

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.

You should look at the differences between English and Spanish Wikipedia pages. They are massive, especially when it comes to politics and geopolitical issues. Wikipedia is biased and there is a reason why university students are not allowed to use it (source it).

My professors encourage the use of Wikipedia, since it's a great collection of professional sources I can actually use.

[Imperializt Russia]

2. Why, besides obviously wanting to keep more dictators in power, does Putin support Assad?

Putin doesn't have anything tangible to gain from propping up dictators, he has everything to gain from propping up regimes that support him. Which in this case means supporting dictators. The difference is slight, but important.
Dictators were the go-to buddy for the US in the Cold War too. On the strategic level, friendly dictators are yes-men with access to tank factories and oil.

Crimea gives the Russian Black Sea Fleet a useful home base at Sevastopol. Turkey is key because they control access to the Med. Syria is key because Tartus is a Russian-friendly port in the Med proper.
Whilst not optimal, with its access to the Med essentially bisected by the NATO-allied Turkey, the use of Crimea and Syria allows the possibility of encircling Turkey in a war and isolating its access and content with the rest of NATO.

[Jamzmania]

But what about when they and the Americans start killing each other? Make no mistake, it will happen.

Will it?

No, Obama would never let that happen.

[Adnan Nawaz And Bureacrats Elsewhere]

Whoever said the Soviet Union died beyond a name change and a Christian cross instead of avowed anti-theism?

[Rio Cana]

2. Why, besides obviously wanting to keep more dictators in power, does Putin support Assad?

Putin doesn't have anything tangible to gain from propping up dictators, he has everything to gain from propping up regimes that support him. Which in this case means supporting dictators. The difference is slight, but important.
Dictators were the go-to buddy for the US in the Cold War too. On the strategic level, friendly dictators are yes-men with access to tank factories and oil.

Crimea gives the Russian Black Sea Fleet a useful home base at Sevastopol. Turkey is key because they control access to the Med. Syria is key because Tartus is a Russian-friendly port in the Med proper.
Whilst not optimal, with its access to the Med essentially bisected by the NATO-allied Turkey, the use of Crimea and Syria allows the possibility of encircling Turkey in a war and isolating its access and content with the rest of NATO.

You left out the back door. The Russian 102nd military base in Gyumri Armenia.

[Imperializt Russia]

That looks tiny. I doubt it's of strategic importance like the naval bases at Sevastopol and Tartus are.

[Cresenthia]

That looks tiny. I doubt it's of strategic importance like the naval bases at Sevastopol and Tartus are.

On the contrary. If they ever go to war against NATO, that's where they will be coming from to attack the NATO bases in Turkey.

[Imperializt Russia]

That looks tiny. I doubt it's of strategic importance like the naval bases at Sevastopol and Tartus are.

On the contrary. If they ever go to war against NATO, that's where they will be coming from to attack the NATO bases in Turkey.

It's got the equivalent of a tank battalion and a half stationed there. Sure they can shunt more units down to it but it'd be hideously obvious. Air operations, and air operations from naval craft, would be more likely.

[Haktiva]

well then, at least we can keep track of the madness for the time being.

[Al Nahar]

Good luck to the innocent Russian troops being sent to their deaths, I can agree that the Russians will support and secure the line from the coast down to Damascus, especially after they have pretty much ethnic cleansed Homs and Hama. To say that Russia can take all of Syria with its allies i highly disagree, so much more destruction to my country.....

As for the asshole Patriarch Kirill saying this is a "Holy War" being waged in Syria, that is going to only attract more Jihadists

[Costa Fierro]

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.

Wikipedia isn't biased. Just because it disagrees with the bullshit propaganda you get taught doesn't make it biased. RT is biased because it's sole reason for existing is to push Kremlin agendas on specific topics whilst masquerading as a "legitimate" news service.

[Baltenstein]

The good thing about wiki is that you can always check the sources its referring to.
With RT, not so much.

[Constantinopolis]

Whoever said the Soviet Union died beyond a name change and a Christian cross instead of avowed anti-theism?

Well, that... and the whole massive change of the entire economic system and complete restructuring of everyone's lives thing.

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.

Wikipedia isn't biased.

To be fair, many individual Wikipedia articles are biased.

However, Wikipedia is not systematically biased as a whole. For every article biased against X, you can find another article biased in favour of X. And, of course, most of the high-profile, frequently-edited articles are very professional and largely unbiased. But still, you need to take everything on Wikipedia with a grain of salt.

As for the asshole Patriarch Kirill saying this is a "Holy War" being waged in Syria, that is going to only attract more Jihadists

Do you honestly believe that Christianity in Syria can survive if Assad falls?

This is an honest question. I am asking you because you are Syrian. Do you think there is any hope for anything better than a (partial and shaky) return to the status quo from before the war?

[West Aurelia]

Al-Nusra issues bounties for the capture of Russian soldiers.

[The Qeiiam Star Cluster]

Al-Nusra issues bounties for the capture of Russian soldiers.

Afghanistan 2.0: Electric Boogaloo

[West Aurelia]

The UK says only 5% of Russian airstrikes are targeting IS.

Al-Nusra issues bounties for the capture of Russian soldiers.

Afghanistan 2.0: Electric Boogaloo

It would be pretty hard for anyone to pull this off, since the Russian troops aren't taking part in combat - they're training the Syrian military and providing security for Russian bases.

[Baltenstein]

Al-Nusra issues bounties for the capture of Russian soldiers.

Lol at the leaflet which clearly depicts a German Wehrmacht soldier from the cover of "Red Orchestra 2".

[Washington Resistance Army]

Al-Nusra issues bounties for the capture of Russian soldiers.

Lol at the leaflet which clearly depicts a German Wehrmacht soldier from the cover of "Red Orchestra 2".

Hey man, Al-Nusra is working on a budget okay

[Calimera II]

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.

Wikipedia isn't biased. Just because it disagrees with the bullshit propaganda you get taught doesn't make it biased.

How classy. But well, to get to the point... Wikipedia claims to be neutral. At first Wikipedia was a English language phenomenon, this has changed and now wikipedia has versions in many languages. Callahan has studied content and perspectives by comparing articles about famous persons in the Polish and English editions of Wikipedia. The results of quantitative and qualitative content analyses reveal systematic differences related to the different cultures, histories, and values of Poland and the United States. It is absolutely ridiculous to claim that wikipedia is not biased in any sense.

[Haktiva]

In other news, another country has decided to send a bunch of young men to fight and kill and be killed by other men for reasons beyond their control.

[The balkens]

Lol at the leaflet which clearly depicts a German Wehrmacht soldier from the cover of "Red Orchestra 2".

Hey man, Al-Nusra is working on a budget okay

"OMAR! I JUST FOUND ONE!" "ACHMED YOU MORON! THIS MAN IS IN HIS 90s!"