" … a Kremlin statement made clear Russia was committed to its campaign against Islamic State and "other terrorist organizations", an indication that it would also target groups in western Syria where jihadists such as al Qaeda are fighting Assad in close proximity to rebels deemed moderate by the West.
Russia says the "cessation" does not apply to its air strikes, which have shifted the balance of power toward Assad.
It says Islamic State and the al Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front are the main targets of its air campaign. But Western countries say Russia has in fact been mostly targeting other insurgent groups, including some they support.
The White House said Obama's discussion with Putin stressed the need to rush humanitarian aid to Syria and contain air strikes.
"In particular, President Obama emphasized the importance now of Russia playing a constructive role by ceasing its air campaign against moderate opposition forces in Syria," the White House said in a statement." Reuters
—————-
I worked in Turkey long ago, with the Turkish Army actually. It was a very pleasant time, a two year vacation from the wars in SE Asia. I like the Turks. They are a lot like Americans used to be; blunt, inclined to direct action… At the same time they treasure a pleasure in scheming that they share with the Syrian and Lebanese descendants of the vassals of the Ottoman state.
The US and the West in general have encouraged an attitude in Erdogan's Turkey that mirrors Bibi's statement that "the Americans can be pushed easily." We all look malleable to Erdogan. He is an MB style salafi. He wants to think we are degenerate and doomed to live in a world dominated by his kind of Islam. We have given him no reason to think that is not the future. At the same time we have tolerated his traffic in IS oil coming across the border east of Azaz and west of Jarabulus. Why have we done that? We must know that the money derived from that trade supports IS.
Now he threatens Europe with release of masses of Muslim migrants upon them. We deserve to be threatened. We look soft.
Now the Turkish Army is shelling YPG positions around Menagh village and its airfield near Azaz in Syria. Why are they doing that? IMO they want to keep R+6 forces plus the YPG from closing the border Azaz-Jarabulus and the shelling is a warning. They have said that the Kurds must withdraw from these positions and not return.
Turkish 2nd Army is massing north of the Azaz/Jarabulus sector of the border. The Saudi Sunni led juggernaut is at least notionally intended for combat in Syria. Yesterday I raised the straw man idea that they might motor march all the way to Baghdad and beyond. That seems implausible. On the other hand a sea movement around Arabia and through the Canal to a major port like Iskenderun is quite plausible, especially given the news that Saudi aircraft are deploying into Incirlik not far from Iskenderun. A Sunni juggernaut/Turkish Army link up in SW Turkey would provide Turkish fire and logistical support to the Sunni juggernaut.
What role would the US play in a scheme like that? Unknown.
Would the Turks/Sunni juggernaut actually invade Syria and risk war with Russia? Unknown. pl
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-idUSKCN0VN0MA
http://www.voanews.com/content/activists-turkey-shells-syrian-kurds-for-2nd-day/3190340.html
meanwhile, the Kiev regime has been shelling civilians in the pro-federalizaion region in eastern Ukraine. Perhaps the previous suggestion that the US would try to keep the Russians being occupied both in Syria (with the help of Erdogan and the Princes) and Ukraine (with the help of the US “assets” in the current Kiev government) is indeed a valid prediction.
I think that two Arthur Conan Doyle quote fit in nicely here.
“The game is afoot.”
“His ignorance was as remarkable as his knowledge.”
This is truly getting interesting. Just how ballsy are the Sauds and the Turks?
What is our response?
Just how committed is Russia?
I am watching almost breathlessly.
Wow
At this point, the pivotal decision center is in Washington. As the Colonel explains, the above reports indicate that the White House has not moved beyond its “moderate’ rebels/ Russian air strikes/ civilian casualties/do what we say litany. There is no serious media commentary about what is going on behind the scene – in Washington or diplomatically. I think that it would be a great public service, as well as boost to he enlightenment of regular SST contributors, if knowledgeable people could pool their resources to clarify what the hell is going on in the less than hallowed corridors of power.
Col Lang,
“Sunni juggernaut”! I presume you are being sarcastic.
The maximum one can expect realistically from the Arab contribution to the Turkish force is some token Saudi SF, some Gulfie mercenaries, and some press-ganged Sudanese. Just enough to show the flag.
I don’t think Sisi will contribute anything worthwhile to an MB enterprise.
FB Ali
{{Sunni juggernaut}}. I forgot the brackets. pl
mbrenner
How do you explain the cognitive dissonance in US policy? pl
The rumour mill is spinning faster. Here’s another article on Veterans Today containing spectacular allegations, such as that the Saudi’s/Turks are about to steal the 84 American nuclear weapons at Incirlik air base.
Might that be with a nod and a wink from the White House? Obama could wring his hands before the tv cameras deploring this action and the subsequent obliteration of Syria whilst contriving to blame Assad and Putin for not surrendering to the liver-eaters when they had the chance.
There’s also a claim that a disease based on swine-flu was stolen from the American bio-weapons laboratory in Georgia, by Turks and Ukrainians and is being spread in Donbass and Moscow and amongst Kurds.
This could explain how the Saudis and Turks could hope to achieve victory without an adequate army, and how the Americans could help them without admitting to doing so.
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2016/02/13/intel-drop-february-1314-2016/
cynic
Absolute rubbish, all of it. pl
Colonel
You have clearly stated what we know. The question is the unknown.
We also know that what is the best for western citizens is not a consideration. We do know that Turkey, Israel and the Gulf Monarchies are opposed to reemergence of the Shiite Crescent. One brigade of the 101st is embarking to the Middle East; perhaps a second. A full blown war information operation is underway. Connected people are getting rich off of the war. Powerful Westerners hate Russia. A regional Christian, Sunni, Shiite holy war is ongoing. The real unknown is will there be a three prong attack to create a new “moderate” Sunni land. The President golfs. Without a peace agreement with Russia, a world war is inevitable.
Turkey flexes muscle in Syria http://blogs.rediff.com/mkbhadrakumar/2016/02/14/turkey-flexes-muscle-in-syria/
The Turkish objective will be to carve out a buffer zone inside Syria, which it has long advocated, ostensibly to provide for refugee camps for people fleeing the conflict zone, but in reality to gain control of the border territories and prevent the Syrian Kurds from gaining access to them.
The estimation in Ankara seems to be that while the Obama administration had so far refused to go along with the Turkish project, this may no longer be the case as a body of influential opinion in the US increasingly favors the idea. In an article in the pro-government daily Sabah on Saturday, Turkey’s presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin strongly hinted that the US will accept as fait accompli any ‘buffer zone’ that the Turkish military might carve out inside Syrian territory.
Of course, an outright Turkish intervention will be a risky enterprise. For sure, it will meet with resistance – not only from the Syrian government forces and the Kurdish militia but also from the Hezbollah fighters operating in the Aleppo area. The big question will be as regards the Russian reaction.
Quite possibly, this explains the urgent phone call on a Sunday by US president Barack Obama to Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin readout describes the conversation as “frank and constructive” and quotes Putin as forcefully stressing the importance of the US “renouncing double standards”. (Kremlin website)
It is entirely conceivable that Turkey is preparing for some sort of intervention in Syria. The emir of Qatar was in Istanbul to meet President Recep Erdogan on Friday; the Saudi fighter aircraft have arrived in the Incirlik air base.
Washington has expressed concern and has sought de-escalation but would know how headstrong is President Recep Erdogan who will not be easily deterred on his tracks if he sets his sights on something. The point is, Erdogan cannot watch helplessly as Turkey’s proxy groups in the Aleppo region are being systematically vanquished. The fall of Aleppo means defeat for Turkey and it will be a huge loss of prestige for Erdogan. This is the time to act since most of Aleppo’s eastern neighborhoods are now under the control of the government forces and the loss of the tenuous Azaz corridor will mean Turkey loses the means to supply the rebel groups trapped within Aleppo.
…The next few days are going to be most critical. Turkey is the place to watch, as Erdogan figures his way out of the swamp.
———————
This reminds me of teenagers in cars playing The Chicken Game in this classic James Dean movie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7hZ9jKrwvo
SST;
A few observations:
1- TSK is not averse to neutralizing separatist kurds; they were prevented from acting for the past four years by tayyip&co. under the “opening” rubric and pkk used the hiatus to store arms and ammo in quite a few provinces and towns. When tayyip lost the first election, which was a referendum of sorts on the “opening”, he let loose the dogs of war. pkk called for a general insurrection which fizzled out-and they lost a lot of men, quite a few of the much-vaunted women guerrillas, and materiel. Their only hope now is a super-power bail-out.
2-One gambit that the Borg has in mind is a kurdistan with Mediterranean access. This has been in the plan all along and will determine whether this construct will be viable or not. Right now they are not. While most here distinguish between pkk and pyg, to TSK they are the one and the same and they will gladly inconvenience them as needed. For whatever it is worth, at least one branch of the US government is supporting these groups. Patrick Bahzad’s older posts on this topic are valuable reading.
3- This is really a fight between the Borg and Russia(+China+Iran). The kurds have to be careful to bet on the right horse-no other ethnic group in the region, and this includes the Alawites, cares for them.
4-The criminal enterprise of tayyip was and is well known. The fellow and his cronies must have salted away billions in off-shore accounts. The Russians stopped part of their racket. The CIA/NSA must have known about it and kept silent. I wonder why these dogs did not bark.
All nations get the governance they deserve and Turkey is no better than it should be. Perhaps a thorough debacle will convince folks that the “islamist” dream is of the “pipe” kind and leads not to salvation, but to perdition.
Ishmael Zechariah
Defence Ministry reported on exercises in the Southern Military District of Russia to Mr. Putin on February 11, 2016 is rather interesting at:
http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/51300
if the link does not work, go to President of Russia site, enter February 10 on the date site, and scroll
It doesn’t seem that Turkey is inclined to send its armed forces into the tangled thicket of Syria’s civil war. Just from reading the various sources cited on this blog. It looks like they’ll be content to vent whatever wrath they have through bouts of artillery fire like the recent episode. They also seem to have their hands full fighting against Kurds in their own southeast. I have a really hard time understanding what Erdogan’s real agenda might be. He probably wants to keep it that way.
It seems to me that the real story in all this is how the US invasion of Iraq and subsequent neo-con destabilization and subversion throughout the region (as well as efforts aimed at creating unnecessary tensions with Russia and China) has pointed up the weaknesses of the United States’ imperial management. The whole structure built by FDR, Kennan, Kissinger, Brzezinski, Schultz and the rest of them over time is creaking and leaking so visibly it’s hard to understand how countries like France and Germany continue to march in lock step with neoliberal DeeCee diktat.
According to the PNAC doctrine (which Obama has followed), countries like Russia and China are not supposed to act independently. This is to say nothing of KSA or Turkey. But here they all are, pulling the Americans along behind them like an overweight dog being taken on a run. And the Deep State contrivances of the neocons are now so on the surface it’s almost impossible to say to any rational observer that the elected executive makes foreign policy anymore. Instead it’s an interlocking web of Israelophile think-tank crackpots. Can anyone be blamed for taking the most improbable theories about what might happen seriously?
The publicly stated U.S. policy to overthrow the Syrian government has not changed. The fact that the condition was dropped that Bashar al-Assad must step down before settlement talks could start does not mean that the policy has changed.
A horse race is going on in the western part of Syria where R+6 is trying to clear out the opposition fighters before the humanitarian aid convoys can be positioned by the U.S., Britain, and others to be in the area of the opposition forces to prevent Russia from bombing them and the Syrian army from firing artillery shells at them. The well-meaning aid workers will likely be used as pawns to try to stop Russia from using in Aleppo the lessons and tactics they learned in the battles in Grozny against the Chechens. This is one of the reasons for the recent propaganda in the mass media about Aleppo and refugees. The only card the U.S., et. al. have left to play in western Syria is the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) statement about stopping hostilities and providing for humanitarian aid to various places. Except for an outright military invasion of Syria, of course.
Once the western part is taken back by the pro-Syrian forces, all that is left is ISIS in the east, about which there will be no “cessation of hostilities” or “cease fire”. There is the question of what, if any, territory of Syria would go to the Kurds, but that would not prevent R+6 from taking back Syria.
This raises the issue of Saudi troops and mercenaries and Turkish soldiers going into Syria under the false cover story of “fighting ISIS”.
Looking at our friend, the map, it appears as if Saudi Arabia is going to have to go across the eastern leg of Jordan to get to Syria. In Iraq, the Muqtada al-Sadr consortium will stand in the way of Saudi troops going through Iraq to Syria.
A map of Jordan–
http://www.jordanjubilee.com/genjord/map.htm
Some good maps of the area from the University of Texas, but the image is large and it may take a little time to display on your computer. When the file displays, you can click the mouse on a spot and it will enlarge it, and then click again to make it smaller–
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/txu-pclmaps-oclc-746758449-syria_country_profile-2011.jpg
Alleged road maps of Jordan and Syria–
http://www.ezilon.com/maps/asia/jordan-road-maps.html
http://www.ezilon.com/maps/asia/syria-road-maps.html
It is quite a distance from the Jordanian border to Raqqa. And the roads are not exactly a straight line to there.
Any invading soldiers from Saudi Arabia and Turkey will not be able to do what their friends in ISIS/Daesh did, when they (ISIS) appeared out of nowhere in new-looking Toyota pickup trucks, driving in large convoys unmolested in broad open daylight, with their black flags flapping in the breeze and with the matching logo on their black caps.
It is Valentine, Also in Syria:
Looking for Burka-wearing brides? SAA presents you with…
http://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2016/02/newlyweds-in-the-ruins-a-syrian-wedding-photo-shoot/460440
Proof that life goes on in Syria’s most devastated city Homs
http://youtu.be/LuWWZUSYlZg
Even if propaganda, at least they don’t market themselves by eating human flesh.
Russia/Iran/HA/SAR/YPG/Iraq are fighting for the above. Hopefully the atrocities in Syria have had a positive effect by healing the Eastern- & Western Schism and maybe also bridging the gap between the Non-Wahabis.
CIA director John O. Brennan is on the CBS 60 Minutes television program right now (6 p.m. central time slot).
I recently did a longish paper on that theme. It is accessible at:
http://pitt.edu/~mbren/Papers.htm
Click on: AMERICA AT BAY – AVOIDING DESTINY
Warning: it’s slow
Dear Colonel,
A couple of days ago I posed the question whether Obama would read Erdogan the riot act. Apparently not at all or not strong enough. This fits “We all look malleable to Erdogan,” and makes it uncertain if anything DC can do at this point will reign in Turkey.
I do not see a way for Turkey to move with an expeditionary force, so either they are all in (or bluffing).
Question: would the air system Russia has deployed be overwhelmed by ~200 Turkish Jets absent strategic bombing of Incirlik (and the risk of NATO becoming involved)?
It seems unlikely that 18000 turkish troops (many for logistical support) can hold against the battle hardened R+6 on the ground if they stretch out between Turkey and Aleppo, absent control of the skies.
Is there any information floating around about how united the Saudi royal family is about this deployment to Turkey? IIRC the young prince (whose name I don’t recall at the moment) is quite controversial within the family.
To cut off ISIS, would it not be easier to block Highway 4, south of Lake Assad? West of Al Tabaqa. It looks to be excellent tank and airplane country.
ISIS would almost certainly have to attack across a very large kill zone.
Maybe all the attention being given to the Turkish border is a bit of a distraction from the Syrian advance on Raqqa, which would cut the terrorists supply route much further south and might recapture the oil fields before the Saudis and their stooges and sponsors can get there. Might it be worthwhile for the Syrians/Russians to postpone their battle for Idlib until they have gained a strong position in eastern Syria?
http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/isis-full-retreat-syrian-army-advances-towards-raqqa/ri12838
On a lighter note, here’s a not unbiased report of the Koranic science we can expect to replace modernity if the Turkish Islamists are successful.
http://www.breitbart.com/jerusalem/2016/02/14/turkish-islamist-darwin-jew-targeted-muslims-gorillas-mutated-jews/
Monkeys evolved from Jews? Wow!
Robt,
“The well-meaning aid workers will likely be used as pawns to try to stop Russia”
How many well meaning aid workers are doing humanitarian work within the lines of the Syrian Arab Republic? That should tell you just how much pure humanitarianism is in play. Certainly the Davos humanitarians will wring their hands and bring forth the big guns of social conscience like Amal Clooney and her husband to tell the hoi polo we must send our sons and daughters to fight in yet another foreign land for more foreign freedom. All while avoiding mention of the able bodied Syrians (proud believers in freedom and democracy) now enjoying the winter of Cologne’s discontent (at the German taxpayers expense). I’m sure some lawyer’s husband will be glad to produce and star in a movie about the noble cause célèbre – while denying any involvement or belief in the ideology responsibe in creating it.
Slightly off topic: here is a deputy head of the US Treasury, Mr. Szubin, accusing (almost hysterically) Mr. Putin of corruption. The accuser is the same Mr. Szubin that “served as the Director of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) from 2006-2015 and, earlier, as the Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.” And Mr. Szubin was not aware of ISIS trading oil with Turkey and Israel? Begs the question. ISIS, a terrorist entity, has been getting financial support, for years, from a NATO member. Should not there be a congressional investigation into the affair, involving the Office of Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence?
Colonel,
Saudi confirms sending jets to Turkey
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2016/02/14/Saudi-Arabia-confirms-sending-jets-to-Turkey-.html
Degringolade
I would say that the Russians are just committed to defending Syria as they have been about any other part of their Near Abroad . An interesting sidebar is the historic meeting recently between Pope Francis & Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill in Cuba . A joint statement from both Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill said that the Christian Communities in Syria & Iraq needed to be defending by all of us . It seems that Big Frank is giving his blessings to what President Putin is doing in Syria. So yeah I am thinking that Russia is fully committed to exterminating the Liver Eaters and will be fully engaged until that is done .Apparently Patriarch Kirill is President Putin’s spiritual adviser. Let us all Pray Erdogan does not test Russian resolve in Syria militarily —
http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=44143
/quote/
Intersecting sources reported to the activists of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights in Aleppo that about 350 fighters of a rebel faction armed with light and heavy weapons, entered through Atamah military border crossing in the northern countryside of Aleppo, and some of them reached the town of Tall Rifaat accompanied by modern weapon, the sources confirmed to the observatory that the Turkish authorities allowed them to pass and oversaw their transition process from the countryside of Idlib to the northern countryside of Aleppo through its territory.
/endquote/
The Turks fighting Assad down to the last “rebel” …
Let me then recommend MK Bahdrakumar’s blog with the insights from a retired Indian diplomat.
http://blogs.rediff.com/mkbhadrakumar/
He has been writing for years now (Asia Times Online of old) and is especially good at interpreting the diplomatic notes and talks, translating them into real life language.
His recent take on Kerry and Lavrov and “cessation of fire” was spot on.
http://blogs.rediff.com/mkbhadrakumar/2016/02/12/us-presses-pause-button-in-syria/
His India and China stuff is also excellent.
I was wondering the very same thing. If the objective is to sever the IS to Turkey oil and supply lines then doing it against the Lake and river would seem far less risky than moving into Turkish artillery range. Tanker trucks can’t swim and they need pretty good roads to move fast. Just blowing some overpasses would be enough to clog the flow I would think if the river and lake were used as natural barriers. Then that would leave travel through Iraq and the smuggling trade through the Kurdish territories. Turkey by the way gets far more oil from dealing with the Kurds in Iraq than it gets from IS.
Who said that President Hopey-Changey is against DAESH victory? Apparently new longer range misses are being shipped to DAESH and co: http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN0VL278
What are the chances that tacit approval by the US is part of a changing of alliances in the ME? Is there any reasonable chance that the US wants to draw the Turks/Saudis/Qataris into a regional conflict only to stand by and watch them get dismantled in a direct confrontation with Russia? Is there any chance of that, or are is this just a thought I should only have while sleeping.
Colonel Sir,
In response to your answer to VietnamVet on Sunday at 5.16PM, it is apparent on a number of UK blogs that I visit that are frequented by a concerned citizenry that a growing fear of a nuclear exchange between the USA and Russia is palpable. One has tried to assuage fears, influenced in part by SST, that despite the Borg mentality prevalent within the US political establishment and many of its Western Allies, the US military, or at least sections contained therein, possess more sanity and rationality than the neocons rampaging across Washington and much of your media, and that in NATO member states.
Whilst I understand the President is the Commander-in-Chief, and Congress alone has the authority to wage war, lines have become blurred since 9/11 witnessed by a plethora of overseas adventures that stigmatise the US military and undermine democracy and the Constitution itself.
As such, and given the chain of command, can we be certain that those with their finger actually on the button, and I don’t mean the President, would engage in the folly of utilising nuclear weapons on a battlefield if no existential threat to the USA existed?
I make this request because I still firmly believe that honourable men still exist within your military structure and are more responsible and informed than the neocon Borg in Washington and at the end of the day see their duty as protecting the USA population, rather than propagating idiotic policies on behalf of those who have made a mockery of the Republic and its Constitution of late?
Amir
This Reuters article http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN0VL278 has nothing to do with IS (Daesh). It concerns the non IS rebel factions fighting R+6 in the Aleppo area. pl
A CIA charlatan if ever there was one IMO!
Perhaps slightly off thread:
1. What power projection capability does the KSA have right now?
2. It appears Turkey feels free to ignore the US but not the Russians. Am I correct at least in part?
3. Could Russian strategy be largely a naval one with ultimate control of the Bosphorus at stake?
4. How exactly are the straits between the Black Sea and Mediterranean defended by Turkey and NATO?
WRC
1. Zero. They can send a few aircraft to Incirlik but they will be dependent there on US or Turkish maintenance and supply. On the ground their forces are based on their home stations and have no ability to maintain themselves beyond the length of a “tether” that ties them to those stations. 2. Yes. they have successfully manipulated the US thus far and think they can continue to do so. 3. An interesting thought. 4. The straits are pretty much undefended except by existing Turkish naval ad air capability. pl
3. Could Russian strategy be largely a naval one with ultimate control of the Bosphorus at stake?
———————————————-
No.
Veterans Today is always full of “spectacular allegations”. About once a month, for example, they run a story about how Israel has just detonated a neutron bomb somewhere in the ME. It always turns out to be false, of course. VT should not be taken seriously. Gordon Duff especially gives us conspiracy theorists a bad name.
Starting a nuclear exchange would be the president’s decision alone. Unless they feel like starting a coup, the uniformed commanders of the military have to obey him.
Amir, I am sure at the right time Pres Obama would be happy for DAESH to disappear. I was referring to direct Turkish involvement, which could very very easily grow to a NATO-Russia confrontation.
SST, Col. Lang;
“Merkel says supports some kind of no-fly zone in Syria”
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/merkel-says-supports-some/2517978.html
I do not know if this item is correct but, if so, this is bad news. As long as Frau Dr. “Brunhilde” Merkel plays shield-maiden to tayyip “Siegfried” erdogan, uncertainty at the border will continue. I’d appreciate comments from any Germans who know what might be going on.
Ishmael Zechariah
Thanks P.L.!
My understanding is that over 100 subs of various nations are on patrol in the Med and Black Sea! Is this estimate any near correct?
The willfully blind woman made that statement in some newspaper, and it’s been picked up by German license fee – read: state – broadcasters.
Then again, for some time now it’s been high tide for quite far as her “leadership” is concerned, particularly when it comes to her not-really-all-that-honest “charitable act” of “welcoming” refugees into the country – without providing them the direct means to get there.
So, hopefully, the woman’s soon to be gone as it would not be her first error of judgement.
My understanding is that over 100 subs of various nations are on patrol in the Med and Black Sea! Is this estimate any near correct?
————————————————————–
If to count Russian subs, both SS(G)N projects 971 (Akula)and, possibly, 671 RTMK (Victor III)–possibly about 3-4. Add here couple of Kilo-class SSKs, so you are looking at about 5-6. It also depends how many project 949A (Oscar-II) are ready for deployment. Theoretically you may add 1-2 of those. How many NATO navies are going to stuff into Med? I don’t know, all in all, it shouldn’t be more than 50 from all parties involved. As per Black Sea–this is a trick question. Turkey has some SSKs there, but their deployment there, against ASW (Patrol) Aviation of the Black Sea Fleet could be very uncomfortable ones.
IZ,
Merkel has some bigger problems than a NFZ in Syria:
http://www.voanews.com/content/eu-chief-danger-of-breaking-up/3192626.html
“So, hopefully, the woman’s soon to be gone as it would not be her first error of judgement.”
That is quite unrealistic wish. The next federal election is in autum 2017 and the SPD has trouble to find an own profile. As the AfD gets voters from both, the SPD and CDU, making a SPD/Greens or CDU/FDP government almost impossible, a new version of the current SPD/CDU government is most likely, the CDU candidate for Kanzler will very likely be Merkel. As long as we do not see really substantial gains of the SPD, i.e. becoming the stronger party, I see Merkel as Kanzler 2018-2021.
“all-that-honest “charitable act” of “welcoming” refugees into the country – without providing them the direct means to get there. ”
Here you should be more careful: Around 1.3 million refugees had already entered the EU when Merkel made her statement. You can not discuss this fact away. The more substantial critique would be IMHO that she tolerated for too long that some countries did not their job.
Thanks SmoothieX12!
My pleasure. I just want to clarify–not all parties “involved”, but rather all possible submarines, including those of Maghreb navies.