In comments today to the media, Russian Deputy FM Mikhail Bogdanov warned the United States against reported plans to begin arming Syrian rebel factions with shoulder-mounted anti-aircraft missiles, saying such a move would be “absolutely counterproductive,” and that the rebels the US are backing are liable to do the same thing that al-Qaeda did to America on 9/11.
The US has been talking sending a new influx of weapons into Syria, primarily to spite Russia for its attacks on Aleppo. The US has not officially sent anti-aircraft missiles to the rebels yet, but the CIA is believed to have facilitated such shipments paid for by Saudi Arabia.
There are several obvious risks with this strategy, as arms sent to “vetted” rebels tend to get spread around to their unvetted allies, and even to enemy factions. With US-led coalition warplanes also attacking Syria, such missiles are just as likely to get used against them as against the Russians.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was particularly critical of the US rhetoric since last week’s ceasefire collapse, saying the US had reneged on its promise to separate the Nusra Front from its “moderate” rebel factions, which was supposed to be what the week-long ceasefire was facilitating, leading to joint US-Russia strikes. The rebels never separated, and the US never discussed the joint strikes with Russia, instead just condemning Russia when, after the ceasefire crumbled, they went back to unilateral attacks on the al-Qaeda-linked militants.
“Counterproductive” is diplomatic speak for “evil”.
give anti-aircraft missiles to the rebels and git over with it, enough is enough, over half million Syrians killed so far, millions became refugees, pretty soon there wont be any body left in Syria, do as you did in Afghanistan, arm the rebels with what it takes to end the war.
You may notice that the War in Afghanistan is still going on.
Not that war he meant when Russia occupied Afghanistan and the CIA with the help of Charlie Wilson have surface to air missiles to the Mujhadeen they shot down so many Russian jets the Russians gave up and left…They need to do the same thing in Syria
The Russians should do two things: 1. send massive arms shipments to the Taliban 2. declare and enforce a no-fly zone over all of Syria.
so in other words be a terrorist supporter. Btw arming the taliban will piss off India its only major ally in south asia.
This latest ceasefire was no different than all the others. It didnt collapse. It expired. The US used the week to maneuver for advantage.
The Syrians (with Russia) should pre empt the US with their own NFZ over their OWN country.
anti war is quickly turning into a right wing pro kremlin puppet site i’m noticing.
You can’t “notice” something that’s not there. The word you were looking for is “hallucinating.”
it mimicking exactly what russia today says and that is a kremlin funded russian version of fox news.