In response to the high-profile US announcement that they are suspending all discussions with Russia related to Syria, and that moreover they are considering “military and other options,” Russia is adding to their defensive systems in the country in the form of new S-300 missile systems.
The S-300 is an advanced anti-aircraft system, which is being deployed in the area near the Russian naval base at Tartus. Russian Defense Ministry officials say it is intended to ensure the safety of the base, and that they are “unclear” why the US and its allies are expressing such alarm.
Indeed, while the US has been complaining about Russian airstrikes against the Nusra Front, this deployment would seemingly be irrelevant to Russia’s air war, since neither Nusra nor any other rebel group has any warplanes. The sole use of such a deployment is as a hedge against the US-led coalition attacking the Russian naval base.
Which ought to be unthinkable. Despite the US constantly talking up “military and other options,” it seems profoundly unreasonable to think that the US would start an overt shooting war with Russia over the fate of al-Qaeda’s Nusra Front.
That Russia is making that deployment at all suggests they think it’s at least a possibility they need to be prepared to counter, while the US reaction suggests that they feel as though they’re really losing a strategic option with Russia shoring up the defenses around this base.
Jason, you’re right on the money with this article, and I couldn’t agree with you more. The USSA made a huge mistake by suspending talks with Russia over the Syrian crisis .. Therefore, Russia had no other option than to deploy the S-300 missile defense systems around its naval base in Tartus.
USSA President Barack Obama’s an absolute novice, compared to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Back in 2011, Putin made a laughingstock out of Obama, thwarting his plans of invading Syria by offering a proposal to the Syrian govt under Bashar al-Assad, to which Assad quickly agreed. The proposal was Russian aid in disposing of Syria’s stockpiles of chemical weapons.
Congress and the American people got wind of this proposal and announced their strong opposition to Obama’s threat to attack, and he was forced to back down.
Fast forward to Oct. 2016. Here again, the novice Obama’s issuing another ultimatum and suspending talks with the Russians over Aleppo. Now, what will the Community Organizer-in-Chief do in response to Putin’s deployment of the S-300 missile defense systems in and around Syria’s Mediterranean port of Tartus? Only time will tell.
The powerful message from Moscow is: DON’T MESS WITH THE BEAR.
They know what’s coming…Syrian Army prepare for real war.Russia won’t shoot one of our jets out of the sky for y’all and we’re about to prove it…USA
Whats coming??? Please…The US is unable to win any war…and Russia has watched the US military fail time and time again. Russia will never allow the Yanks to enact regime change, and will use brute force to prevent it if necessary.
With what understand you’re surrounded by U.S. bases in Syria Nukes in 3 of those bases…So they put a missile defense system in Syria will it stop 3 symotanious Nukes plus multiple missles being fired from Kuwait Iraq Turkey Bahrain the Ocean in the form of U.S guided missiles from Destroyers that’s not including missles that could be launched from submarines and the various bombers positioned throughout various territories in the region…Its like my man Mike Pence said our military budget is 16 times Russia’s…Now u know….USA
USA what??? give the laughable bravado a much needed rest. If the US ever uses nukes in Syria, Russia will respond in kind against say…an aircraft carrier…You must understand that you know nothing of Russia’s technical prowess, and ability to defeat a buffoon in all military senses like the US. The Iraqis sent them packing, as did the Taliban. The main weakness with the US is that it does not embrace its limitations, which are vast, and Russia’s resolve.
The SAMs are there.
If Assad decides to declare a no-fly zone, the US will respect it or the US will get some planes shot down.
Not a very happy prospect for anyone.
You’re right Mr.Knapp it’s a risk unless somehow the U.S. figured a way to have a SAM that for some reason wouldn’t target or was unable to fire on a American Jet…Never Know Technology what is these days….
If you actually have military experience, then you understand that there’s an idea of how well the equipment works, and then there’s how well the equipment actually works.
Generally speaking, the US has a big edge on the Russians with respect to weapons technology, but that doesn’t mean they’re slouches. Russian weaponry has shot down US “stealth” aircraft before (for instance, an F117 over the former Yugoslavia). Put enough SA-300s in the sky and one is eventually going to hit something if there’s anything there to hit.
What you’re banking on is the idea that a country’s government and that government’s allies are going to do what the US says because it’s the US saying it. Very poor logic. It can get people killed, and some of those people will be Americans.
I agree Russia is a powerful adversary but there outmanned and outgunned in the region and they know this I honestly think they’re may be some close calls but it’s gonna be a series of strikes most likely on Syrian Regime positions.Its a proxy war for sure how far it’ll go Lord knows….
“I agree Russia is a powerful adversary but there outmanned and outgunned in the region”
Depends on what kind of war we’re talking about.
The US has had its ass whipped twice in the last 15 years, by the Iraqis and by the Afghans. That doesn’t bode well unless the Russians and the Syrians decide to try and fight a standard conventional war.
Anyone with any military training in the last 40+ years knows that Russia is a formidable opponent. There is no prospect of a “cakewalk”; only an immense butcher’s bill.
How will ordinary Americans (the ones doing in dying) benefit from defeating Russia even if this were possible?
That’s how it looks from Boston.
Russia I see now that you are no fools.
Eventually it has to occur to the military leaders tasked with finding a way of hitting Russia that doesn’t result in the US getting hit back, that they are on our side and they’ve been sent on a fools errand.
I suspect they are probably sitting in the war room now, watching the clock run Obama out of office.. Girding themselves for the next disaster.
I agree our poor military fighting with one hand tied behind their backs…USA
I don’t known what you’re talking about.. Do you?