Following Thursday’s report that Russia had recently informed the US of planned military operations against terrorist groups on the Syria-Jordan border, a company of US Marines conducted a live-fire exercise in the same area. Officials say it was intended to be a “warning” to Russia.
The exercise took place near the US base at al-Tanf, at the corner of Syria’s border with Iraq and Jordan. Though the US no longer really has any rebel allies in the area, which was the initially point of the Tanf base, the US does regularly attack any pro-Syrian forces who get too close.
The proximity of Islamists, especially al-Qaeda-linked groups on the Jordan border, has pretty much been ignored by the US. The possibility that Russian and Syrian forces might take care of those groups has infuriated the US, and led to threats of force.
Centcom officials continue to talk up the idea that they “will not hesitate to use necessary and proportionate force” if Russian, Syrian, or other pro-Syrian groups get too close to the Tanf base.
In the past, US forces have attacked pro-government militias for getting near Tanf, and have also attacked and killed hundreds of Russian military contractors on one occasion, an incident followed up by US bragging.
Though Pentagon officials are presenting this as standard operating procedure, it is anything but, particularly since Syria never authorized US troops to be there in the first place. Attacks on Russian troops would be a much bigger deal, and not something casually passed off as “self defense.”
I am rather concerned that this braggadocio in Syria is another IsraelFirst manifestation. Listening to talking heads in Washington, from the beggining it was clear — US must stay in Syria, and hang onto Euphrates valley, just as God promised. We are living in era of absurdities bring peddled as top notch strategy, and there are no adults around. Listening to Nikki Haley and her British counterpart in UN — I was ashamed for them, and ashamed of them relresenting women at the highest levels. They were spinning a load of nonsense related to the infamous Skrilal poisoning — where nobody died — while at present there is an innocent victim who actually died from a substance some creepy murderer left in a charity bin. Wake up, two silly women, and smell cofee! While May is trying ber best to blame Russians or Martians — just to deflect responsibility. If Russians were responsible for attempting to knock off their former spy — what is the reason for the current random murder and jnjury to innocents? Not yet clear to giggling females that the problem at hand is a serious one — with Porton Downs in the area — a place with every conceivable poisonous substance on earth being stored — why is it that new cases are not getting attention. With already sky high violence in UK, violence with knives and acid — why is nobody paying attention to the possibility that security at Porton Downs has been compromised?
Or Porton Downs had a hand in the incidents to damage Russia…..????
Which seems to clearly be British policy in any scenario, likely or otherwise…
If Russia moves on Idlib, perhaps Al Tanf and the surrounding region may house enough DAESH to mount a spoilsport counter offensive that would be big on show and short on lasting results.
Apart from that, the marines aren’t going in. They would be vulnerable to opportunistic DAESH as well as Syrian militia.
The al Tanf base is an ego thing for the US. We can’t actually defend it against a serious attack. A couple hundred contractors is not a serious attack. The Russians coming for it would be. We just assume they wouldn’t dare. We’ve assumed they wouldn’t dare a lot of things they’ve done in the last ten years, such as Georgia and Ukraine and Syria. Overconfidence is very dangerous.
WTF Mark… What did you think would happin when the Georgians started shelling attacking, just watch as the shelling an invasion unfolded…???? Did anyone in possession of their thinking believe that a power like Russia would just say whatever….?
So when Vick Nuland and Hillary bought and paid for the putsch in Ukraine with… $5 billion in NED blood money, again, did you or anyone that understands statesmanship think the Russians would accept the theft of their amino from governance in Ukraine…
By the time the Syria revolt was trumped up, Russia had lost all humor regarding American engineered plots, coups and putsches!!!!!!
Live-fire exercises don’t mean a thing. If Russia or Syria really wanted to take on the US there, the Al-Tanf base would be history in hours. Russia won’t do that, of course, as it would risk escalation.
The US won’t attack Russian official forces in the area, but Russian forces (other than military contractors) wouldn’t be there anyway except for Russian aircraft. Syrian troops in the area might be attacked but probably only if they come within a certain distance (a few miles, most likely.) Russia and Syria would complain, but do nothing about it since it would risk escalation neither wants.
The only likelihood of US-Russian collision would be if Russian aircraft are bombing in the area and US aircraft try to intercept them. This has happened before but both sides usually avoid any actual shooting, since they undoubtedly have orders not to actually engage unless fired on.
In other words, the US is just running its mouth again, threatening actions they have no ability to follow up on without risking war with Russia.
I used to feel bad for “the troops”… now there is no excuse.
They are nothing but hired mercenaries.
US Marines called “Jar Heads” for good reason. Stop protecting Obama’s ISIS terrorists you moronic traitors. Get out of Syria you are there illegally.
“US Marines called ‘Jar Heads’ for good reason.”
They’re called jarheads because the neck of the dress blue uniform makes it looks like the Marine’s head is sticking out of a jar. Not sure whether that’s a “good” reason or not.
It is really a 3rd world move to stage a False Flag attack ahead of the Mid-Terms. It is a Netanyahoo standard.
Russia should attack immediately and destroy all US and Israeli positions in and around Syria.
Cencom: U.S. will not hesitate to use force…
This is news to whom….??? Is it just posturing or will the U.S. gamble on some act of force that could make the U.S. forces the target, as opposed to the various anti Assad fighters..??
Let”s hope that the answer to the above question about the gamble”s answer is no.