Amid reports of an escalated Russian presence along the Syria-Turkey border, Russian warplanes attacked the town of Ariha, in the northern area of the al-Qaeda-dominated Idlib Province, killing at least 30 people and wounding dozens of others.
The attacks were reportedly carried out near the town’s marketplace, and while there isn’t a formal split of the slain yet, initial reports indicated some civilians among the slain, along with a “leading opposition” figure in the town.
The Idlib Province, and adjoining parts of the Latakia Province, have been the primary target of Russian airstrikes in Syria for weeks, aiming to give the Syrian military a chance to recover some lost ground connecting the coast, which includes a major Russian naval base, to their capital city of Damascus.
This has sparked criticism from the US and Turkey, because Idlib and Latakia have no real ISIS presence. Russia has noted they are targeting all terrorist groups in the country, including al-Qaeda’s Nusra Front, which heads the Islamist coalition that rules Idlib.
That last sentence is a good summary of what Russia's participation promises. Russia isn't constrained by the coalition's many different classifications (based upon usefulness) of armed rebels and terrorists. When a person takes part in an armed rebellion or any form of terrorism against a nation, or its legitimate government, that person is not “moderate”. As such, these rebels along with other terrorists should expect a harsh reaction from the subject nation's government and its allies.
Russia doesn't appear to be “bogged down” at all. Rather, under Putin's direction, Russia appears to be operating with deadly efficiency against the terrorists currently plaguing its ally. All nations involved in the war on terror should be well pleased. Yet, there is whining from Turkey and “abroad” concerning Russia's killing of some of al-Qaeda’s Nusra Front operatives. One might be prompted to wonder why this is. Yes; the veil has been lifted a little further. Soon, even Michael will be able to figure some of this out.
"Legitimate government" is an oxymoron. There ain't no such thing. Governments are street gangs with fancier costumes, and that's all they are. But Assad's gang isn't any less legitimate than any of the others.
That's too simplistic. Even the resilient work of A.J. Simmons cannot provide foundations for a priori anarchism (i.e., that governments can never be legitimate).
Moreover, just as some street gangs can be seen as more legitimate than others, so too with the larger gangs (i.e., states). Unless, of course, if one is such a purist so as to classify the cliques in N. Korea, Aruba and Norway as being equally illegitimate — a very ambitious proposition.
I call this argument "Putin wins the war again today". Clearly, the fact that Putin is bogged down is worrying his supporters. Well they should be worried! And we are once again served the argument that Putin is so fiendishly clever that what looks like getting bogged down is just a ruse to win the unwinnable war.
"When a person takes part in an armed rebellion or any form of terrorism against a nation, or its legitimate government … these rebels along with other terrorists should expect a harsh reaction from the subject nation's government and its allies". Why therefore is Putin preventing the Ukrainian government he himself recognizes as legitimate from meting out "harsh tretament" to "rebels" in Ukrainian territory? Can't have it both ways! Putin can't support Assad, war against rebels in Syria and threaten war when Ukraine tries to do the same in int territory.
Where in Ukrainian territory are these "rebels" at? The Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics and Crimea seceded from Ukraine, and are therefore not "Ukrainian territory."
Yeah; what he ^^^ said.
As always, Putin is defending his precious naval base, not fighting ISIS.
Wrong again. The attack being discussed here occurred in Ariha, which is approximately 180 Km away from Russia's naval base. Contrary to your absurd assertions, the evidence on the ground suggests that Russia is eliminating terrorists in Syria wherever they may be found.
Furthermore, Russia doesn't appear to be allied with any terrorist group, as some coalition members do. The terrorists recently killed in Ariha were part of al-Qaeda’s Nusra Front. This is a good result, and is exactly what should be occurring in a war on terror. Russia, under Putin's direction, is leading the way in the war on terror.