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Originally posted by stumason
If the Turks had specific intelligence sanctions against Syria were being circumvented on an aircraft traversing their airspace, they not only have the right, but an obligation to investigate.
There won't be a war with Russia over this, or anything to do with Syria for that matter. Neither the Russians (or the Chinese for that matter) have the capability (or even the desire) to take on the West
Originally posted by buster2010
Russia has a naval base in Syria so it makes no sense that Russia would be moving weapons and such by plane when they can just ship it in. Turkey shouldn't have forced that plane down without having any hard proof of what was on board.
Originally posted by zeeon
Originally posted by stumason
If the Turks had specific intelligence sanctions against Syria were being circumvented on an aircraft traversing their airspace, they not only have the right, but an obligation to investigate.
There won't be a war with Russia over this, or anything to do with Syria for that matter. Neither the Russians (or the Chinese for that matter) have the capability (or even the desire) to take on the West
Unless you can quote me sources for your intelligence I'm going to be a bit skeptical.
I'm looking for a specific CHINFO document that I used to get while in the Navy that detailed the Russians ambitious arms build up. Regardless, I think you are underestimating the Russians here.
They are not the same country they were two decades ago. While the global 08 crisis hit them pretty hard their economy is on the up swing and defence spending is on the rise (as well as China's). Source
Also, Russia has stated numerous times that they will defend Iran if we move against them. Iran is an ally of Syria. By proxy, the Russians could definitely get involved if we moved against Iran or Syria.
If we moved against Syria, we would spitting distance from Iran on multiple fronts. This would only further aggrivate the Russians. From what I've seen so far China looks to be backing out of the Iran / Middle East geopolitical area for the time being - so the only threat would be the Russians.
I just wouldn't be so bold as to say Russia is a non player here.
Originally posted by Drunkenparrot
I will, Russia is a non player.
Furthermore, speaking of sceptical, the Soviet military of 2 decades ago was a serious adversary.
The Russian Federation was forced to halt almost all procurement spending which gutted their military in the mid 1990's, in the last decade they have made an attempt to modernise into a smaller, more technologically capable force that has been hit and miss.
Russian military spending has increased in the last few years, it couldn't get much lower and sustain a viable force of any size. Russian spending is still only roughly 10% of U.S. spending which, coincidently, maintained a large piece of its cold war military.
The U.S. military enjoys unchallenged dominance in both technology and numbers. Russia may blow some hot air but at the end of the day what are they going to do?
Short of a nuclear exchange, which is not going to happen in the current world climate over Syria, Russia has no choice but to suck it up.
You cant get involved if you cant get there first and Russia currently has no ability to project and secure power.