Foreword by the Saker: I am delighted to post an article which, unlike all the nonsense we have been fed by Ynet, Debka and the rest of them, actually makes sense and outlines what appears to me a very likely description of the rationale behind the military component of the overall Russian strategy towards the war against Syria. This article also confirms my guess that Latakia (and not Damascus) will be the center of the Russian effort. While only time will show what the Russians will eventually do, I hope that this analysis puts to rest all the hyperbole about MiG-31s and Russian Airborne Divisions engaging Daesh.
The Saker
Russia is constructing a military base in Syria
by Politikus.ru
translated by Alena Scarecrow
source: http://politikus.ru/articles/58167-rossiya-stroit-voennuyu-bazu-v-sirii.html
While the hunters for the traces of the Russian militaries in the Ukraine and Syria were monitoring social networks trying to dig out photos proving our marines’ presence at the Syrian port Tartus, the Western media resorted to different tactics – the one of assumptions and presumptions. Good logical thinking, indeed, for any of the numerous versions they have been advancing might well shoot under certain circumstances.
We would like to remind the readers that the Western journalists and the Russian restless Fifth Column both aim at proving by all means the Russian servicemen’s presence in Syria. Being unable to present any direct evidence thereof, “the debunkers” chose to recourse to their favourite technique – reading tea leaves.
One of the “researchers” Ruslan Leviev, for instance, made an error having placed a bet on the Russian marines – alas, their presence on the board of the large landing ship as well as at the Syrian port Tartus is nowhere close to a sensation being totally legal and regulated by Order 321 from 23 August 1997. Moreover, it is our army’s duty to protect military facilities abroad, so even finding the Russian marines on the airfield 5 kilometers from Latakia will hardly be a scoop. Sorry, Ruslan, a wrong shot.
Meanwhile, the Western media have been taking wild guesses over the course of the last two weeks, spitting into the informational space dozens of conjectures and proofs of the Russian military presence in Syria. A good half of the material is a fake, a part of it is versions and the rest is “information from reliable sources”. Nonetheless, having such a variety of ideas, the Western journalists in a probabilistic sense had a good chance to make a correct guess and hit the target. Let us recall their principal versions and proofs:
- Russia delivers to Syria 6 MIG-31 fighters-interceptors (the Turkish media, the middle of August).
- Russia deploys military aircraft with the Russian crew near Damascus (the Israeli media, the end of August).
- Russia is forming striking troops of a thousand of soldiers near Damascus (the Israeli media, the end of August).
- The Russian aircraft with the Russian crew bombs the positions of the Islamists (the Israeli media, 1-2 September).
- The Russian language is heard speaking among the Syrian troops near Latakia and Hama (the Lebanese media, 2-3 September).
- Russia is constructing a military base near Damascus (the Israeli media, 2-3 September).
- The FCA fighters meet more and more Russians siding with the government troops (the British media, 5 September).
- Russia is constructing a military base in Latakia (the Israeli and American media, 5-11 September).
- Russia moves thousands of soldiers to Latakia (the American media, 6 September).
- Russia is preparing for a large-scale operation against the Islamist fighters (the American media, 6-11 September).
- The Syrian army backed by the Russian troops launches an offensive in Latakia (the Lebanese media, 8-10 September).
Only one version has shot so far – “Russia is constructing a military base in Latakia”. As a side note, at the distance of five kilometers from Latakia seaport there is Bassel al Assad airport that also serves as a military airfield.
This information, presented by some Israeli and American media and initially treated with certain skepticism, has now been proved by the report of the American private analytical agency Stratfor known around the world as “the shadow CIA”. Here is a quotation from this report:
“Satellite imagery of the Bassel al Assad international airport near Latakia confirms the information of Russia performing military-transport flights to this airfield where the Russians have allegedly been constructing a base. The satellite imagery taken on 4 September shows a newly built aircraft control tower, new asphalt, and containers presumably used as mobile housing units. Construction work is under way on the whole territory of the airport. There are traces of excavations alongside the full length of the runway. Most likely, the airport is being prepared for servicing heavy transport aircraft”.
As can be seen in the satellite image, the following infrastructure facilities are currently under construction:
helicopter pads;
taxiways;
an aircraft control tower;
mobile housing units.
Judging by the nature of the work, the second stage might well include constructing aircraft shelters, take-off and landing training sites, and an equipment repair area. At the moment the runway expansion work is under way. In the nearest future we can expect installing on the airfield ground-based electronic warfare units and radar stations, as well as building a center for training air-defense specialists.
The runway expansion work suggests that the airfield is planned to receive heavy aircraft on a regular basis. Stratfor notes: “Having built an airbase, Russia will have far more possibilities to back up the government troops providing them with air support”. Expanding the runway might serve a different purpose, though – the simultaneous take-off of several aircraft.
The first indirect evidence of the Latakia airfield being renovated appeared on 6 September; it was Alexander Tkachenko ferry going through the Bosporus with several dozens of army fuel drums and fire engineering on board.
The next day first Russian transport aircraft was noticed landing at the Bassel al Assad airport. Here are all the flights that have been registered so far in the chronological order:
7 September – An-124 (RA – 82039) Chkalovskyi – Latakia;
7 September – Il-62M (RA – 86496) Chkalovskyi – Latakia;
8 September – An-124 (RA – 82035) Pskov – Mozdok – Latakia;
9 September – An-124 (RA – 82039) Mozdok – Latakia;
9 September – An-124 (RA – 82040) Mozdok – Latakia;
10 September – An-124 (RA – 82035) Mozdok – Latakia;
11 September – An-124 (RA – 82035) Chkalovskyi – Latakia;
11 September – An-124 (RA – 82039) Chkalovskyi – Latakia;
11 September – An-124 (RA – 82040) Chkalovskyi – Latakia – Mozdok;
13 September – An-124 (RA – 82040) Mozdok – Latakia.
RA – 82040 (11 September), leading the aircraft group of the three, had to turn back – presumably, ordered by Iraq – and later on landed in Mozdok. The other two aircraft (82039 and 82035) successfully landed in Latakia and came back to Russia the following day.
Among all the flights to Syria listed above the RA-82035 one from 8 September seems to be of particular interest. Having left its base (Seschi, Bryanskaya Oblast) on the previous day, this aircraft’s first destination was Pskov, where it got loaded up and only after that headed for Syria. For most Russians Pskov is invariably associated with these three things – the Pskov fortress, the Trinity Cathedral, and the paratroopers. Accordingly, all the interested parties arrived at a not surprising conclusion that it was the paratroopers the aircraft had transported to Syria. That is a rational supposition, but there might well be others.
Pskovskaya Oblast is known to be rich in military units and here are some of them that might relate to this flight:
the 656th separate guards field engineering battalion (m/u 452930);
the 7th separate repair and maintenance battalion (m/u 63320);
the 1682nd separate battalion of material support (m/u 42689);
the 353rd artillery ammunition depot (m/u 01706);
the 2098th artillery armaments depot (m/u 64527).
The version of the Russian paratroopers having been deployed to Latakia might prove true; however, we are quite skeptical about it. Clearly there is no involvement of the Russian troops in the warfare in Syria at the moment; the only task for our soldiers to perform is the protection of the two military facilities – the logistics base in Tartus and the military airfield in Latakia. But this for decades has been marines’, not paratroopers’ duty.
As for the idea that the aircraft might have transported from Pskov armaments and ammunition, we regard it as highly dubious as well. Firstly, it would have been much more rational to load the aircraft up in the warehouses near Mozdok where our military planes do perform flights from; secondly, all military exports pass through Rosoboronexport, which renders the hypothesis of such a secretive delivery ridiculous.
Rather, under the current circumstances, the Russian aircraft in question might have transported engineering and repair and maintenance units. The construction of military facilities abroad is normally carried out by local contractors. Their functionality, however, is quite limited – building mobile housing units, roads, fences, and embankments is nearly as much as they are usually trusted with, all complicated work being done by army’s engineer corps, particularly as regards building military bases. Given that our base in Latakia is being constructed in record time (according to the media), we can confirm with full confidence that there are Russian engineer and repair and maintenance units taking active part in it.
As for the cargo of the rest aircraft, we cannot but guess. The official media calls these flights “humanitarian”, transporting material necessary for constructing a camp for 1,000 refugees, the theory we willingly accept but for one reservation – only two aircraft rendered humanitarian aid as such, which our media in fact reported. All others, as we presume, delivered to Latakia electronics and construction materials required for the new military base.
The subtitled video “Russia delivers humanitarian aid to Syria” is here –
There is also a version that some of the aircraft might have been loaded with military equipment. However, in the light of the fact that all the logistical support of the Syrian government troops is provided by The Syrian Express, this possibility seems rather doubtful. Besides, the current situation at the Syrian front line can barely be considered as critical – the supply of the military equipment, even if increased, is nevertheless made in the normal mode. All this suggests that the recent intensification of the Russian flights to Latakia is only connected with the construction of a military base in the area.
At the same time, the data Stratfor analytics have been so kind as to provide us with implicitly evidences that the base is designed to service strike aircraft, thus suggesting the idea that one or several September An-124 flights deployed to Latakia military or reconnaissance planes. As practice shows, an An-124 can transport two aircraft with undocked wings. Military experts confirm the Syrian army is impatiently waiting for a couple of Su-25 planes to be delivered in order to considerably improve the situation at the front line in its favour.
The above asks for a brief explanation. The Syrian warfare is characterized by high front instability and fluid battlefield which partly stems from the critical shortage of weaponry and ammunition supplies the warring parties have been continually experiencing. Forming a well-armed and equipped striking force at any side of the front line – either among government or Islamist troops – would guarantee mounting a successful military operation resulting in the adversary’s retreat.
The chronology of the hostilities proves that nearly every act of delivering arms to the targeted front site has resulted in a successful operation. Given that the government troops’ fleet of wheeled and tracked vehicles has considerably thinned out in these four years of the ongoing warfare, the supply of Russian armored vehicles could give the war course a sharp turn. In case the Syrian offensive near Homs, Hama, Idliba and Latakia receives a due air backing, the Islamists will almost certainly have to retreat thus rendering the Mediterranean coast no longer dangerous to the Alawis.
A number of military analysts claim that conducting airstrikes in the area of Idliba parallel to the reinforcing the government army with even 50 armored vehicles would contribute to its gaining a considerable advantage over the Islamists. The Kurds’ offensive supported by the aviation of the coalition forces demonstrates how effective the interaction of the strike aircraft and advancing ground troops can be.
This is indirectly confirmed by the Stratfor’s report: “Even this level of the Russian logistical and operational support could crash the insurgents’ resistance. Enhancing the loyalist forces’ stance, Moscow hopes to strengthen its own position in the peace negotiations. Moreover, creating a secure “air bridge” enables Russia to launch a rapid military intervention if and when needed”.
With regard to the functions of the Russian airbase in Latakia, we can too make some assumptions:
The airbase will serve as the second channel providing an uninterrupted supply of weapons and military equipment to the Syrian government forces. The situation at the front line being unstable, third parties increasingly interfering in the conflict, and the sea channel failing to meet the current demands, – owing to all these factors Russia’s intervention might at any moment become imperative. The Syrian Express for obvious reasons is not efficient enough especially in respects of operational flexibility. The Stratfor’s report repeatedly featuring “supply channel”, “channel of operative measure” and similar wording speaks in favour of this version.
The runway improvements and constructing infrastructures might signify the airfield is going to be actively used by military aircraft. We have already mentioned that the extension of the runway will enable several planes to take off simultaneously, as well as that the government troops definitely require air support. The hysterics the entire international community headed by the United States is writhing in only bears out this inference. The point is the Russian political and military leadership renounces any Islamists’ gradation rightly considering the notion of “moderate” Islamist fighters nonsensical. This fact is of great concern to Washington which has placed its political bet in this war conflict on so called moderate opposition; accordingly, the perspective of the latter’s ranks getting considerably thinner as a result of the Russian air strikes is barely exciting for both the USA and the “opposition”. Hence the hysterics.
The above variants are not mutually exclusive, though, so the airfield might well serve two purposes. Time will tell. At all events, the construction of this airbase is not that bad a backup for Russia in the Middle East.
Alena Scarecrow, thank you for the translation. Your work for Saker is very appreciated by thousands who view these articles.
It amazes me that even if true about Russian troops going to Syria (which I have doubts about),the West acts like there would be something “sinister” and “bad” about that.The West constantly whines about ISIS attacking, killing people, and seizing territory.They bomb ISIS (or say they do),they at least publicly support fighting ISIS .And even debate sending troops to fight ISIS.And yet if Russia with Syrian permission was actually doing what they say they want to see happen,someone fighting ISIS.Russia is condemned for that by them. And they act like there would be something wrong with doing the exact thing the West claims they want to see happen.Talk about “doublespeak”,the West is a master of it.Once again this is a case of Russia ,China,etc,need to stop worrying about reactions on anything they do in the West.If they succeed,it won’t matter what the West thought of it or not.And if they fail,it still won’t matter what the West thought.The failure of what they did will be more important than the West’s opinion ever was.Stop even giving the West a say on your actions would be Russia’s best policy.
America and the West=God’s Chosen People
Russia, China, Iran, or any nation that opposes them=Evil Doers who Hate Our Freedoms
Hence, anything that Russia, China, Iran, and allies do is EVIL.
While, anything that America and the West do is with the noblest of intentions–no matter how many wars of aggression they wage or millions of people they “accidentally” slaughter.
This is the underlyling worldview and value system of the American Empire, its people, and its crime partners.
If this logic sounds familiar, it is Zionism incarnate.
Perhaps, we can say Zionism=Westernism=Americanism.
Anonymous,
Absolutely not. Don’t confuse the goals and highest prioriy of the bankster-oligarchs who own the US govt with the American people. Americans are under attack– their physical health; their educational system took the first steps towards dumbing them down nearly a hundred years ago; and finally morally with the great impoverishment of literature & enertainment.
The monsters who own & control the propaganda & military aggression of the US are NOT some kind of natural outgrowth of the ethos of the American people. The system which rules us was transplanted from the British banking oligarchy. It wdn’t surprise me if the Rothschilds still controlled the entire Fed/IMF/WTO/World Bank/BIS system.
The American people have been degraded physically, mentally & spiritually– but they are not guilty of the sins you ascribe to them.
Sorry to gore your sacred cow, but yes the American people are guilty.
This nonsense about how poor Americans are really the “victims” (and hence not responsible for their crimes) is just a more cunning alibi that American apologists hide behind.
Americans are good at two things:
1). Commiting crimes against humanity
2). Playing the Victim to deny these crimes
Sound familiar?
This is yet another Zionist tactic. See the Jewish manipulation of the Holocaust and the promotion of what Norman Finkelstein has called the Holocaust Industry to deflect blame away from crimes of the Jewish colonizer state of Israel and the self-styled “Chosen People” in general.
Indeed, even pro-Americans like David Gerlanter has stated in his book below, Americanism in general is just a secular version of Zionism.
American national identity is based on the idea that the USA is Exceptional–that is, the USA was uniquely chosen by God to act as a Shining City on a HIll and Beacon of Liberty to the world. In short, Americans are the Select.
This cult of American Exceptionalism goes back to the Massachusetts Bay Colony and is a pervasive belief system of modern America from Ronald Reagan to Barack Obama.
Just as Zionism believes that Jews are God’s Chosen People, Americans believe that the USA is God’s Chosen Nation …or Empire.
Americanism: The Fourth Great Western Religion
https://www.overdrive.com/media/116409/americanism
http://www.amazon.com/Americanism-Fourth-Great-Western-Religion/dp/0385513127
And pray tell, what makes you subscribe to the notion that all Americans are of a like mind? We are a nation in flux at the moment. The politics are changing here insofar as the ruling class is losing control of the minds of people who at one point went along with all government said. That is changing. America is growing weary of war, and rightly so. The Obama administration is actually attempting to make speech such as what we are engaging in on this blog into a form of “terrorism”. expect to see government continue demonizing Putin. He is their worst nightmare. One TV personality calls him a “gangster” as if that fits him. Most of the presidential candidates save 1 or 2 are of a like mind, Lindsay Graham being the worst. WE are not all bloodthirsty warmongers. There are saner heads here as well.
This is the typical b.s. commentary I rant against here. The continual blame being placed upon the American Public. Where, pray tell, is it any different. Among the EU citizenry? Are they rising up against their governments participation as lap-dogs for Empire. Thank you Penelope for attempting to point this out to the typically anonymous commenter.
I ask the criticizor what he did in the last few days, even, to change public perceptions? I spent 5 hours yesterday speaking to a group concerning what the american government is actually up to and who is controlling decision making. Along with a good dose of educating about money and why debt-based money allows the oligarchy to control and manipulate worldwide. After those hours the majority came away nodding in agreement. Others stated they were unaware. They were directed to sites such as this one and others that expose what is reality. I guess all of the 1% are Americans too? They have no accomplices among the elites in other nations? Anonymous, you are a very confused person.
This reminds me of what Mr. Putin said about the U S of A, and I’m paraphrasing here, ‘There are only three things that country needs to be remembered for, those acts that define it, 1. Killing of at least 1.2 billion natives, 2. The slavery of the African people and 3. The Atomic bombs on two civilian cities’. ‘We all accept Statin as an evil man (again paraphrasing from memory), but even he would not have dropped the bombs in 1945. Maybe in 1942 when defeat seemed possible, but not in 1945.’
So, we’ve heard it from the man himself, what Mr. Putin thinks of the U S of A. No more talk on how those poor people are victims themselves, please!
Fellow Anonymous, Penelope is just trying to convey the fact that the American people are sheeple. Sheeple are not responsible for anything. They just have to report to their “station” to get sheared to pay for all this mayhem. Okay, they are guilty of that. But keep in mind that the U.S. has the largest prison population in the world, bar none. The U.S. has infinitely more laws on the books than any other nation in history. Make one wrong move in this country, and you may just find yourself in prison or victim of a lawsuit, or many other insults and injustices that the sheeples endure on a daily basis.
Put bluntly, “The American people” are 100% parasitic, reactionary, and hideously ugly — body and soul alike. Of course they whine and wail about how “impoverished” they are. Hey, doesn’t the world owe these ‘Exceptionals’ a living, for crying out loud?
That’s untrue and Saker himself lives in Florida. People vote with their feet and choose to live in the U.S. above other countries. U.S. also is responsible for much of the technology you are using.
Technology stolen by the likes of NSA from the entire world you mean.
Americans have generally been dumbed down…unable to have independent thoughts!
I think this comment really begins to articulate the true difficulties of living in America at this point in time. You only have to look if you have the stomach for it at the “choices” we have in the upcoming elections. They are either appalling or nauseating, take your pick. It’s difficult to foresee a cheerful outcome to the problems inherent in turning people into a pack of ignorant lunatics, and everything is degraded and cheapened.
Geoff,
The American people are the most propagandized in the world. But the insults to physical health and alertness are simply unknown by most people:
1. Only two populations on earth are still given tranquillizing doses of Fluoride in their water: The US, & the British still fluoridate the water of the Irish. Fluoride has been proven to lower children’s IQ.
2. North America has a shortage in her soil of Iodine, necessary for adequate thyroid function. The form of Iodine put into salt is largely useless; it prevents goiter, but doesn’t give adequate nutrition to the thyroid. The dough-conditioners put into the bread in the US used to have Iodine in them, but now they have bromine, which is taken up in place of Iodine, thus blocking it. Damage is done to hormonal levels and to the brain by any shortage of healthy thyroid hormone.
3. GMOs, especially corn & soybean are omnipresent on our grocery shelves.
4. The damage done by wireless technologies– from smart-meters to cell phones to wireless computers, especially to children because their thinner skulls allow deeper electromagnetic penetration. http://www.globalresearch.ca/does-short-term-exposure-to-cell-phone-radiation-affect-the-blood/5429108
http://www.globalresearch.ca/44-reasons-to-believe-cell-phones-can-cause-cancer/5420118
http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-radiation-poisoning-of-america/7025
I give you links to the last item, as it may be relevant to the health of you all.
5. Substances too numerous to name which have been outlawed in Europe but are still routinely sprayed on our vegetables and bedding, included in our toiletries, and the plastic containers in which our food is sold.
No, Penelope. It’s not only two populations on earth are still given tranquillizing doses of Fluoride in their water. Australia and New Zealand export organic foodstuff to China and in exchange China sends their industrial fluoride waste for Australians and New Zealanders to flavour our water with. It seems to be an Anglo governments preferred method of population control. It would not surprise me if the Canadians are introducing it too. At least in Queensland our regional councils can choose not to fluoridate. But in the most populated areas of the state we are mandatorily medicated with fluoride.
Penelope,
Nobody drinks unfiltered tap-water in Ireland. Either the water is boiled, or they have a filter-tap in the sink.
Bottled spring water is dirt cheap and widely available. There are loads of spring wells. It is tested and filtrated before being released for public consumption and all its chemical components are listed on the packaging.
So flouridation has little or no impact in terms of consumption, especially as people have been aware of the issue since it was first introduced in the sixties.
(Though maybe our political class consumes directly –
it might be a partial explanation of their ineptness. Always put it down to plain old greed myself.)
Water is absolutely sacsorosanct here (Ireland). The privatization scam is the straw that broke the camels back: the Right to Water movement may well be the death-knell for the neo-liberals who sold the country down the river to the Troika.
Ps GMO-infested products all have to be labelled, though most are aware soy beans and derivatives in so many processed foods have invaded by stealth.
TTIP is facing huge hostility in Europe, and may very well be the death, even more so than uncontrolled immigration, of the EU.
Eimar, Thank you for the info about Ireland’s water. Did you know that filtering doesn’t remove fluoride? But if people only drink fully-labelled spring water, that’s OK. I know of very few springs in US, none close by– and I have never been able to discover a source of bottled water which is fluoride-free. I hope someone will tell me if they know of one.
I’m delighted to know that at least Ireland’s GMOs are labelled. Not so, here. Although “organic” here includes “non-GMO”.
Regarding water, yes the bad guys are buying it up.
As you may know, here in Central California we are having a drought. I was very slow to take an interest in the so-called “chem spraying”– just sounded too nutty to me. However, I’ve been forced to begin to take it (geoengineering) more seriously. I can’t help but notice that in the early AM I can see 3 or 4 planes flying a parallel course leaving a very long-lasting contrail which slowly spreads out over the sky. Occasionally they miss a few days, and when this happens the sky returns to the deep beautiful blue that used to be the norm, often w big puffy white clouds. When they resume spraying within hours the sky is a pale bluish gray without ever a hint of a cloud. It certainly suggests that the particulates they spray prevent normal cloud & rain formation.
Just one more thing: I’m trying to spread the word on some little-known methods of solving water shortage:
http://www.globalresearch.ca/california-water-wars-another-form-of-asset-stripping/5438835 Ellen Brown. Includes several innovative sources for inexpensive water. Suggestion that these are being avoided in order to enhance the value of limited water which is being bought up. It’s the people against the new “water barons” – Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Monsanto, the Bush family, and their ilk – who are buying up water all over the world at an unprecedented pace.
Thanks for the info Penelope
Didn’t know filter systems don’t get rid of flouride. Or that boiling was also ineffective.
Doesn’t matter in my own case as I get bottled spring water from a local source. The spring is protected and on certified organic land. No flouride, or at least not in detectable amounts, as it would have to be on the label.
Yes, water as Elsi mentioned on another thread is the Big One. As the World Bank said – ‘All future wars will be fought over water.’ The blocking of the Euphrates by the Turkish dam system is responsible in no small part for the hostility from Syria and Iraq. Lake Assad dropped six metres in 2014 as a result of an operation on ISIS-controlled territory in Turkey. They say it was one of the main precipitating factors in the Syrian exodus.
And, of course the NATO bombing of Libya’s Great Water Project was instrumental in the displacement of millions.
We have also seen how the Ukrainian junta and the Israeli colony weaponize water infra-structure by cutting off supply. The blockade by the Saudis in the Gulf is preventing vital water supplies from reaching Yemen, a land with very little natural water resources.
Denying civilians access to water needs to be clearly labelled a war-crime requiring reparations in their aftermath.
Haven’t got the link to hand, but Jim Stone has a piece on the California crisis. He has photographs of high-altitude floods in the state at a time when there was a major shortage. He maintains the reservoirs owned by Buffet/Gates fronts were emptied to save a fish species (I think smelt ) that isn’t even native to the region.
The photographs certainly evidence (if they were taken on the dates claimed) that precipitation was normal-to-high.
His ‘conspiracy theory ‘ is that Bill and Warren wanted to put Californian food producers out of business, to extinguish alternatives -particularly organic – to their GMO investments.
I would buy it.
Eimar, Yeah I hunted up some documentation on the “great reservoir emptying”. It really did occur, but it wouldn’t have been enough to reverse our entire water scarcity. Right now, our water negotiations to receive more water from elsewhere are at a standstill– have been for a long while. So the powers that be have chosen to do nothing while we run out. That way the water resources bought up by the oligarchs will be worth more.
But look at this:
“Primary water” is newly produced by chemical processes within the earth & has never been part of the surface hydrological cycle. Created when conditions are right to allow oxygen to combine with hydrogen, this water is continually being pushed up under great pressure from deep within the earth and finds its way toward the surface where there are fissures or faults. Japanese researchers reported in Science in March 2002 that the earth’s lower mantle may store about five times more water than its surface oceans.
Pal Pauer of the Primary Water Institute, one of the world’s leading experts in tapping primary water, says a well sufficient to service an entire community could be dug and generating great volumes of water in a mere two or three days, at a cost of about $100,000. The entire state of California could be serviced for about $800 million.
Ghastly to think someone wd deprive human beings of water, isn’t it? All my life I’ve left a bowl or two of water out for the critturs– the birds, possums, racoons & whatnot. It just seems wrong that any creature shd be deprived water.
People have difficulty conceiving the reality of evil.
Regards
The comments here only demonstrate that the average Anglo American is just as sociopathic as their elite.
At base, Anglo Americans have a pathological need to excuse, downplay, and deny their own responsibility for the crimes that their war criminal democracies are guilty of.
Some of the excuses here are comical in their ludicrousness. Everything from GMOs to flouridation is used an excuse for Anglo American political passivity in the light of their countries’ crimes.
Pathetic–even for Anglo American apologists.
Even more pathetic is Anglo Americans’ propaganda meme that they are the REAL VICTIMS in all this–not the people of Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Serbia, or other nations that the Anglo Axis powers have assautled and raped with impunity!
What they are desperately trying to cover up is that *Anglo American Values* are the real problem.
At base, nations like America, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand are all Anglo colonizer nations, whose very way of life and societies are based upon exploiting the rest of the planet—not to mention land theft and occupation of Indigineous lands like the Native Indians, Aborginals, and Maori.
Anglo American values are reflective of their own imperialist nations, which they dare not even admit.
To rebel against their own societies in any fundamental way would mean to question and ultimately oppose their own imperial nations–and dismantle their own parasitic way of life and wealth.
To give up their own imperial privilege and way of life–or even admit their existence–is of course the absolute LAST THING that the Anglo Americans want.
Instead, they attempt to stand reality on its hand and paint themselves as the victim in classic Orwellian fashion.
We’re so helpless, they whine.
We’re so victimized, they snivel.
Welcome to the Anglo American Pity Party.
I prefere to call it the zionised anglosphere.
Guess my exceptional attitude got misplaced with my white privilege. Got news for you, the U.S. is unbelievably corrupt. The entire public and private infrastructure is rotten. Most of us are powerless. Are we a stupid? Absolutely. Are we all Stepford wives to the rotten system? No, but unfortunately too many are. Those who aren’t are hated by the elite. Why do you think the NSA is spying on us, the IRS is now privileged to our health records, and there is a war on cash?
It’s all about total control of the U.S. Voting is worthless. Voting with money requires having money. Arguing with the Rapture Christians is pointless due to their firm belief they got a first class ticket on the Jesus express by kissing the Jewish booty. Arguing with Zionists will get you ruined. Protesting only works if you are amongst the progressive left, who are usually financed by Zionists. So what is a hapless American to do?
Marian, may I suggest a small reflection (sorry for non-idiomatic English, hope it will be comprehensible)
The current order exists because lot of Americans put trust into it.You can not run nor control a big country if people are not willing to participate. And this requires that they feel they are benefiting from keeping it afloat.
So right now – all these totalitarian tendencies and corruption are there because of 1) inner agreement of a mass of people 2) momentum of a huge and old state machine and existing culture.
Inequality and injustice and are eroding this trust(1), but it takes time(2).
I assure you when people start taking their ball and going home no amount of oppression will keep the beast alive. It will fall.
We certainly have experienced this in Russia more than once in previous century and people have some historical memory left. It looks like it is your time to get through it.
So don’t take the system seriously – do your own things. Build friendship with other people and try to stay healthy.
One thing – when the thing starts to really collapse it will be much, much worse than it is right now. This is inevitable – you need to prepare. Naming oneself as unfortunate is unhelpful, because right now you’ve seen nothing yet.
Hi Danil, that’s a sane comment. For every one to be blaming blaming blaming does no good. There are sleepers in America and England, and Germany and all the west…
I think the East including Russia are not so sleepy. And all the countries that are war torn are wide awake…some very angry, go join ISIL and get pay checks from Empire of Evil.
Just the way it is now. This too shall pass.
Ayup. This kind of doublethink always reminds me of an old Get Smart episode. Vague memory from long ago, so bear with me . . .
Max was going on a mission and the Chief told him he was going to be helped by an ex-KAOS agent they’d captured a while back.
Max says, “Oh, we brainwashed him, eh?”
Chief: “Oh, no, no Max. We re-educated him. When they do it, it’s brainwashing. When we do it, it’s re-education.”
I loved that show.
Latakia forward base: Thanks Saker for giving us a report on Latakia which mostly can be believed.As he said: “The Kurds’ offensive supported by the aviation of the coalition forces demonstrates how effective the interaction of the strike aircraft and advancing ground troops can be”
So the Israelis’ report that there are Russian armored vehicles with 15 ft antenna for use in the field to communicate ( ground to air) is probably true.
Yes, there are no moderates so fight IS in Syria or fight them in the Caucasus. Now that is what has the Hegemon’s tail in a twist–they don’t want the takfiris wiped out at least not completely or not until they decide to do so. But if there is a truce or deal, then they can be directed elsewhere and we all know where that will be.
I don’t believe for a moment that there is a split in the White House over strategy ( Kerry is their fall guy and duty boy who carries no weight) so the Israelis are blowing hot air over that. Everyone is buying time in this latest chapter of “The Great Game”. One can hope that the Russians don’t buy a bill of goods from Israel that it wants to be an independent actor in this coalition. They know where their bread is buttered to the tune of 3B a year. Make them go thru the Americans.
Everyone is buying time in this latest chapter of “The Great Game”.
the end game will be unvieled by Putin and Hassan Rouhani during the UNGA meeting. Let’s see how the Zionist MSM reports it.
So it seems the awaited Navalny protest rally took place in Moscow today. The police say the crowd was around 4 thousand,the protest organizers say the crowd was around 8 thousand.But the Western MSM said the crowd was 25 thousand.Its pretty embarrassing to have the West claiming a much,much,bigger crowd than even the “organizers” are claiming.But to give a context to it all.Moscow is a city of around 14 million people (metro) and the heartland of the Russian liberal 5th column.So they weren’t even able to come anywhere near .1% of the population turning out.
Graham Philips tried to attend but was manhandled away by Navalny minders. So much for freedom of the press.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CPXBtZpWwAAmHEf.jpg
The problem in the Middle East is Israel. Putin should follow the New Leader of the Free World in Boycotting IsraHell>> https://goo.gl/vozdYj
About time the Syrian Air Force deployed some SU-25s, a fierce close air support jet. Their Hinds likely also could use some updating.
True Vet,
As the Indian Airforce showed in the early 0’s against their US counterparts, a good designed airframe with modern avionics and systems with a good pilot can hold its own against airframe tech supossedly 2 generations more advanced.
The Indian Airforce updated Mig 21’s were quite effective in air to air combat.
More recently the Indian Airforce made a laughing stock out of the RAF with the SU30’s stomping the Brittish Typhoons. Ref 2015 air trials between the RAF and Indian Airforce.
The Indians did give credit to the Tornadoes, which they said were quite an effective ground attack jet the RAF has kept going.
Saker.
How does soldiers see this deployment? The Zionist web site already started offensive:
Russian troops refusing deployment to Syria
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4702715,00.html
I hope RF makes convincing argument. Iran already consider clasping of Assad government is a existential threat. I hope they send in their ground troop to support Russians.
Silly propaganda. Pointing to the fact that the Zionists are very nervous. And rightly so. Since oh-so-clever ‘Maidan coup’ turned very sour very quickly, they run around like headless chicken. Every smash they play lands in the net or outside the court. The crowd is flummoxed and perplexed. What happened with the champion? Next stop Syria.
Soldiers refusing orders can no longer be soldiers.Its the door for them,maybe jail as well.If it was a declared war punishment would need to be harsher still.
No, I read this on a Russian site via icky machine-translation. There was only a query from some sort of soldiers’ organization. Nobody was refusing anything. Just like us, they were curious. Sorry, no idea where I saw it.
Congratulations, Saker. Of all the sources, you called it with Latakia being a strategic bridgehead “just in case”.
I still value Thierry Meyssan’s reporting immensely. All he ever said – before the Israeli psy-op overwhelmed the signal with noise – was that Russia was now sharing satellite intel and seemed to be landing more materiel, all of which indicated an escalation, but a quiet one, which Meyssan reported in his quiet way.
There’s no doubt the game is being ramped up a notch. Latest reports (sorry can’t remember where) say that Syria air strikes have reduced in number, because thanks to the new intel, their targeting and kill rate is greatly improved.
What has puzzled me is why the Israelis wanted this to go viral, and the puppet MSM apparently jumped on board with a shit-storm of bluster that Russian boots were on the ground. What possible purpose can this serve any more?
Forgive me if I’m jumping the gun on the demise of the empire, but every day I see nothing but empty words from the west, which may serve to keep the domestic populations docile, but which fail completely to affect anything real in this world. Putin will speak at the UN soon. A coalition of worried states in the Middle East will act soon to destroy ISIS. The US is caught in a trap of its own making, because how can it publicly oppose a real attack on ISIS, especially if Putin gets UN endorsement of such a thing? Is Syria where we finally see the propaganda machine fall flat on its face?
On a side note – even a false flag will be seen through and ignored by all parties outside the western propaganda bubble, and will affect nothing – except to discredit even further the ancient technique of false flag, and if there’s a smoking gun found in any actor’s hand, nothing will save them. Sooner or later, somewhere, a smoking gun will be observed, go viral on YouTube, and false flag tactics will finally die the despicable death they deserve.
Salam Brother Grieved,
You are right on the mark. Imagine, chaos was to be created in all countries surrounding Israel. But now we see a Russian Base is being built at the doorsteps of Israel with The Empire’s Blessing.
The Empire is making Russia and China strong for the survival of The Empire.
Therefore, there is no longer Anglo-Zionist. It is Anglo and it is Zionist.
Yes, Netanyahu is now isolated. The ISIS is a myth and under this myth The Empire is now allowing Russia to make Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt to be very, very strong just like before the Camp David kaka (sh*t). Just like before the Camp David accord, these Arab Countries will be given by Russia The Best Military Equipment to beat the mythical ISIS. The days of chaos is over for Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Libya and so forth.
Neither the US Congress nor Netanyahu can object to beating the ISIS. How could they, as supposedly ISIS is #1 Enemy of USA. The countries around Israel will no longer will have sticks but The Best Russian Military Equipment. No longer Israel will be allowed at will to make incursion into Syrian Airspace.
One can see, how easily Obama got the Iran Nuclear Deal passed by the Congress, this should be a dire lesson for both Netanyahu and AIPAC.
Soon, the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) will become from G6 to G7, to include Iran. And, then it will become G8 to include Yemen. InshaAllah.
You have to be in Middle East and Especially in GCC, in Oman to know the Pulse.
Best regards,
Mohamed
Salam Brother Grieved,
Right from the Horse’s Mouth:
Best regards,
Mohamed
Thank you, Grieved. These things take time, and it is agonizing when so many lives are disrupted and destroyed. We need to constantly bear in mind who is doing the destroying and the disrupting. It isn’t Putin.
I have to confess to not being able to bear watching or listening to western media any longer. I read what I can online, especially here. I am a foolish old woman who cannot do much except pray for peace and safety for everyone. Thank you, Saker, for your hard work here and to others as well. Please, anyone, don’t badmouth any population. Each in its own way is suffering at the hands of the powerful, or has gratitude when those to whom we entrust our governance use that responsibility wisely, and truly lead by example.
We have seen that just breaking a regime only causes more chaos. That is why those who call for revolution (another name for it is ‘regime change’) are not providing a real solution – there are no quick fixes possible on the scale of nations. The hard way to succeed is patiently to go forward on paths that persuade – one good adage from Theodore Roosevelt was ‘speak softly but carry a big stick.’ The ‘speak softly’ part doesn’t mean subterfuge or deception; it accords trust.
Juliana & Grieved.
Thank you Juliana for such good sense.
You and Grieved may want to know that Thierry Meyssan has a new article & that he announced on Syrian TV the arrival of 2,000 CSTO troops in Syria, who will be activated on Oct 1. He had reported following CSTO’s Sept 15 meeting that the decision had been taken. It actually IS self-defense on their part.
In the article http://www.voltairenet.org/article188763.html
I found the reference to a joint attack surprising & it’s still not being reported anywhere:
“The United States, who have already waged a huge secret joint operation with the Syrian Arab Army in Al-Hasakah, are ready to conclude an agreement with the CSTO. Their British and French allies are ready to renounce the idea of overthrowing the Syrian Arab Republic.”
“What has puzzled me is why the Israelis wanted this to go viral, and the puppet MSM apparently jumped on board with a shit-storm of bluster that Russian boots were on the ground. What possible purpose can this serve any more?”
The entire romp backfired. Reader comments in croatian media on the topic of Russian “involvement”, are something like “Go for it, Russians…”.
Saker, thank you so much for making this available.
The comments about the unstable front owing to intermittent shortage of munitions is worth its weight in gold. So much that was puzzling imm’y became clear.
The fact of improving the airfield doesn’t seem like such a big deal to me. I saw the satellite photos 4 days ago on Zerohedge, and I just thought, “Ok, so they’re improving the airport.” I did’t even bother posting it. The improvements cd conceivably be just for the Syrians and the new aircraft they’ll be receiving. Altho of course I really believe the Russians will be doing strikes against the jihadis.
It’s the analysis that makes this so valuable, Saker. You hit this one out of the ballpark, Saker.
I assume the Russians will find a way to close the darn Turkish border so that more fine young soldiers don’t get killed for nothing.
Will they have to do Iraq too, so that more jihadis won’t come? I know the UN ministerial meeting on the 30th which Lavrov will chair is supposed to deal w terrorism all over the middle east– incl Libya. So I guess Putin’s speech will, too. I think it’s been moved from the 25th to the 28th.
Alena Scarecrow, thank you for such a clear translation. You’ve added immensely to my knowledge.
—–
There’s a brand new article on MH17 on Dances w Bears. Great care was taken that the relatives were not allowed to see the bodies. I found that strange. The pilot’s body, which might have disclosed the nature of the projectile that downed the plane was cremated! before being brought back to Malaysia!
Penelope,
You may be also sure that all metallic objects were sifted out of the cremated remains -or more likely just swapped with a non-MH17 cremation.
The painstaking obfuscating process to avoid mentioning the words ‘autopsies’ and also ‘forensic analysis’ of both the bodies and the ‘kinetic objects’ is painful to observe.
What is even more painful to observe is the public acceptance of this inability to see the elephant in the room -the elephant with a sign that says ‘You can’t see me’.
The western world is beyond hope.
You’re so right, Sanctuary. The article is worth reading, approaches things from a different angle. No good news, of course.
Cackling Clingon speaks:
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/09/21/430061/Hillary-Clinton-US-policy-Syria-failure
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the Pentagon’s program to train and equip “moderate” militants to fight inside Syria has failed.
In an interview with CBS News on Sunday, the frontrunner Democratic presidential candidate attempted to distance herself from the Obama administration’s policy in Syria, suggesting the overall US effort in the Arab country has been a “failure”.
“Where we are today is not where we were. And where we are today is that we have a failed program,” Clinton said, referring to the Pentagon’s $500 million project. “You heard the testimony, five people trained for half — $500, half-a-billion dollars — ha, ha, ha.”
This is the country that just built/delivered a giant new aircraft carrier, but says it hasn’t the funds to properly equip or run it, either!
Britain’s former health minister warns the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) will crash, unless instant cash is injected into the healthcare system.
Norman Lamb says the NHS will crash within two years with catastrophic consequences unless the government orders a multibillion pound cash injection.
The stark warning comes amid mounting fears among senior NHS officials and local authorities that NHS and care services are approaching breaking point, according to the Guardian.
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/09/20/430008/UK-health-service-collapse
It is not so much a crash as a controlled demolition. Years ago, members of the House of Lords with holdings in pirate health companies voted in support of legislation leading to the destruction of the NHS. Corruption, corruption.
BTW Cameron has been exposed as a true wierdo. He is supposed to have sexually abused a pig as part of an initiation ceremony. The pig was reportedly dead, so we can add necrophilia to the list.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3242550/Cameron-pig-bemused-look-face-future-PM-took-outrageous-initiation-ceremony-joining-Oxford-dining-society.html
At least Cameron’s peculiar proclivities mean that Louise Mensch is still in with a chance.
Frenchies with another of their lame-ass pathetique attempts to make the news & look important.
Hundreds of visitors have been turned away from the Eiffel Tower in France after “terrorist suspects” carrying large rucksacks were seen scaling the tourist attraction.
According to a Sunday report by the Daily Mail, suspects had been spotted early morning climbing the world famous tower, which has constantly been referred in threat messages by terrorist groups such as Daesh and al-Qaeda.
“There were reports of three people climbing the tower from the outside from about 5.30 am,” a police source said.
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/09/20/430032/France-Paris-Eiffel-tower-bomb-threat-
Çà alors! BHL, au boulot tout de suite, sinon…
@ Alena Scarecrow,
Again, thank you for having moved a mountain, by translating this text into a, for me personally, digestible language. Thank you for all the time and effort you have put into this. It’s priceless and so are you.
:[]:
Very BIG hug.
OT
Please
singsign the petition to get Netanyahoo arrested when he sets a single foot on US soil, here at ‘We The People,’ which is part of the ‘petitions.whitehouse.gov’ web site.“Moreover, the Assad regime is currently still the legal and UN-recognized government of Syria, despite only holding 1/3 of its territory. If Assad asks and gives permission for Russia, China and other SCO members to assist him militarily, that would be in accordance with international law.
This differs from the current US-led anti-ISIS coalition airstrikes in Syria that is neither operating under a UN mandate nor permission from the sovereign government, although it enjoys implicit permission to some extent from the Assad regime to fight ISIS. In 2014 Britain’s David Cameron hesitated to participate in Syrian airstrikes precisely due to fears of violating international law.
Turkey’s proxy war with China
With Erdogan waging an Islamist proxy war on China, Kurds, Assad, Sisi, Netanyahu via Al Qaeda affiliates, Army of Conquest, Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, it is no wonder Syria and Egypt both applied to join the China-led SCO in June this year.”
http://fortruss.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/china-in-syria-ready-to-join-russia-in.html
extensive article(above is only short extract) today
well worth reading/analysis
JJ,
Thanks. Interesting that the forces fighting in Syria seem to have come from so many different places.
Thierry Meyssan says that CSTO in their Spt 15 meeting w Putin already decided they were ready to help in Syria– under UN authority. I think Russia wants a coalition if possible, for the air strikes.
I’m still waiting to hear they’ve shut the Turkish border. If Erdogan has a single ally left it’s more than he deserves.
An Russian analysis of the situation in Syria that begins with ridiculing independent bloggers, only the relay on information by the CIA very own Stratfor, tells me one thing:
The Russians don’t want to talk. Not at this stage. This operation is too important.
zweistein,
As you know, sometimes military action and the threat thereof is only a way to enforce better negotiating terms.
For sure, when the US sees its proxy armies being destroyed there will be a big push for a ceasefire.
For that reason alone, a blitzkrieg has got to be preferred by Russia.
I suppose Assad will have to wait until after the UN meetings for real relief. Although he spoke very well and with full command of his situation during the press conference, he is showing signs of physical stress. He was usually a much calmer, more slow-spoken person. I think he’s lost weight too. Hope there’s somebody taking care of him, insisting that he rest, etc. We’re still at least ten days away from more substantial relief.
I admired him for saying that those who supported the terrorists couldn’t fight against them. I wish I were confident that we are not going to go through such a charade.
Incidentally, the MiGs ISIS got when they over-ran the Idlib airport were not functioning, and couldn’t be repaired.
possible to check?
“On Sunday, it became aware of the CIA’s secret visit of the delegation to Moscow.
Americans this week held talks in Moscow with their colleagues from the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR). The purpose of the consultations was to coordinate joint actions in Syria.
The United States agreed to share intelligence information to support Moscow’s actions against the group “Islamic State”, whose activity is banned in Russia. Washington fears the growth of the number of fighters, and therefore interested in the development of such contacts.
Washington went to the rapprochement and development of contacts with Moscow because of the threat of rapid growth in the number of militants and the influx of refugees into Europe.
Previously reported conversation, September 18, between Pentagon chief Ashton Carter and the head of the Defense Ministry Sergey Shoigu. The talks lasted about an hour. Ministers discussed the situation in the Middle East, and particularly the situation in Syria and Iraq.”
http://www.anna-news.info/node/42998
google translate
———————————————
TOKYO, September 21. /TASS/. The airstrikes carried out by the US-led coalition against the positions of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group in Syria have not produced any result, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad has told Kyodo News in an interview.
The airstrikes “were not effective and they in fact achieved nothing,” Mekdad said on Sunday. The IS terrorist group “has become stronger in both Iraq and Syria under the American war against terrorism.”
The diplomat also stressed that increased cooperation with the Syrian government is indispensable in the campaign against the IS.
Syria is using new weapons provided by Moscow and will not hesitate in requesting the deployment of Russian troops depending on future developments in the conflict, he said.
“Russia is helping Syria and this is the main source of armament of our army,” Mekdad said. “Russian military support does help our capacity,” which will “definitely help the Syrian army advance in the struggle against terrorists,” he said.
Mekdad also added that Russian troops are not yet deployed in Syria.
——————————————————————
Ya gotta laugh at these Reuters bozzo’s Headlines:
“Syrian rebels see tough war with Russians — AMMAN/BEIRUT – Rebels who have inflicted big losses on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad say Russia’s intervention in support of its ally will only lead to an escalation of the war.”.
Ergo, US/NATO intervention leads to escalation etc…????
Translate: “Terrorists thugs who have inflicted big losses on the people of Syria say Russia’s intervention in support of its ally will only lead to an escalation of the war on them”.
“Netanyahu to quiz Putin on Russia’s reinforcement of Syria” — what a cheek!
Translation: Tinpot unsustainable apartheid ME settler regime needing $3-4b p.a. handouts to survive demands Russia crawl on the floor and lick its jackboots. Ha, ha, ha! What’s the bomb cartoonist been smoking today?
Thank you Alena Scarecrow for translating this important article.
I submitted a comment yesterday describing the heroic actions of 300 Syrian special forces in holding an airbase for 3 years. In the end, they were outnumbered 80:1 and those not killed in combat were murdered after capture.
The comment was ‘marked for moderation’ or whatever the phrase is. The comment has not appeared as far as I can tell. It had many links so maybe that is the problem. I am resubmitting as the actions of these troops deserve wider recognition.
Anyway the link to the full story
‘300 Spartans fought a month, and 300 Syrian commandos stood for three years’
https://z5h64q92x9.net/proxy_u/ru-en.en/muravei-s.livejournal.com/1221139.html
and the heros (Syrian officers and soldiers, some trained in Russia), now all dead
http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/muravei_s/73777426/1256850/1256850_600.jpg
The workable aircraft were flown out so ISIS captured aircraft like this
http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/muravei_s/73777426/1257730/1257730_600.jpg
Thank you for not giving up and letting us know. Those 300 heroic soldiers deserve our respect.
And it seems the Latakia base was under attack over the weekend.
http://fortruss.blogspot.tw/2015/09/russian-marines-clash-with-isis-in-syria.html
I hope I’m wrong, but this looks like the first of a wave of attacks.
And so it begins. This is how boots multiply on the ground “organically”.
It is clear now (even to we Sakerians) that Russia is going in. She has committed herself to the survival of the Syrian nation and the destruction of the Takfiris. This message is now being read in every capital in the world. Washington may be confused, but few others are.
Make no mistake, the successful transition to a Multi-polar world hangs in the balance. The champion gets the benefit of the doubt, the challenger must win outright and the Kremlin knows it. Russia cannot duplicate America’s debacles in Iraq & Libya and expect the same forbearance. She must win, as visibly as possible, to make the alternative obvious, and tempting. A stabilizing, rebuilding Syria will act as a radio beacon for the alternative to Imperial desolation.
As the challenger, Russia has prepared her plans and cemented her allies. In a few months we’ll see the results as all that hidden planning and preparation comes forward. I have great hope for it.
@Erebus and others, my apologies for wrongly describing the situation. The base didn’t really come under attack. The would-be attackers were ambushed before they could carry out their mission.
As you state in your subsequent comment, Russian intelligence knew they were coming and took the decision to ambush and liquidate them. What’s important is the satellite intel of the airbase the Russians captured off of these attackers. HINT: it didn’t come from the ISIS satellite network ;)
I hope to see Lavrov to say something about this somewhere soon.
It’s a small smoking gun, but perhaps we’ll see more false flags become smoking guns in the next few months. This is the last such attack, but US will try more things, and will be foiled by their vastly superior opponents. Truth may yet have its day in the sun.
@Grieved
“W hat’s important is the satellite intel of the
airbase the Russians captured off of these
attackers. HINT: it didn’t come from the ISIS
satellite network ;)”
Well, smack me with a wet kipper Grieved! If that ain’t the darndest thing.
‘N thar’s me thinkin’ them goat-boys was real, rootin’. tootin’ rebels!
;)
It’s great that Russia is getting involved in Syria.
I hope they realise something – Russia now becomes a legitimate target for in Anti-Assad forces in Syria – ISI, al-Nusra, Army of Conquest, so-called “Free Syrian Army”
In light of that it is not at all surprising to hear that the Russian embassy in Damascus has been attacked.
If Russia wants to get involved and provide a solution in Syria but don’t go in with half-measures. It’s like trying to be half-pregnant – it just won’t work.
You have to go in with strength not weakly and meekly and shock and awe and destroy the enemy with overwhelming force of arms and tactical and strategic superiority. Don’t go in at half-pace and get blown to bits in the process.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-09-21/russia-calls-action-after-embassy-syria-hit-mortar-fire
It’s truly appalling that these Western hypocrites have the gall to call for the ouster of a national leader they deem criminal, when they themselves are harboring and protecting criminals: war criminals and Wall Street criminals, as well as those who pulled off the 9/11 inside job heist, which by the way, is where most of today’s US war-mongering evil stems from. Grrrrrrrr!!!!
“You have to go in with strength not weakly and meekly and shock and awe and destroy the enemy with overwhelming force of arms and tactical and strategic superiority”
Cause all that “Shock and Awe” worked so well in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya? Just bomb it all to hell and sort it out the rubble afterward?
The Russians are taking the slow, thorough, and dangerous approach because the fast, frantic and safe approach has been so utterly discredited. You’re forgetting that in a civil war, which this is, even if the other side has massive outside backing, you can’t simply blast the enemy and their refuge into oblivion because you’ll still have to live side by side when its over.
Thanks, Julian.
Most interesting at your Zerohedge link:
“And speaking of Russian arms, here’s what US officials have confirmed is in Syria as of now: 28 combat aircraft including 12 Su-25s, 12 Su-24s & 4 Flankers (Su-27s or Su-30s), up to 20 helicopters split of Mi-24 Hind attack & Mi-15 Hip transport copters, and up to 9 tanks.”
Latest imagery shows 28 Russian aircraft (12 Su-24s, 12 Su-25s and 4 Su-30s) on the ground at airbase in Syria
And this @KeXXit tweet of imagery of S-300/S-400 systems (at other sites north and south of the airfield)
https://twitter.com/KeXXit/status/646324875150393344
Russia and syria can simply say to the un, usa, nato, coalition, and western mass media this is a bilateral agreement mind your own business and…. Stop illegal enterering syrian airspace and land stop training/financing/arming terrorists. russia and syria do not need any approval or help from the usa led criminal conspiracy to defeat terrorists in syria, it makes perfect sense for russia to arm train and help syria and it will establish many good things for the best of this world including a halt to usa attack on the world for power and riches
Oh, but wait!! Is the entire ISIS movement faltering?
A big part of analysis – a lot like stock trading, really – is trying to get on the leading edge of a trend rather than the back side of the wave. This often causes errors by those who are just trying to get ahead of everyone else, and don’t wait for the picture to emerge a bit more clearly.
With that in mind, are we seeing the first signs of the west backing away from its latest attempt to knock Assad off, using the latest greenhouse-grown radical extremist group, ISIS?
http://news.yahoo.com/defectors-disillusioned-killing-muslims-114515256.html
According to the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence (ICSR) at King’s College, London, Islamic State is ailing from a wave of defections by true believers who are disgusted that they are asked to kill fellow Muslims rather than getting to grips with the Demon Assad. According to the same source, there are many more defectors than numbers of confessed defectors would indicate, because booking out of IS is “complicated” and many others are afraid to come forward.
What kind of message is being sent at this point, when we were previously asked to believe nothing is so unassailable as religious extremism, and it was not possible to reach into the mind of a religious fanatic?
A bit of preliminary research into the politics of the ICSR suggests it is, as it advertises, politically neutral. Its Director, John Bew, is a frequent contributor to The New Statesman, and his writing initially suggests he is fairly unbiased.
http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2014/04/jimmy-carter-william-hague-hero-mine
He quotes former President Carter as saying “it was a mistake for the US to demand that the Syrian leader resign as the civil war in his country began. To Carter, to set this condition was unrealistic, because it underestimated the strength and depth of Assad’s support and misunderstood the whole logic of the regime.” However, in another more Syria-centric piece for the same outlet, he argues that “all of the evidence” pointed to the Damascus chemical attack being actually carried out by the Syrian government, and portrays Assad as a cocky risk-taker who is determined to not only beat Obama, but to make him watch while he is beaten.
http://www.newstatesman.com/middle-east/2013/09/syria-west-humiliated
The center’s Senior Research Fellow, Shiraz Maher, is fingered by Electronic Intifada as a shill for Israeli policy in general and Netanyahu in particular.
https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/david-cronin/london-terrorism-experts-have-strong-links-israeli-establishment
If ICSR does indeed have strong back-channel connections to the Israeli establishment, it might be an ideal conduit for a message that Islamic State is beginning to crumble – no need for intervention, Russia, don’t worry, the bad guy is going away.
London is the main evil harbouring syrian and taliban terrorusts under british govt.
Anythin coming from liar evil english nation is to be discarded.
Looks like a typical engkish lies and deception.
GOOD NEWS! Glad to hear that Russia is finally asserting itself, actively, over there.
By the way, CBC News today stresses Canada’s dire need for a new military jet. I sincerely hope that Russia will make an offer.
I hope Canada orders lots of F-35s.
Luckily, it won’t bankrupt the country because very few will actually be delivered and those that do will be more threat to the pilots than to any enemy.
That way, Canada will be forced to sit out any potential game their addle brained politicians may try to get them into. Win-win-win all around.
Excellent translation. Thank the Lord for Russia. China could not do this today, in 5 years it will be able to. The Western hysterics are in fact heralding the fact that the West must stop all it’s American warfare interests or it will become obliterated by another 80 millions of refugees from wars of choice..either that or, should Russia absorb all the refugees, which she could do, she would in less than 5 years have a several billion population. Then she would become impregnable, equal to China in people. What a team that would make!
re: what the US military means by “forward operating base” see definition below:
http://www.militaryfactory.com/dictionary/military-terms-defined.asp?term_id=2216
Inherent in this definition is the realization that this Latakia base will be supplied by main operating bases which of course are in Russia. This so freaks them out because as they rush to coordinate their airstrikes on the ground with recon/communication units.
What US General said …”he wins who gets there furstest with the mostest”?
US has 4 options:
1. Declare victory and sue for peace
2. Try harder to assassinate Assad
3. Get all the NATO “advisors” out of there & endure Russian victory
4. Send in advanced weaponry & even more Western special forces to make the op expensive for the Russians. Maybe chem weapons.
What will they do?
5.a. Continue small yet hugely incompetent ploys based on treason, deception and a stealth that they fail to recognize is totally transparent to the Russians – even while they are caught in their own propaganda web and have to support UN resolutions to defeat ISIS.
5.b. Watch their false flags turn into smoking guns until something goes viral one day and the US stands busted before the whole world as a jerk, and even worse, a loser.
5.c. Suffer humiliation after humiliation in a slow and grinding attrition that never quite reaches a clear provocation or boiling point that galvanizes them to action – because they are now in the control of the gamers gaming them, fighters who studied the scam and made themselves masters of it.
5.d. Things will continue to get worse over the years, their “friends” will shun them because they smell….etc, etc. But astonishingly, the fear we all once had of the collapsing empire’s death throes that could destroy the world will soon fade away. Because the Russians are making a new world, with a real peace, and no one is afraid of the US anymore.
Never underestimate an enemy that has more money than the rest. It has always wanted to draw Russia into a war. Ukraine may have been a feint. This is OT but in my mind may have a connection. The Pope, Putin, Xi and a bunch of others are coming to the US soon. The same evil geniuses who are organizing this are also active in Syria. What may be ominous is that Putin is joining the party. It fits his multi-polar mindset but I wonder if he sees the dangerous irony or if he really is of the party? BTW I recognize Putin in the cockpit but who’s the other figure? And who is pilot and who co-pilot? Thanks for putting together all this info into a readable format.
DEBELE LAŽI,!
Not sure why people get so hung up on the MiG-31s as proof the whole thing is fake. Isn’t it true that any significant deployment would have full top down protection including air superiority ?
Hi, first of all, Ide like to send my best regards and appreciation for this website. As a fellow Canadian from Quebec, I really like to have another point of view on geopolitical issues. Our newspapers here are nearly all singing the same song.
Just like Oncle Bob said, it’s so obvious to read into the hypocrisis of western powers when they oppose and question Russia military involvment in Syria. It is exactly what we all should do, helping the ones fighting ISIS on the ground. It only shows their own involvment in the matter, supporting ISIS since a few years. We all know officially they want the Assad regime out, and logically put a western puppet at play. Russia, in my views at the moment, is becoming a lighthouse of hope and courage against western hegemony.
Hey Saker!!
You are now being cited by William Engdahl at New Eastern Outlook (“..the respected blogger Saker”) :)
http://m.journal-neo.org/2015/09/22/washington-has-now-lost-the-middle-east/
The news of the Russian investment in Leviathan was new to me.
But where does that leave the Palestinians on the Gaza strip? Is it ‘Israel’s gift to disburse?
in response to many, perhaps most, commentors here: i for one am sick of the bashing of americans on all pro-russian and alternative sites. this thread is a good example.
many americans cannot afford to move to other countries. we are also all paying taxes whether we like it or not. it is taken from our paychecks before we receive them, it is added to what we buy in the stores, we cant license our cars without paying more taxes, if we own our house we have to pay a tax on that or it is confiscated. the list goes on and on. it is not up to us. and any who try to resist put themselves in extreme danger of a police encounter. here, cops can beat, torture, or kill you and always get away with it. always. this is a scary place to live and we the populace have no control. the voting is all rigged, as was proven by bev harris ( look up a documentary called hacking democracy). we have no say at all in the governments doings, especially on a federal level. most americans are just normal people, and consider politicians to be corrupt warmongers. blaming all citizens of a country for what its oligarchical government does is xenophobic and ignorant.
and by the way, drink distilled water to avoid fluoride.
http://fluoridealert.org/content/top_ten/