I try and keep up with the MEU's and where they're at but got no word that this was happening. This is a jumping off point for involvement...the MEU is not designed for long term humanitarian support. But enough me...this is via Press TV.
Over 1,000 US troops, who had arrived in the Jordanian port of Aqaba via Israel earlier in the week, have headed toward the kingdom's border area with Syria under heavy Jordanian military escort, Israeli sources reported on Friday.This is exactly what we don't need but the Hawks and the Bunnys from the extreme left and right are begging for.
The troops are reported to be members of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Force.
Washington and Amman have imposed a news blackout on the deployment of US troops on Jordanian soil.
US sources have confirmed that the presence of the Marines in Jordan has nothing to do with military drills set to be held between American and Jordanian troops later this month.
In April, US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Washington is sending 200 troops to Jordan to help contain the violence in Syria, increasing speculation that US is setting the stage for intervention in the Arab country.
At the time, Russia criticized the deployment of US troops to Jordan over the Syrian crisis, describing the move as an unconstructive step that threatens to expand the conflict.
Jordan’s opposition party, the Islamic Action Front, also denounced the presence of American troops in the kingdom and asked the government to review its decision to authorize the deployment of foreign troops on Jordan’s soil.
HM/KA/SS
Another freaking war in the Middle East.
That's why the Russians are selling those S-300s to Assad. It will keep the West from sticking their nose into it with a No Fly Zone. The trick is that it would take months of training for the Syrians to learn to operate them, so it would take Russian 'contractors' to operate the system at first.
ReplyDeleteLet's face it, the No Fly Zone over Libya became a reason for Western aircraft to hit pro-Khaddafi forces and restrict the Libyans from dropping a hammer on them.
as an aside, I'm wondering how many t-72s and T-62s the Syrians are trying to buy from Russia. The Russians have thousands of them in storage and I'm betting they have a select pool of mechanics getting them prepped.
Anyone know how many Russian Il-76 cargo flights come in to Syria?
take it one step further. the question is how many Russian IL-76's are flying into Syria from Russia and Iran through IRAQI airspace! a supposedly friendly, and not only protected but supported middle eastern country!
Deletewant to know something that will chill a commanders bones? S-300's in Syria would make all of Israel and parts of Jordan and Turkey no fly zones if they're willing to expend them. everything that doesn't have modern defensive systems attached to it would be dead meat. that means no commercial air, only the most updated military cargo airplanes and some fighters. helos of all types would be dead meat. as a matter of fact i think even A-10's and Harriers would be in serious trouble.
the Russians are holding all the cards and the West is in a box. i don't see a good way out on this one. but ignore me. i'd be satisfied to see the civil war play out to its natural conclusion and pick up the pieces afterwards. this Arab Spring nonsense needs to come to an end. if i have to choose between dictators and islamic jihadist i'll pick dictators everytime. at least they can be trusted to act in their own best interests and aren't on a mission for their brand of god.
Iran = Shia, Iraq = Shia Majority, Syria = Alawite,(related to Shia), and others e.g. Druze
DeleteIraq doesn't want Wahabi Sunni's in control of Syria AND Saudi Arabia with them in the middle. We shouldn't want Wahabis in Syria either and I'm convinced one of the big reasons why the West is involved is to make sure that AQ/Islamic Brotherhood types aren't the only game in town. We're only there so we can influence whatever slithers out of Syria after Assad goes.
With Russia getting their carrier steaming out to the Med AND the sale of S-300s, they are digging in deep with Syria. I'm betting we'll see hundreds of Russian T-72, T-62s, BMPs, Shilkas, 2S3 152mm SPH, 122mm MLRS start arriving via ship. It's all collecting dust and rust in Russia, so they might as well fix them up and sell them to Assad.
And with the BukM2E, Pantsyr and S-300, they will have a lot more formidable AA under which to operate.
Has the S300 ever been fired in anger?
ReplyDeleteThis is export downgraded version of S300. And as export versions of T-72 where obliterated in Iraq same fate awaits downgraded S300.
ReplyDeleteRussia just selling junk to Syria so "families" will get more profits.
Ofc even downgraded S300 is formidable SAM, but only in the hands of trained operators (i. e. russian "advisors"), syrians by any means cannot operate them effectively against modern army.
So ground offensive i suppose is quite possible, again NATO will fight for islamists.