Article

2015-10-06 Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Syrian insurgent groups vow to attack Russian forces

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Posted by Steve White 2015-10-06 00:00|| || Front Page|| [7 views ] Top

#1 Does Ladbrokes have odds on this match? I'll take the Russians & the over...

Posted by Raj 2015-10-06 00:59|| 2015-10-06 00:59|| Front Page Top

#2 Given all the history, both fact & fiction, about us arming the Afghan rebels to fight the Russians what's the consensus about arming the Syrian rebels against the Russians and Iranians?

Seems like an approach/avoidance conflict to me.

Posted by AlanC 2015-10-06 07:16|| 2015-10-06 07:16|| Front Page Top

#3 More than 40 Syrian insurgent groups vowed to attack Russian forces in retaliation for Moscow's air campaign in a show of unity among the usually fragmented rebels against what they called the "occupiers" of Syria.

I give it a week. Okay, two weeks.

Posted by Pappy 2015-10-06 11:30|| 2015-10-06 11:30|| Front Page Top

#4 Russia has maybe 100,000 combat ready troops. Given the number committed to the Ukraine and to the strategic reserve (somebody has to march in parades), how many is Russia willing to commit to defending pencilneck? And what happens when the KIA counts go up?

Posted by Sven the pelter 2015-10-06 14:33|| 2015-10-06 14:33|| Front Page Top

#5 how many is Russia willing to commit to defending pencilneck?

Enough to buy time for Assad's forces to rearm, re-equip and learn new weapon systems.

Enough to buy time for the Iranians to both bring in forces and kick their wavering Hesb'allah subsidiary into their place.

Enough to establish a de facto buffer zone around the current rump Syrian state, perhaps interdict the rebels' supply routes.

And do it long enough for the rebels to start fighting among themselves.

Posted by Pappy 2015-10-06 15:08|| 2015-10-06 15:08|| Front Page Top

#6 do it long enough for the rebels to start fighting among themselves.

Um, Pappy, hasn't that time line gone negative already?

I mean the past is present and future, no?

Posted by AlanC 2015-10-06 15:29|| 2015-10-06 15:29|| Front Page Top

#7 Syria's economy is finished. How will the rump state eat? Live off Russian rent money?

Posted by Sven the pelter 2015-10-06 16:04|| 2015-10-06 16:04|| Front Page Top

#8 How many troops can the Russian state provide for? This is a bit out of country for them.

Posted by Shipman 2015-10-06 17:15|| 2015-10-06 17:15|| Front Page Top

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