https://journal-neo.org/2020/03/10/us-israel-predictably-behind-turkish-aggression-in-syria/

US-Israel Predictably Behind Turkish Aggression in Syria
 
By Tony Cartalucci
 
March 10, 2020
 
Turkey’s ongoing fighting in northern Syria’s Idlib governorate was – from the beginning of recent escalations – clearly a continuation of Washington’s wider now 9 year-long proxy war against Damascus.
 
Whatever gains Turkey had made in terms of reducing its role in Washington’s proxy war and repairing ties with Syria’s allies Russia and Iran – were clearly less important to Ankara amid these recent weeks of renewed aggression than whatever Washington has either promised Anakara or threatened it with.
 
And precisely because Turkey’s aggression in Idlib is merely one part of the much wider proxy war Washington continues to wage against Damascus – it was predicted that others involved in the proxy war would coordinate with Turkey elsewhere in Syria.
 
Israeli Airstrikes
 
In recent weeks Israel has continued carrying out attacks in Syrian territory. [
 
Recent news has covered Israeli attacks on military targets in Homs – right at the edge of where Turkey’s aggression trails off.
 
Chinese news site Xinhua in its March 5, 2020 article, “Syrian air defenses intercept Israeli missiles in central, southern regions,” would report:
 
Syrian air defenses intercepted Israeli missiles in the central province of Homs and the southern Quneitra province after midnight Thursday, state news agency SANA reported.
The missiles were fired from Israeli warplanes over the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and from Lebanese airspace, said the report, without providing details on the targets.
 
The attack is the latest in a string of missile strikes carried out by Israel.
 
Despite Israel and Turkey often posing as being at odds with one another over political, religious, or ideological issues – both nations have coordinated violence against Syria since 2011 as per US designs aimed at overthrowing the Syrian government – described in detail within US policy papers.
 
US Designs to Use Turkey and Israel as Proxies Revealed as Early as 1983
 
Ignoring the West’s ongoing propaganda surrounding the Syrian conflict and simply looking at US policy papers over the years – it is clear that not only has Washington sought to overthrow the Syrian government for decades – it has sought to do so using the same tricks.
 
A 1983 document– part of a deluge of declassified papers released to the public – signed by former CIA officer Graham Fuller titled, “Bringing Real Muscle to Bear Against Syria”, states (their emphasis):
 
Syria at present has a hammerlock on US interests both in Lebanon and in the Gulf — through closure of Iraq’s pipeline thereby threatening Iraqi internationalization of the [Iran-Iraq] war. The US should consider sharply escalating the pressures against Assad [Sr.] through covertly orchestrating simultaneous military threats against Syria from three border states hostile to Syria: Iraq, Israel and Turkey. 
 
The report also states:
 
If Israel were to increase tensions against Syria simultaneously with an Iraqi initiative, the pressures on Assad would escalate rapidly. A Turkish move would psychologically press him further. 
 
In 2012 – illustrating how these plans were never taken off the table and merely updated amid the more recent 2011 US proxy war against Syria – the US corporate-funded policy think tank – the Brookings Institution – would publish a paper titled, “Saving Syria: Assessing Options for Regime Change” (PDF), stating explicitly:
 
Some voices in Washington and Jerusalem are exploring whether Israel could contribute to coercing Syrian elites to remove Asad. 
 
The report continues by explaining (emphasis added):
 
Israel could posture forces on or near the Golan Heights and, in so doing, might divert regime forces from suppressing the opposition. This posture may conjure fears in the Asad regime of a multi-front war, particularly if Turkey is willing to do the same on its border and if the Syrian opposition is being fed a steady diet of arms and training. Such a mobilization could perhaps persuade Syria’s military leadership to oust Asad in order to preserve itself. 
 
This attempt to create a “multi-front war” amid the current Syrian conflict is a process that continues openly to this very day with news of Turkey and Israel engaged in now direct military aggression against the Syrian government aimed at dividing Syrian forces and reversing Syrian gains on the battlefield.
 
Trouble had also briefly erupted along the Syrian-Jordanian border where for years the US had – just as it did along the Syrian-Turkish border – funded, armed, trained, and equipped terrorists before sending them into Syria to fight.
 
The US Lurks Behind the Scenes 
 
Despite attempt by Washington to portray itself as withdrawing from multiple theaters of military aggression, occupation, and confrontation around the globe there is little actual evidence it is doing so. Instead it appears to merely be attempting to hide its hand by deferring increasingly to proxies.
 
Its relative quietness regarding Syria was recently broken when US representatives were seen visiting the Turkish-Syrian border and even meeting with Al Qaeda-affiliates – the so-called “White Helmets.”
 
The Washington Post in its article, “US officials visit Turkey’s border with Syria, emphasize support for NATO ally,” would report:
 
Three top US officials toured Turkey’s border with Syria on Tuesday, even briefly crossing into Syrian territory, in a concerted effort to underscore one point: The United States is throwing its full support behind its NATO ally in its new fight against the Syrian government and its Russian backers.
 
As always – the Washington Post spins obvious facts – and in this case – attempts to portray the US as merely backing Turkey in its fighting in northern Syria rather than being the primary sponsor and impetus driving Turkey’s ongoing aggression and the Syrian conflict as a whole.
 
In addition to this very public display of official support for Turkey and its terrorist proxies – the Western media has collectively renewed its familiar propaganda war against Syria and its allies through the use of its various “humanitarian” rackets including fronts like “Human Rights Watch” and even pushing bias reports through the UN.
 
Coupled with Turkey’s own use of refugees as a political weapon – once again attempts are underway to cite “humanitarian concerns” to fish for public support and legal justification for even further escalations against Syria.
 
Washington’s Unwinnable Proxy War 
 
This most recent outburst of aggression from the US and its various proxies comes at a time where nearly all of Syria’s territory has been retaken by the Syrian government. Syria’s allies – Russia and Iran – have established deeply entrenched positions in Syria that all but total war will fail to dislodge.
 
Israeli airstrikes – however damaging they are on a temporary and tactical level – are futile on a strategic level. Airstrikes alone will not win the proxy war against Syria without a significant ground force able to exploit them. That ground force in the form of terrorists armed and backed by the West have been all but eliminated across Syrian territory.
 
Likewise – despite Turkey’s large military – it would need to confront and contain Russian airpower to gain the advantage needed to reverse its – and its proxies’ losses – in northern Syria.
 
The conflict will continue to drag on and perhaps in the process Damascus and its allies may be willing to make concessions to accelerate the conclusion of hostilities – but whether make these concessions or not – hostilities will inevitably conclude – and do so to Damascus and its allies’ advantage.
 
Israel’s political isolation within the region and around the globe is – at the moment – all but irreversible – thus its apathy toward the damage its ongoing aggression in Syria is having on its international standings leaves few surprised.
Turkey – however – is giving up a potential opportunity to realign itself amid America’s decline and the emergence of multipolarism. While it still seems possible that Turkey can reverse the damage it is doing to its ties with the rest of the world – that window is undoubtedly closing.
 
Turkey will have to decide if it wants to end the Syrian conflict side-by-side Israel and – in particular – the US – which is in irreversible decline globally – or end it aligned with the conflict’s victors – including Syria’s allies Russia and Iran.
*
Note to readers: please click the share buttons above or below. Forward this article to your email lists. Crosspost on your blog site, internet forums. etc.
 
Tony Cartalucci is a Bangkok-based geopolitical researcher and writer, especially for the online magazine “New Eastern Outlook” where this article was originally published. He is a frequent contributor to Global Research.
*
 
From Al Masdar today:
 
New video shows suspected US warplanes attacking Iraqi and Iranian forces in Syria
 
Al Masdar reports today that fighter jets suspected to be American have attacked Iraqi and Iranian forces in Syria supposedly in retaliation for attacks on an Iraqi base hosting US personnel. Two US and one British soldier were killed as a result. However, firstly, there is no evidence of who launched these attacks on the Iraqi base, and secondly, the Iraqi  and Iranian forces are there at the request of the Iraqi government and are deemed part of Iraqi government forces, so if these warplanes were indeed US planes, this is in fact an attack on the Iraqi military by US forces in Iraq illegally since the Iraqi parliament has asked the US to leave. In the event the planes were Israeli, then the same applies because Israel has been acting as a US proxy ever since the war began in Syria.
 
https://www.almasdarnews.com/artic e/new-video-shows-suspected-us-warplanes-attacking-iraqi-and-iranian-forces-in-syria/
 
“The Pentagon has reportedly blamed the Iran-backed militia for similar shellings.”
 
Airstrikes on Iraqi base hosting US personnel:
 
https://southfront.org/rocket-salvo-hits-iraqi-base-hosting-u-s-troops-photos/
 

 
Vince Dhimos answered a question at Quora.
 
https://www.quora.com/Has-Putin-humiliated-Erdogan-and-put-him-back-into-the-box/answer/Vince-Dhimos
 
Q: HAS PUTIN HUMILIATED ERDOGAN AND PUT HIM BACK INTO THE BOX?

Vince Dhimos, Editor-in-Chief at New Silk Strategies (2016-present)
 
A:
 
The media of the US and its satellites are keeping the West in a self-induced fog. I only know of 2 brave publications that are not afraid to provide a day-by-day accounting of what is happening in Syria and the rest of the Middle East, and they are:
 
SouthFront (https://southfront.org/) and
 
Al Masdar (AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز)
 
Book mark these sites, subscribe to them for daily alerts, and go there every day if you want to know what is happening. It is very complex. Yes, Putin is a diplomatic genius unmatched in the world. But Erdoğan is a confused psychological mess.
 
For example, Al Masdar (AMD) just reported two contradictory items:
 
1. Turkey has destroyed 8 Russian made air defence systems in Idlib. I believe they are the Pantsir systems. This is very expensive for Russia.
 
2. Turkey is pulling heavy equipment from its Syrian observation posts.
 
Recently Russia and Turkey have been reported to be making joint patrols along a strategic highway in Idlib. How long that will last is anyone’s guess.
 
The ace in the hole for Russia is its electronic warfare system, which is far advanced and is making the on-board electronics of Turkish aircraft unusable. These systems reach out over great distances so that if located in the Hmeimim base in Latakia, they can actually render Turkish (and all other) aircraft useless 130 or more km away in Idlib. It would be very hard for Turkey to compromise this system although it tries routinely, sending attack drones to this Russian base, which so far have been getting shot down and also simply jammed by the aforementioned EW systems.
 
But to say that Putin has humiliated Erdoğan and put him in his place is a stretch. There is literally a war going on between Turkey on the one hand and Russia, Syria and Iran on the other and there is no clear winner as yet. Erdoğan vainly dreams of restoring the glory of the Ottoman Empire. He has even said on one occasion: we have defeated Russia in the past and can do it again. But on the other hand, Erdoğan recently made a trip to Moscow and reached an agreement with Putin.
 
Erdoğan, in his blustery speech about defeating Russia, was referring to past wars in which Turkey counted on major assistance from the European powers. Today, Europe is no longer in Turkey’s court. Erdoğan has infuriated Europe by releasing enormous numbers of refugees into Europe, in breach of a contract with the EU that provides money to Turkey for maintaining refugee camps but enjoins Turkey to release them only in prescribed numbers. The EU and Greece in particular have succeeded in slowing this flow to a trickle with a fence in Greece that seems to be holding for now. Erdoğan also stupidly thought he could get the US on his side by requesting that the US send Patriot systems for defence against Syrian and Russian aircraft. But the US is also angry at Turkey because it bought the Russian S-400 air defence system. The US threatened Turkey with sanctions for this claiming the system was incompatible with their aircraft, although their real fear was that it could help the Turks study the secrets of their “stealth” aircraft.
 
Everyone is treating Russia with great care because of its growing influence and its outstanding weaponry. But the situation is volatile.
 

Since posting this translation, I have posted it at Quora in reponse to a question: 

https://www.quora.com/Since-it-looks-like-Turkey-and-Russia-are-bumping-heads-in-Syria-what-kind-of-weapons-can-Russia-use-against-Turkeys-S-400-ground-forces-and-F-16s/answer/Vince-Dhimos

In the following is our translation of an article on Russian electronic warfare systems from zen.yandex.ru. Comment and notes [in brackets] are by Vince Dhimos.
 
There is much debate whether the Russians or Chinese have developed a radar system that can “see” stealth aircraft like the F-35. But as we say in the West, there is more than one way to skin a cat, and the Russians are geniuses at finding ways around problems like this. They have found a way without using radar. (Although it is believed that they have a super radar that can in fact alert them to the approach of “stealth” aircraft).
 
These systems are one of the many powerful reasons why the US and Turkey should leave Syria ASAP. And why Israel may eventually be forced to stop bombing Syria.
 
https://zen.yandex.ru/media/pressattashe/rossiiskie-sistemy-reb-vyvodiat-elektroniku-f35-iz-stroia-5d5392a392414d00ad007812
 
Russian electronic warfare systems disable F-35 electronics
 
14 August 2019
Only lazy people are not talking about the potentials of Russian electronic warfare. These capabilities are being field tested in Syria. EW systems are being tested under real combat conditions. Their effect is being tested not only on makeshift, though high-tech, drones used by terrorists to attack Russia's main military base in Syria at the Khmeimim airfield, but also against Israeli aircraft and other equipment and the so-called anti-Syrian coalition.
 
We have heard repeated statements of American and Israeli experts about the possibility of impacting the the GPS positioning system.
 
Western analysts insist that the Russian electronic warfare systems cannot suppress the on-board systems of modern aircraft. But if so, then what caused problems with the Israeli F-35 fighters?
 
Other experts say that Russian electronic warfare systems “kill” sophisticated on-board electronics even at a considerable distance from the source of suppression. And what is an airplane without electronics? It becomes similar to the famous Russian An-2 aircraft [a Soviet plane used for crop dusting], popularly referred to as the "maize." Electronics controls all systems, from positioning to the operation of combat fire systems. Without electronics, the F-35, however, like any modern aircraft, turns into a mere piece of iron. The only scary thing about it is the roar of its engine.
 
The American publication The National Interest reported that, according to its information, in Syria, the Russian military is testing electronic warfare equipment and special emphasis is placed on testing in confrontation with the modern F-35 stealth aircraft, much touted by the Pentagon. Recently, the Israeli military reported that some kind of electronic warfare system has begun to operate in the Golan Heights area occupied by Israel and its suppression extends to a depth of 150 km. There is no report as to what kind of system it is.
 
In service with the Russian army are more than 50 systems for various purposes. Russian scientists and manufacturers work very productively, electronic warfare systems are constantly being improved, and their characteristics are improving. Russia has become a world leader in this area.

Predictably, the US, most of its allies and the compliant UN are shrieking for a cease fire in Idlib. This is incredibly hypocritical, but that too was predictable. The US did carpet bombing in the Syrian city of Raqqa, killing almost everyone, just as it had done in Dresden in 1945. Now it wants us to believe it is a humanitarian?

The Turks are also crying for a cease-fire. They want to prevent the Russians and Syrians from firing on them as they blend in with their terrorist pals and help them shell the Syrians. Gullible Westerners are easy targets for Turkish propaganda. 
 
The US goal is to protect the terrorists and their sponsor Turkey. After all, the goal of the so-called “War on Terror” has always been to expel Bashir al-Assad from power while pretending to fight terrorists, and that will never change as long as the US is allied with Israel (as we explained here and here, which in turn will never change until the US church turns back to Christ and stops worshipping the idol that is Israel).
 
https://ria.ru/20200229/1565358134.html
 
Residents who left the Idlib zone tell of the atrocities by militants
 
2, 29-2020
 
ALEPPO, Feb 29 - RIA Novosti. Civilians leaving the Idlib de-escalation zone on the territory controlled by the Syrian government told of the outrages committed by the militants.
 
Several dozen people were able to leave the settlements controlled by the militants of the Idlib de-escalation zone through a humanitarian corridor in the province of Aleppo. The refugees were men only.  With almost nothing but light items and documents. The terrorists did not allow them to take their belongings with them.
 
“It’s really bad there – they don’t let us live in peace, they take away the money, they take away the houses, the furniture. They can throw us in jail at any time if we try to object,” one of the refugees, Fawzi Elhaj Jamal, told reporters.
 
These people were able to send their families earlier – before the escalation in the Idlib de-escalation zone. As a rule, civilians tend to move to Aleppo, because there you can find housing and work, enrol their children in school. But militants, as a rule, did not let out the adult men, trying to force them to join their ranks.
 
“They treat us like animals there. It’s very dangerous there. I hope our troops will soon return all these lands to Syria,” said another refugee, Mahmoud Nashif.
 
This release was preceded by the joint work of officers of the Russian Centre for the Reconciliation of the Opposing Sides in Syria, provincial authorities, spiritual leaders and influential sheikhs. At the exit from the de-escalation zone, civilians were met by specially prepared buses, and Russian military police escorted them to Aleppo.
 
In Aleppo, many were met by their children and grandchildren, whom they had not seen because of the war for several years. The authorities promised to resolve issues with re-issuance of documents and find a job in the specialty for anyone who wants one. In the city today, experts in all areas are very in demand. Primarily in construction and industry.
 
Meanwhile, the situation in the Idlib de-escalation zone is still alarming. According to the head of the Russian Centre for the Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in the SAR, Rear Admiral Oleg Zhuravlev, violations of the cessation of hostilities by illegal armed groups continue as before. Over the past day, 25 shellings were recorded.

WILL TURKEY START A WAR WITH RUSSIA?
 
 
Below is our translation of an insightful interview from Komsomolskaya Pravda with a Russian expert on the Middle East. Commentary and notes [in brackets] are by Vince Dhimos. (When have you last read the opinion of a Western journo or pol who actually knew something about his subject matter?).
 
Here is an excerpt from the Russian language site refworld.org:
 
Russian conspiracy theorists even argue that Western forces are helping to fuel unrest in the region. In the more extreme iteration of this theory, some Russians claim that the CIA is supporting the Islamic State in order to hurt Russia.
 
Russian commentator Alexander Sobyanin told Moscow's Nezavisimaya Gazeta on October 21 that Central Asian militants are sponsored by American intelligence. The United States, he argued, wants to foment instability in Central Asia to convince local regimes to permit Washington to build new bases in the region. It is also noteworthy that the newspaper article's author, Viktoria Panfilova, has long prophesied an Islamist takeover in Central Asia.
 
Russia maintains a military presence in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and, until 2005, Russian forces stood guard over the porous Tajik-Afghan border. Moscow seeks to return to those good old days. Russian lawmaker Semyon Bagdasarov [the interviewee in our translation below] -- director of the Center for the Study of the Middle East and Central Asia - for example, has repeatedly used hints of instability to explain why Russian border guards should return to the Afghan frontier with Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. A Russian military presence in the region, according to this logic, is essential to maintaining security.
 
Bagdasarov cautioned in an interview broadcast on radio station Vesti FM in September that the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan would work with the Islamic State to overthrow Central Asian regimes, beginning with Turkmenistan.
 
BEGIN TRANSLATION
 
Semyon Bagdasarov: The Russian Su-24s will not be shot down over Idlib by our S-400s delivered to Turkey – definitely not before April
 
Bagdasarov, the Director of the Centre for the Study of the Middle East and Central Asia commented to Komsomolskaya Pravda on the sharp deterioration of the situation on the border between Turkey and Syria.
 
Igor Yakunin
 
Turkey stated that 33 Turkish troops were killed and 32 injured in air strikes by Syrian government forces in Idlib province. The Russian Defence Ministry said that according to official figures, Turkish regular units should not be in the affected area. UN Secretary General Gutierrez called on the parties to the conflict to cease fire immediately.
 
For comments, we turned to one of the most serious experts on the Middle East, Reserve Colonel and former State Duma [Russian legislative body] deputy Semyon Bagdasarov.
 
- Has Turkey’s on Syria begun?
 
- I have long said it was necessary to show that all these games with Turkey are a temporary phenomenon. Erdoğan proceeds from principles that he spoke about loudly more than once. He stated that the regime must change in Syria, and that Assad must be overthrown. He said that by 2023, Northern Syria and Northern Iraq should belong to Turkey. This imperial principle. Which he carries out. He’s obsessed with Aleppo. The fact that he was given the opportunity to occupy Aazaz, Jerabulus and, especially, Afrin - only spurred him on. The fact that they indulged him regarding the situation in northeast Syria on the Turkish-Syrian border also spurred him on. He skilfully manoeuvred between Washington and Moscow. And he achieved a lot.
 
- Did Ankara ask the NATO leadership for assistance?
 
“Well, that scares us all the time.” Unfortunately, those who are involved in the Turkish direction miscalculated. Why talk about individual pro-Turkish militant formations?  After all, they’re all pro-Turkish there! Ammunition, weapons, spare parts, fuel - they get all that from the Turkish territory. I repeat, the goal of Erdoğan is Aleppo.
 
- Our Ministry of Defence stated that the dead Turkish soldiers were not part of the regular Turkish army, but as part of the groups that Assad is fighting ...
 
- That’s right! You haven’t forgotten when they shot down the Su-25? From which MANPADS they shot it down, along what flight path they shot it down – and who knew about it? Does everyone remember the downed Su-24, our downed helicopter? Which was struck by a pro-Turkish formation named after the emir of Aleppo. We were silent, pretending that everything was fine. [Bagdasarov, who belongs to a different political party from Putin, is criticizing the Russian leadership, including the Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs, even Putin! It is quite understandable. Putin seems to have trusted Erdoğan too much. On the other hand, Putin is a master of human relations. Maybe he can bring Erdoğan around.]
 
And who killed four of our FSB officers? They were blown up by a mine, and then shot. And we all think we’ll calm them down? And this is what it’s come to.
 
- The UN Secretary General calls for a ceasefire in Idlib, our Foreign Ministry calls for compliance with the Sochi accords ...
 
- Yes, neither statements from the UN nor from the Foreign Ministry will lead to anything! One must be prepared for the possibility that even if a miracle happens and we reconcile with them again, this will be a temporary phenomenon. We have to think of something else.
 
- Like what?
 
- Which of our allies there can get involved? To engage not our military personnel, but intra-Syrian capabilities. The only option is the formation of the Kurdish Democratic Forces, the party of the Maghreb Union. According to the Kurds themselves, there are 75,000 of them. They are ready to deploy 30 thousand real fighters. In addition to the Kurds, there are Christians and Arabs. They propose making them a separate corps as part of the Syrian army. But for this, a special agreement must be reached between Damascus and the Kurds. The Kurds are eager to defeat pro-Turkish formations. And ready for action in Idlib. [my emphasis]
 
Turkey stated that 33 Turkish troops were killed and 32 injured in air strikes by Syrian government forces in Idlib province.
 
- What are the Turks counting on now?
 
- They’re counting on the fact that eventually, given the difficult events inside Iran, the Iranian formations in Idlib will be reduced. Well, yes, the Fatimids are fighting there, but they can leave at any moment. Since the assassination of Soleimani, things are difficult in Tehran – and Ankara is counting on this as well. And on the fact that we will not be transferring some of our forces. In this situation, the only real resource is the Kurdish formations.
 
- Is a direct clash between the Turkish military and ours [Russians] possible?
 
“So who’s been killing us so far?” And in all the formations with which the Syrian army is fighting, there are Turkish advisers. Instructors. Special Forces units. Before the start of these events, about 7 thousand Turkish military personnel had already been transferred to the conflict area - almost two brigades! Over two thousand armoured vehicles.
 
- Will our combat aircraft be involved in the conflict zone?
 
- Assad would like that. The Syrian army is weak. Twice as weak as the Syrian democratic forces. The primarily Shiite formations, which are tied to Iran, are fighting there. And without our help it’s all pointless.
 
- Russia insists on holding negotiations on Syria between all parties to the conflict in March.
 
- An agreement has already been reached, which has been constantly violated. If a new one is reached, it will be a miracle. And very temporary – lasting a month or two. Erdoğan is in a difficult position. He has a coalition with a nationalist party in Turkey. Sometimes when we talk about Syria, we fail to account for the development of the situation in Turkey. This is a problem - hence the weak analysis and forecasting. Turkish nationalist leaders are demanding to go to Damascus. Will Erdoğan give in? And remember who won the elections in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir – nationalists! Erdoğan is supported by imperialist slogans.
 
- Might a statement from officials soon come from Ankara that Turkey is fighting with Russia in Syria?
 
Why are they talking to NATO head Stoltenberg now? Turkey needs very weighty reasons. It is no coincidence that a request was made to deploy Patriot air defence systems on the border of the conflict zone ... Previously, German and Dutch systems were deployed there. And who will these Patriots be used against? Against the aircraft that fly there. Does anyone know perchance what aircraft they would be?
 
- In the coming days, will they start shooting down planes?
 
- This zone has already been saturated with MANPADS.
 
“Will it not come to the point that our Su-24s will be shot down with our S-400?”
 
- Not yet. The S-400 is scheduled to enter combat duty in April. Turkish Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu (incidentally, of Kurdish origin), said they, in addition to the S-400s themselves, they also receive technology from Russia. How do you like that?
 
- Will spring be complicated?
 
- Spring will be interesting. My forecast is not pessimistic – it’s realistic. What should the Syrian leadership do? The Turks have captured about 4 thousand square kilometres of Syrian lands. There are already postal and bank branches - Turkish. And Syria must demand the return of the glorious city of Antioch. The Syrian parliament has decided to recognize the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire. We need to look more broadly - generally about the oppression of Christians.
 
- Will all this affect the supply of our gas through the Black Sea pipeline to Europe through Turkey?
 
Those who think so are sadly mistaken. Ankara receives several billion cubic meters from the Turkish Stream at a good price. War does not interfere with business.
 
Turkey posted a video of strikes against the Syrian military.
 
MEANWHILE
 
Russian Defence Ministry: Turkish soldiers were among the militants who came under fire from the Syrian troops
 
According to the agency, in the area where the military came under fire, there should not have been any Turkish units (details)
 
SOURCE KP.RU

by Vince Dhimos 

​For more details, see this story from Southfront.

https://southfront.org/idlib-escalation-is-slowly-pushing-turkey-to-open-conflict-with-russia
 
A confrontation between Turkey and Russia occurred when Turkish troop, embedded with terrorists allied with Al-Qaeda, were fired upon by the Syrians in Idlib province (north-western Syria) and reportedly 33 Turkish soldiers were killed.
 
The Turkish government went whining to NATO complaining that, since Turkey is a NATO country, that alliance has the duty to protect it. Erdoğan also brashly stated – perhaps more for his constituents at home than for the world – that Turkey had defeated Russia before and could do so again.
 
The problem is, the confrontation did not involve NATO. It was bilateral. Turkey and Russia had agreed to keep the peace in Idlib but Turkey’s terrorist pals violated the rules of a de-escalation zone and at that point, Syria counter-attacked with Russian air support and killed some Turkish soldiers who were up to no good, embedded with terrorists. Sneaky Turkey pretended that it was the Russians who violated the de-escalation agreement and went sobbing to Uncle Sam via NATO. But the de-escalation agreement did not oblige the Russians to stand down if Syrians were attacked by violators of the agreement.
 
I suspect Erdoğan, being a conniver, had planned this all out from the start, instigating his terrorist pals, with Turkish regulars embedded amongst them, to attack the Syrians for the express purpose of starting a confrontation that they could blame on the Russians and prompt intervention by NATO. In the distant past, the Turks had always managed, in their confrontations with Russia, to secure European military intervention on their behalf. But that was then. Apparently Erdoğan has not noticed that Russia is now a nuclear power that is off limits to the US and its alliance. This shows what a knuckle-dragger Erdoğan is. How he could have imagined that the US-led alliance would get involved in a military confrontation with Russia is beyond me.
 
Russia and Syria will continue to defend the integrity of Syria. Russia keeps reminding Turkey that it intends to do that. Maybe Erdoğan will start paying attention now?

PS: Though I usually stick up for Putin, I must admit, I think he was naive to enter into an alliance with shifty Erdoğan. I could see this coming. On the other hand, Putin is always prepared for the worst and knows the power of his armed forces.

Vince Dhimos answered a question at Quora.
 
https://www.quora.com/Why-did-Putin-recently-make-a-ridiculous-claim-that-the-Russian-military-is-unmatched/answer/Vince-Dhimos
 
WHY DID PUTIN RECENTLY MAKE A RIDICULOUS CLAIM THAT THE RUSSIAN MILITARY IS UNMATCHED?

Vince Dhimos, Editor-in-Chief at New Silk Strategies (2016-present)
 
Well, since you asked about a ridiculous claim, I guess only people who think the claim was ridiculous are allowed to answer. Otherwise, in view of what is happening to Julian Assange at this moment, dissenters may be jailed. Ya think?
 
I assume the question was asked by an American, or at least a citizen of a puppet government such as Australia who buys the US Establishment line of thinking.
 
Let’s pretend you didn’t say “ridiculous” and answer the question asked without “leading the witness” as they say in law.
 
This claim by Putin happens to match up with a claim by John Hyten, an Air Force general and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
 
Now if you really think Putin’s claim is ridiculous, then you are insulting Gen. Hyten, who has said that the US is lagging behind Russia in hypersonic missiles and will not be able to catch up before 2023.
 
Here is a direct quote from US Gen. Hyten:
 
China and Russia are 'aggressively pursuing' hypersonic weapons — and the US doesn't have any defenses
 
“General John E. Hyten, the Commander of US Strategic Command, admitted that the US has no real defenses against hypersonic weapons that are being "aggressively" pursued by China and Russia.”
 
Now the next step for the inquirer is to ask Gen. Hyten why he is making ridiculous claims.
 
Ya think maybe he’s a Kremlin stooge? Maybe he belongs in jail too, along with Assange?

In the following is our translation of an article from riafan.ru with commentary and notes [in brackets] by Vince Dhimos.
 
At this time, battles between jihadists and the Russian and Syrian forces are raging in Idlib and Aleppo, the last stronghold in Syria of ISIS and Al-Qaeda rebrandings that Trump “completely defeated” months ago. The US and UN argue that some of these jihadists are “moderate opposition” and are urging the Syrians and Russians to lay down their arms. The Turks agree and are sending military personnel and large amounts of materiel to these areas, supposedly for “peace keeping” purposes, although the Turks have already killed a number of Syrian soldiers and destroyed some Syrian materiel. The US Establishment is scamming you as usual.
 
Many of our readers know by now that the Western msm are simply appendages of the US Establishment – military, Congress, White House (yes, both sides of the aisle support war but some officials pretend they support peace. And some insist that every warlike act by Trump, eg, the murder of Soleimani and his insistence on keeping troops in Syria, is a result of pressure on him by others, including his own cabinet – though he alone chose his cabinet. That is not someone else’s fault).
 
This Russian article is the most important piece I have seen so far, providing details on all the groups fighting in Idlib. It is long, 2200 words, and I recommend filing it for reference.
 
https://riafan.ru/1251597-v-poiskakh-umerennoi-oppozicii-sily-boevikov-v-siriiskom-idlibe-infografika-fan
 
BEGIN TRANSLATION
 
In search of a “moderate opposition”: militant forces in Syrian Idlib. Infographics
 
Sergey Petrov
 
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the main task in Syrian Idlib is "to separate the normal opposition from terrorists." However, is there, in principle, a “normal opposition” on the territory of the legitimate government of Syria in Damascus? Read the report from the Federal News Agency [FAN] about the terrorist groups that operate in Idlib, and why they cannot be considered "opposition."
 
Where to look for "normal opposition"?
 
The defeat of terrorist groups in Syrian Idlib is inevitable, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking on the side-lines of the Munich Security Conference. Northwest Syria has remained the last major hotbed of terrorism on the west bank of the Euphrates, and the agreements that exist between Russia and Turkey do not imply a renunciation of the fight against the terrorist threat, he stressed.
 
Turkey, which did not fulfil its obligations under the Sochi agreements, allowed the transformation of Idlib into a terrorist enclave that currently threatens not only the Middle East, but also northern Africa. Moreover, Turkey continues to support terrorist groups in Idlib, insisting that they constitute “opposition” to the government in Damascus.
 
“I’ll note another item that directly relates to Idlib: The inevitability of victory over terrorism,” Sergei Lavrov emphasized in his speech.
 
Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham - recognized terrorists
 
The largest group that has actually subjugated Idlib is Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), created by militants of the Jabhat al-Nusra group, banned in Russia, led by Abu Muhammad al-Julani, the former field commander of the Islamic State (IS, ISIS; prohibited in the Russian Federation).
 
The creation of the HTS and the puppet "government of national salvation" in Idlib was an attempt to whitewash the jihadists of Jabhat al-Nusra and bring the group to the political level as representatives of the "Sunni opposition." This attempt failed and at the end of May 2018, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham was recognized as terrorists by the United States and Turkey.
 
Al-Qaeda's den
It is worth noting that the attitude towards Idlib in the statements of politicians and the media in the West varies depending on the success of the Syrian forces: during 2019, Idlib was repeatedly called "the last major refuge of al-Qaeda terrorists (banned in the Russian Federation) in the Middle East," although they began to noisily express concern whenever this den was threatened with a cleansing by the Syrian Arab Army (SAA).
 
At the same time, the report of the UN Security Council on the fight against ISIS of January 20, 2020 explicitly states:
 
“In the province of Idlib in the north-west of the Syrian Arab Republic, Al Qaeda-related groups continue to dominate. Idlib province, whose population exceeded 3 million during the civil war in the Syrian Arab Republic, is dominated by a fairly large al-Qaida-linked organization, ie, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham. Today’s military-technical school numbers from 12 to 15 thousand militants and is concentrating efforts on fighting the forces of the Syrian government.
 
Terrorist methods
 
Because of HTS’ methods, it cannot be called “moderate opposition.” The Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists have used the old methods of mass executions, hostage-taking, and kidnapping for ransom have been routine situations in Idlib for several years now. The “secret police” of Julani, led by field commander Abu Hattab (real name Abu Jabbar al-Qasim), exterminated in Idlib all those who disagree with HTS policies.
 
The leaders of the HTS have carried out “purges” in their own ranks: those who accused Julani and his minions of corruption were eliminated. Field commanders such as Abu Abed al-Ashda and Abdullah al-Muhaysini criticized the leader for the fact that the "taxes" that jihadists receive from the local population and the "material assistance" from Turkey, Qatar, the Emirates and other countries are not for purchasing weapons, equipment and supplies, and go to the accounts of Julian and his comrades in Turkey. For this, prominent jihadist commanders ended up in HTS prisons.
During clashes with government forces, the HTS actively used suicide bombers - both Istishhadi troops and suicide bombers.
 
Twitter:
Hugo Kaaman@HKaaman
 
Here's a video showing all 16 SVBIED attacks carried out out by HTS & filmed by drone in Idlib pocket since May, 2019. This doesn't reflect overall number of SVBIED attacks, as HTS claimed or attempted to carry out a total of 28 SVBIED attacks in the same time frame
 
Embedded video: https://twitter.com/i/status/1226180729123549185
 
Militants executed the captured SAA soldiers, often in savage ways - they cut off their heads, crucified them on crosses and shot them.
 
“Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham” cannot be attributed to the “moderate opposition” – this group was created by terrorists, controlled by terrorists and every day uses terrorist methods against the people of Syria. The HTS actually themselves refused the status of “moderate opposition” when in September 2018 they rejected the Sochi agreements and announced the continuation of the armed struggle against Damascus.
 
Child Soldiers of the Islamic Party of Turkestan
 
The strongest allies of the HTS in Idlib are the terrorist "Islamic Party of Turkestan" (TIP), banned in the Russian Federation, a large international group in which Syrian Turkomans and Uighurs play a significant role.
 
“Turkestans” are included in the list of terrorist groups in China, Pakistan, Russia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Great Britain, the USA and the European Union, as well as in a single list of UN terrorist organizations. The Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP) is closely associated with al-Qaeda and has organized attacks throughout China, in the UAE, in Kyrgyzstan and even in Norway. The ideology of the group is radical Salafist jihadism. A characteristic feature of the propaganda of the Islamic Party of Turkestan is the frequent demonstration of child soldiers. The group repeatedly used suicide bombers - in particular, during the terrorist attack on Tiananmen Square on October 28, 2013.
 
TIP fighters have been active in Syria since 2015 and have constantly collaborated with Jabhat al-Nusra and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham. The field commanders of the "Turkestanis" have repeatedly called for the genocide of the Alawites and Christians in Syria, and the Uyghur militants have called for the destruction and desecration of churches, as well as the killing of Christians. Thus, the Uyghur allies of the HTS, for the most part foreigners, can in no way be considered "moderate" opponents of Damascus.
 
"Moderate jihadists" and bandits from Chechnya
Another ally of HTS is the Jaish al-Izza group, which planned the genocide of the Christian population in northern Hama province. The leader of the group, Jamil al-Saleh, threatened to slaughter Christians in Mhardeh and Skalbiya [sic] and destroy these cities. The group’s plans were foiled by Russian intervention.
 
[I need to say something here: the current US regime is backed by almost the entire US “Christian” Zionist population. Now the administration is urging Russia to stop fighting groups like Jaish al-Izza, which intend to slaughter Christians in Syria! The US’s excuse is that the Russians and their Syrian allies are killing civilians.]
 
The "moderate" jihadists of "Jaish al-Izza" received assistance from the United States - under the "partnership program," militants were given TOW anti-tank missile systems. The most famous field commander and the “media figure” of Jaish al-Izza Abdul Baset Sarout, a former Syrian footballer, who openly sympathized with ISIS, was killed in June 2019. This group, whose leaders openly called for genocide, also cannot be considered “moderate opposition.”
 
The lesser allies of the HTS are the mercenaries of Ajnad Kavkaz, who are associated with Imarat Kavkaz, banned in the Russian Federation, and are a large Chechen organized crime group, whose members profess jihadist ideology. In Idlib, the Ajnad Kavkaz militants are notorious for numerous abductions, contract killings and terrorist attacks. In some cases, even the “security service” of the HTS had to intervene – for example, when a British citizen who provided services to terrorists was kidnapped in Idlib.
 
“They demanded $4 million for his release - the HTS exposed the most dangerous group of kidnappers in Idlib,” wrote media sources related to the incident.
 
Obviously, a foreign organized crime group, whose members share a jihadist ideology, cannot be considered a “moderate opposition” either.
 
Jihadists "on Turkey’s payroll"
 
Created with the direct participation of Turkey, the Syrian National Army (SNA) is an attempt to whitewash groups belonging to the Free Syrian Army (SSA). The largest gangs that entered the SNA were Ahrar al-Sham, Jaish al-Ahrar, Jaish al-Islam, Idlib’s Free Army, Sukur al-Sham, Failak al-Sham, and "Liva Sultan Murad." The total number of coalitions reaches 40-45 thousand people.
[The Syrian National Army, initially funded by the US and receiving weapons such as TOW missiles, was accused by Human Rights Watch of committing crimes such as kidnappings, Forced Confessions, and Executions. It apparently never dawned on anyone in the US government that it was sponsoring terrorists.]
 
 
SNA groups have long received funding and supplies from the United States, Qatar, the UAE and other Gulf countries, but in 2017 Turkey took them “under its wing.” To distinguish between jihadists who enjoy US support and other jihadists, the Western media invented the designation “moderate opposition” – but in terms of composition and methods, “moderate” gangs are no different from “radical” ones.
 
"Moderate" killers and terrorists
 
Most of the large groups belonging to the SNA are closely related to each other - since 2011, terrorist groups in Syria have merged, split up and entered into internecine conflicts. Some of the field commanders, such as the leader of Ahrar al-Sham, Abu Ammar, managed to fight abroad, participating in conflicts in Iraq and Yemen.
 
In addition to Ahrar al-Sham, the largest groups of the SNA include Ahrar al-Sharqiya and Liva Sultan Murad, which are widely known for banditry in northern Syria, in areas occupied by Turkey during operations Olive Branch and Euphrates Shield." A large group, the Idlib Free Army, was included in the SNA, but in fact, according to the Turkish SETA Research Centre, it remains under the control of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.
 
“Across Africa, groups such as Ahrar al-Sharqiya and Liva Sultan Murad enact so-called Sharia law and participate in robbery, kidnapping, murder, torture and rape,” said the Rojava Information Center.
 
ISIS insignia as "a keepsake"
 
Syrian National Army militants use the same methods as their ISIS counterparts and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham - for example, Ingimashi suicide bombers, whose militants learned from Jabhat al-Nusra. In addition, there were a large number of “former” ISIS fighters in the SNA units who fled north after the defeat in Deir ez-Zor. The Rojava [Kurdistan] Information Center published dozens of names of field commanders and rank and file militants who effortlessly “migrated” from ISIS to Turkey-controlled groupings. Many of them managed to fight for the SSA, ISIS, and Jabhat al-Nusra, and then transferred to the Syrian National Army.
 
These militants can easily be distinguished in numerous videos and photographs from Idlib and Aleppo - having joined the SNA and becoming "moderate" terrorists, they continue to wear ISIS chevrons, obviously leaving themselves such a distinction "as keepsakes" of the past.
 
All groups that have joined the SNA are terrorist gangs. They are not and were not the "Syrian opposition," and must be liquidated to restore sovereignty and security in Syria.
 
“Wa Harid al-Muminin” is “Al-Qaeda” in Idlib
 
The most radical jihadist groups in Idlib were included in the so-called "operational headquarters" Wa-Harid al-Muminin” ("And encourage the faithful "). These groups are directly affiliated with al-Qaeda and under the control of Julani, who, in their opinion, “played into politics” and stopped following the path of jihad.
 
The largest of them is Taznim Hurras ad-Din (Organization of Guardians of the Law, HAD), which includes up to 5,000 militants, many of whom come from Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia. The HAD largely controls the Wa-Harid al-Muminin coalition, directing the actions of the radicals from Ansar al-Tawhid (Defenders of Monotheism) and Ansar al-Islam (Defenders of Islam). In the report of the UN Security Council mentioned above, Hurras ad-Din [transl: Guardians of Religion] is called an extremely serious threat.
 
Hurras ad-Din pursues rather global goals, not limited to local tasks in Syrian territory. Its leader, Syrian citizen Samir Hijazi, also known as Abu Hamam al-Shami, received the blessing (of the leader of al-Qaeda) Ayman al-Zawahiri to act on behalf and under the wing of al-Qaeda, in the report. HAD, given its size, ideology and experience as “veterans of jihad,” is a growing threat to peace and security at the regional and global levels. Its management plans to resume, whenever possible, external operations against the West and the United States. ”
 
Jihadist unity
 
HAD broke away from Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham in 2018 due to a disagreement with the actions and policies of Mohammad al-Julani. To strengthen the group, the leadership of al-Qaeda sent personnel from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq to Syria. Despite disagreements with the HTS and the accusations against Julani, whom jihadists consider “ideologically stable” as corrupt and sold out to Turkey, the HAD  leaders repeatedly called for an end to internal strife in the HTS for joint operations against the Syrian Arab army.
 
Ansar al-Islam (recognized as a terrorist group by the United Nations, Australia, Canada, Israel, the United Kingdom, and the United States) is a small group that is also part of the Al Qaeda network. The group includes less than 350 militants who refused to join ISIS in 2014. At Wa-Harid al-Muminin, Ansar al-Islam terrorists continue to impede de-escalation in Idlib, rejecting any options for peace negotiations and surrender.
 
Ansar al-Tawhid does not exceed a thousand people in number. The group, led by Abu Diyab Sarin, is also part of the al-Qaeda network, and included immigrants from the Jund al-Aqsa after the defeat of the former group. The terrorists of Ansar al-Tawhid also rejected any format for reconciliation and de-escalation of relations with the Syrian government and entered into a coalition with other groups associated with al-Qaeda.
 
All groups in Idlib are terrorists
 
All terrorist groups operating in Idlib are part of the single operational headquarters Al-Fatah al-Mubin (“Manifest Victory”) and act against the government forces on a united front. In fact, there is no way to divide these groups into "moderate" and "radical" jihadists – they all use the same methods to fight against the SAA and subjugate the population in Idlib.
 
Abu Muhammad al-Jiulani himself says in a recent interview that pro-Turkish formations operate as part of Al-Fatah al-Mubin in conjunction with jihadists.
 
END TRANSLATION
 
Hothead Erdoğan could start war in Syria
https://journal-neo.org/2020/02/17/could-the-latest-outburst-of-ankaras-temper-lead-to-escalation-in-syria/
​
Latest Russian statement at UN regarding Russian position on “opposition” in Syria.
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/russia-responds-to-turkeys-threats-we-will-not-stop-supporting-legitimate-govt-in-syria/?utm_medium=ppc&utm_source=push&utm_campaign=push%notificationss&utm_content=varies
​

 
Vince Dhimos answered a hugely biased, semi-literate question at Quora.
 
https://www.quora.com/How-does-a-country-like-Russia-which-GDP-based-on-totally-natural-reserves-low-technology-screw-up-population-meddle-in-the-affair-of-other-countries-Moldova-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Syria-or-say-other-Shouldnt-Western/answer/Vince-Dhimos
 
I normally would not bother to answer such a question written by a horribly biased person unable to express himself properly. However, this question reflects the mind set of many Westerners who vote and it needs to be addressed.
 
HOW DOES A COUNTRY LIKE RUSSIA, WITH A GDP BASED ON TOTALLY NATURAL RESERVES, LOW TECHNOLOGY, SCREW[ED] UP POPULATION, MEDDLING IN THE AFFAIR[S] OF OTHER COUNTRIES (MOLDOVA, AZERBAIJAN, GEORGIA, SYRIA OR SAY OTHER[S])? SHOULDN’T WESTERN POWERS ACCEPT THEIR DEFEAT? [no idea what he meant by that last question]
 
Your question is mostly an answer and it is incorrect. By that I mean, factually incorrect, though its political correctness is evident. What you say is right in line with the narrative spun by the US Establishment and NATO, which rely on low-information Western news consumers to keep up the pretences on which their aggressive behaviour is based. Without low-information citizens, the US Establishment would collapse.
 
Firstly, Russian GDP is not based totally on natural reserves. Russia is self-sufficient, manufacturing almost everything its population needs, and growing its own food. In fact,. Russia has held the record of the top wheat exporter for several years (the report does not come from a Russian news outlet, but from Reuters: Russia eyes 2035 grain crop boom with $70 billion investment plan).
 
Russia is also the second biggest arms exporter, after the US, and the US is so fearful that it could become no. 1 that it is sanctioning countries who buy its arms — which are reputed to be better and cheaper. This report is from National Interest (https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/russia-now-number-2-military-sales-any-guess-who-number-1-38767), a serious think tank that advises Pentagon officials and other Washington officials. In this context, Russia has hypersonic missiles so advanced that even arch Neocon John Hyten, a high ranking US commander, has admitted the US will not catch up before 2023. So much for your “low technology.”
 
Russia also manufactures autos, including autos made in factories financed by European brands https://www.reuters.com/article/us-autos-russia/auto-makers-flock-to-russia-in-search-of-growth-id USBRE87S0RZ20120829. That was from Reuters. Reuters is not a Russian source.
 
Russia also makes machines of all kinds https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JSC_Russian_Machines
And an airliner https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2019/08/28/russia-aims-high-with-new-passenger-plane.html. That report was from Jakarta Post. Jakarta is not in Russia. The report originated in Agence France Presse.
 
 
Now getting to the Russian “meddling” you mention.
 
Firstly, let’s get Azerbaijan out of the way. There is no unwanted Russian meddling in Azerbaijan, although Russia has a deal with the country that is being upheld. The country trades in hydrocarbons with Europe, and Russia does not object. I suppose you may have been confused with the military incursions in the Soviet era. Today’s Russia is no longer part of the Soviet Union, which has ceased to exist. It is now called the Russian Federation and is no longer communist or atheist.
 
Now let’s look at Moldova, which like Ukraine, has a large Russian language speaking population. And this means, in all cases, that the Russian speakers identify with Russia culturally and are loyal to it. Generally speaking, the Russian speakers in Ukraine (which for some reason you did not mention) and Moldova are of special interest to Russia. The situation in these regions is perfectly analogous to that which existed in Texas around the time of the US war with Mexico. There was a large English-speaking population there that wanted to be part of the US. Now if you think it was wrong for the US to annex Texas at that time, then my argument is not as strong. But generally speaking, most Americans think the Mexicans were abusing the American population there and deserved to lose that territory. The same principle holds true in Moldava, where a region now known as Transnistria is populated largely by Russian speakers who absolutely refuse to be ruled by the Romanian speakers of Moldova, partly because these people want to ban the Russian language in a region that has spoken Russian for decades. In fact, Romania today is one of the most anti-Russian countries in Europe, thanks to US incitement.
 
The Russian side supported the Russian speaking Transnistrian side and fought off an invasion in that breakaway region. This gave the West an excuse to label Russia an aggressor, but in fact, the Russians were seen as liberators by the Transnistrians, whose lives and property were threatened by the warlike Moldovan government.
 
The problem with many Americans, and with the entire US and NATO establishment, is that their thinking is not based on reason and logic but on an “us vs them” attitude. Thus the principles applicable in the Western-dominated sphere do not necessarily apply in the rest of the world. Therefore, the principle applied to Texas supposedly does not apply to regions in which Russian culture prevails. This makes for inconsistent foreign policy that only the US and its clones understands and accepts. This is why many Americans are not bothered by Trump’s claim to Syria’s oil because instead of applying the universally accepted principle that stealing is illegal and unacceptable, they apply the “Exceptional Nation” concept whereby the US is the final arbiter in everything and no one else’s interests count.
 
As for Georgia, in 2008, https://www.history.com/news/russia-georgia-war-military-nato the Russians were provoked by Georgian president Saakashvili when he ordered the arrest of some Russians on unconfirmed espionage charges. Then when S. Ossetia and Abkhazia decided to declare their independence shortly thereafter, Georgia tried to crush the rebels with a military incursion that killed many civilians, but Russia came to their aid and overwhelmed the Georgian forces. This was not by any means a cases of Russian aggression because Russia made no attempt to take over the 2 breakaway republics or Georgia. What most Westerners and the whole Western Establishment fail to grasp is that Russia never tries to occupy a country that is hostile to it or has not asked for permanent protection. Even the Russian-speaking breakaway republics of Donbass that were once part of Ukraine have been hoping to accede to Russia but so far, to no avail because Russia is not ready to annex this territory. Therefore, it is silly to speak of Russian aggression.
 
The problem with Americans and their government is that if they did a little research or studied history, they would easily understand that the things they accuse Russia of are not within the MO (modus operandi, or habitual behaviour) of the Russians. In other words, if the Russians were aggressive toward their neighbours, they would not be Russian!
 
On the other hand, like the Americans, who like the phrase “don’t tread on me,” they do not take kindly to invasion and provocation and will always maintain a well-stocked and updated arsenal just in case.
 
As for Syria, anyone who thinks the Russians are the aggressors has simply got the shoe on the wrong foot. It was the US-led West that created the terrorist groups that all but destroyed Syria (as detailed here on the basis of thorough research: https://www.quora.com/Are-there-any-sources-for-American-involvement-in-the-Middle-East-since-9-11-It-s-for-a-paper/answer/Vince-Dhimos), and it was Russia that turned the tide of the war in September of 2015. Thus Russia saved Syria from Western aggression, and did so at the invitation of the Syrian people. The US, however, illegally entered Syria without an invitation, and that is what is properly called aggression.

Below is our translation of an article from zen.yandex.ru with commentary and notes [in brackets] by Vince Dhimos.
 
As you read this, recall how the US sent an aircraft carrier group to Iran last summer with a promise by the psychopathic John Bolton to use unrelenting force on them if they should attack US or allied assets.
 
Also recall that the US sent an aircraft carrier group to the South China Sea in response to Chinese naval drills.
 
Finally, recall that the US has sent aircraft carriers to the Black Sea, Russia’s back yard, in a “message to Moscow,” and to the Mediterranean to “counter Russia” (counter them from doing what I wonder?)
 
Now the Onyx has been around for at least 2 decades, although it has undergone major upgrades and is now hypersonic, so if it decides to kill a ship, then it kills a ship.
 
The story of NATO and US deterrence of Russia reminds me of an old Steven Seagal movie where Seagal meets up with a badass bigger and taller than he is, who threatens Seagal. And Seagal says “gettin’ scared, gettin’ scared,” just before knocking the badass on his bad ass.
 
The missile in its earlier form was shown at an air show in Zhukovskiy in 1997 so the West has long known about it, and its later modifications were also soon known as they came on line. Therefore, Western arms makers, presidents and strategic planners knew early on this missile was a serious threat to aircraft carriers. Yet, the US still has aircraft carriers on order and really ought to know that they are floating coffins, not means of deterrence by any means. However, US defence, in contradistinction to Russian defence, is not for defending the nation. Back in March 2018, New Silk Strategies re-posted an article which we translated from the German ContraMagazin, featuring an interview with former Defence Department program organizer Pierre Sprey, who helped develop the Fairchild A10 the F-15 and F-16 – an obvious expert on aircraft. Sprey responded to a question on the F-35 fighter jet, the most expensive defence project ever, saying “The point is to spend money. This is the mission of the airplane. It is for Congress to send money to Lockheed. This is the true mission of the aircraft."
 
If you doubt that US defence projects are to throw money at manufacturers (who send generous donations to politicians and candidates), just keep in mind that for over a decade, high-ranking defence officials have known that the aircraft carrier is essentially obsolete, as explained in the article below, and yet the Pentagon keeps commissioning new ones.
 
By contrast, Vladimir Putin joined the KGB at a time when that organization was nicknamed Shchit i Mech, Sword and Shield, and young recruits like Vladimir were proud of that designation because – at variance with the Western stereotypes – they actually saw their mission in keeping the Russian people safe. After all, Vladimir’s father and mother had survived the horrendous siege of Leningrad and he knew well the importance of national security and keeping the bad guys away from Russian shores. That’s the main reason Putin keeps getting re-elected year after year. Naive Westerners who believe the malicious msm may think Russia is just as corrupt as the West. But the average Russian knows that today's Kremlin is their friend. The Russians don’t care about politics. But they are used to being secure and they want to keep it that way. It needs to be said that tourists returning from Russia generally say they felt safe there. I was personally amazed to find I could roam the streets of Leningrad even late at night in the early 70s and I felt totally safe.
 
BEGIN TRANSLATION
 
The US agrees that carrier groups won’t stand a chance if ambushed by new Russian missiles.
 
I have already written on the channel more than once that the situation has changed a lot lately and in these realities aircraft carrier groups, which were previously considered almost invincible and were the pride of the USA, lost all their main advantages at a certain point.
 
First of all, this is due to the development of missile technologies, especially in Russia, which is the unconditional leader in this area. And it seems people have also begun to understand this in the US.
 
For example, the popular American military publication The National Interest wrote in an article that the new Russian tactics to counter aircraft carriers will neutralize all the latters’ advantages.
 
By new tactics we mean that Russia has decided to combine ships with ground-based missile systems.
 
We can say that one of the most basic and effective anti-ship missiles in Russia today is the P-800 Onyx. Its main advantage is that it can hit targets at a distance of up to 600 km.
 
It is also important to note that these missiles are based not only on ships [including subs], but also on coastal missile systems. For example, in the Bastion complex.
 
The essence of this new tactic is that surface patrol ships, such as the new ship project 22160 Vasily Bykov, can quickly find the necessary target and transmit the corresponding data to the coastal complex.
 
And this complex in turn immediately strikes the target.
 
The advantage of such tactics is that the “Bastion” can change its location, because it is a mobile complex. And due to the fact that the transfer can be carried out with the radars turned off, it will be practically impossible to track it.
 
And if the ship from which a missile strike can be launched by an aircraft carrier group is closely monitored, then the coastal complex is a game changer.
 
The "Bastion" will be in a place unknown to the aircraft carrier, which means the strike will be unexpected. This is the main point, because successful interception of cruise missiles requires detecting their launch in time.
​
Therefore, all the bravado of the Americans who defiantly enter the Black Sea, so as to “deter” someone is absolutely useless. They are simply making their ships easy targets for our missiles.
 
END TRANSLATION