ISIS on the offensive in Iraq

[CrossLOPER]

So, whom are we supposed to attack and whom to arm? The Free or the Democratic guys? Who are the terrorists and who the partisans, for god's sake?!

The freedomest ones.

[Kralizec]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern...orces#Vehicles

You mean all those modern Patton tanks would stop them for long?
Of course they would suffer serious casualties, even the Pattons are not a complete pushover, but I was comparing this to an evasion of the EU, so...

The bulk of Russia's armory consists of T-72 and T-80 tanks. Granted those are modernized and are not as crappy as some would believe, but the Patton tanks still used by Turkey and others have also been heavily pimped.

In a dick measuring contest between Turkey and Russia the latter would obviously win, but Putin isn't stupid and he's not going to attack a NATO country in retaliation for a single jet fighter. Even if Turkey wasn't a NATO member it would not be worth it. Things will stay flaccid.

Allthough if Turkey weren't a NATO member and got into a fight with Russia, I would not root for either of them. Both countries are run by complete scumbags. Most NATO countries dissaprove when al-Assad kills civilians, but Erdogan is bothered because most of those happen to be Sunni muslims, and more than a few Turkic.

I don't even understand anymore why the "Assad question" is discussed at all, or why people such as Hollande are so determined to get rid of him. I can understand the argument that a peace settlement with al-Assad remaining isn't workable because more than half of the country hates him, but at the same time it's clear that the Syrian state isn't going to collapse any time soon. Even now the Syrian state is still the biggest player in that quagmire and any sort of peace settlement will need its support. And by that I mean the support of the military and the bureaucracy, which is held together mostly by its loyalty to al-Assad and his family.

[Montmorency]

In a dick measuring contest between Turkey and Russia the latter would obviously win

Those of you who believe this seem to be looking at raw counts of available materiel and troops, which is rather stupid; for example, it suggests that the United States would have a good shot at conquering Russia.

War is not like a game of RISK, in which 8 chits against 5 chits by definition results in total victory for the former. Militaries have to cover actual ground to get to their enemy and their enemy's strategic places, unless you figure that wars are about to be fought entirely by Space Marines coming down on in drop-pods.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

There's the question of quality of personnel, too.

[Kralizec]

Those of you who believe this seem to be looking at raw counts of available materiel and troops, which is rather stupid; for example, it suggests that the United States would have a good shot at conquering Russia.

War is not like a game of RISK, in which 8 chits against 5 chits by definition results in total victory for the former. Militaries have to cover actual ground to get to their enemy and their enemy's strategic places, unless you figure that wars are about to be fought entirely by Space Marines coming down on in drop-pods.

All true, an invasion/occupation wouldn't work. I didn't mean to imply so, but I guess my bit about tanks gave that impression.

What it boils down to: if the gloves where off, could Russia deter Turkey from interfering in Syria again and tolerate the occasional violation of its airspace? Assuming that NATO wouldn't intervene, yes they could.

Russia would simply pull their reserve aircraft out of storage and move them into position to attack Turkey. No need for land forces to cross any uninvolved countries. The quality of Russia's navy in the Black sea doesn't matter that much, either. Realisticly Russia doesn't want to resort to this, but Turkey wants it even less, because it couldn't fight them off.

EDIT: I don't think hypothetical dick contests are important though, because it's not going to happen anyway. You should all be glorifying the exalted ruler Assad and debate wether he should rule for 40 more years. Or not.

[Myth]

In all fairness pulling the reserve aircraft and bombing Turkey sounds bad too. Static defences will mean russian planes being shot down. An expensive endeavour for little gain. Bombing anything other than ragheads is pointless, unless you supplement it with a ground based invasion. Otherwise you're basically feeding jets to the enemy SAM sites.

[Idaho]

Neither Russia nor Turkey have any interest whatsoever in an armed conflict. It's all just posturing.

[Sarmatian]

Syrian rebels in Homs strike a deal with the government to leave Homs.

In the next two months the rebels will leave the last areas of Homs they were controlling, bringing the "capital of the revolution" fully under government control for the first time since the conflict erupted. The agreement also specifies that only the police, and not the army may enter that quarter of the city, and an exchange of prisoners will also follow.

[Shaka_Khan]

This was uploaded last year so I assume that the numbers would be higher now.

[Montmorency]

Interesting video. At first I was confused about where (in the room) she was speaking from.

[Husar]

Those of you who believe this seem to be looking at raw counts of available materiel and troops, which is rather stupid; for example, it suggests that the United States would have a good shot at conquering Russia.

War is not like a game of RISK, in which 8 chits against 5 chits by definition results in total victory for the former. Militaries have to cover actual ground to get to their enemy and their enemy's strategic places, unless you figure that wars are about to be fought entirely by Space Marines coming down on in drop-pods.

Drop pods? Ekranoplans!



Why attack over land if you have a sea-capable craft that can go >500km/h, can transport 1000 troops or several tanks and other vehicles/cargo and is invisible to radar? So no, they do not have to cover ground, they can also cover sea and air.
(that they don't really have any operational ones is beside the point, mind you!!!)

Or why don't you just land in Antalya like this?



You know I've been told by a lot of people, that you can achieve everything as long as you want it enough!
Your communist defeatism cannot infect me.

[drone]

unless you figure that wars are about to be fought entirely by Space Marines coming down on in drop-pods.

It would be the Turks doing the drops, the Emperor is from Anatolia after all...

[Sarmatian]

Or why don't you just land in Antalya like this?

If I landed in Antalya, I couldn't be bothered to conquer Turkey. I'd just conquer the beach.

[Myth]

Just let your pretty serbian girlfriend take a walk through a turkish marketplace without supervision, then you'll want to remove kebab.

[Gilrandir]

Syrian rebels in Homs strike a deal with the government to leave Homs.

In the next two months the rebels will leave the last areas of Homs they were controlling, bringing the "capital of the revolution" fully under government control for the first time since the conflict erupted. The agreement also specifies that only the police, and not the army may enter that quarter of the city, and an exchange of prisoners will also follow.

It means nothing. Two months is too long a time needed (I'm sure) by both sides for a respite. Remember the Minsk agreements. Such protracted agreements tend to be overlooked and violated at the most propitious moment by the side which deems itself ready. Especially if we know how quickly the situation can take a U-turn.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

It would be the Turks doing the drops, the Emperor is from Anatolia after all...

He doesn't wear purple, he's NOT the Emperor.

[Greyblades]

[Idaho]

With so many interested parties having involvement in Syria, can't we all at least agree that whatever solution we come to, it's not going to be for the actual Syrians to decide on?

Preferred solutions:

America - like Kansas, but with more brown people. But can we have one of those democracies where there isn't any elections?
UK - er.. ok.. is Kansas anything like Surrey?
France - We want it just like it was in the 60s
Saudi - Tin pot Sunni dictator beholden to us please
Turkey - Don't care as long as it's stable and the north of the country is entirely uninhabited
Iran - Like Iraq, but without any Sunnis, or war, or like Iraq
Iraq - What he said, but said differently.
Israel - It will always be a threat to us, especially when it is either less or more of a threat

[Gilrandir]

It seems that ISIS is on the offensive in one more country:
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/w...cle4633105.ece

And on Putin's successes in Syria:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/02/op...ollection&_r=1

[Sarmatian]

US bombed Syrian army camp.

This has the potential to get ugly. On purpose or a mistake?

[Gilrandir]

US bombed Syrian army camp.

This has the potential to get ugly. On purpose or a mistake?

The same words were heard when the Crimea was annaexed or when the Russian bomber was brought down. Ugly will have to wait. For a couple hundred years.

[Fragony]

US bombed Syrian army camp.

This has the potential to get ugly. On purpose or a mistake?

I'd put my money on the latter. But really, can it get more uglier than it already is. Such a mess.

[Gilrandir]

But really, can it get more uglier than it already is.

Are you sure?

http://www.dailysabah.com/diplomacy/...n-fm-cavusoglu

[Fragony]

Are you sure?

http://www.dailysabah.com/diplomacy/...n-fm-cavusoglu

of course I'm not sure, who is or can be

[Fragony]

Kinda brilliant http://nieuws.tpo.nl/2015/12/08/vide...-nep-executie/ (vid)

Don't worry about watching the video, nothing ugly. IS isn't the only one who is good at making video's.

[Greyblades]

I think I get the general gist but I cant read dutch, what's going on?

[Fragony]

I think I get the general gist but I cant read dutch, what's going on?

Fake execution

Sorry, should have posted explantion with it. These IS militants think they are going to be executed but they are just let go after they got a lecture. It's pretty brilliant imho. Instead of killing them they take of their bivak-masks and unchain their captives and just let them go unharmed. Nice act of chivalry imho.

[Greyblades]

Brilliant if it works. But it will be interesting to see how it plays out, I dont think we have much of a precident using that tactic on religious extremists.

[Fragony]

We do got it, but I'm not sure about actually usiing it but there is nothing I would like about myself