ISIS on the offensive in Iraq

[Gilrandir]

“So when you see a difference in appearence between a Chinese and a black it is racism? I applaud your value scale.” And I applaud your total ignorance: To be Chinese is to be a citizen of China (nationality), when to be black is part of skin coloration due to biology. They are blond and blue eyes Chinese, someone told me.

So the Chinese and the blacks aren't any different to look at? If they are one can tell the one from the other. And that is what I claimed.

“RUSSIA'S DOUBTFUL LIKELIHOOD TO HAVE A COMLETE MILITARY VICTORY IN HOT MOUNTAINEOUS COUNTRY POPULATED BY HOSTILE MUSLIMS, not about civil wars between the locals.” Ooh, I didn’t know that ISIL was in complete agreement with the Kurds, the Alawits and others Arab populations or Christians minority (Syro-Chaldean).

Russia claims it is at war EXCLUSIVELY with ISIS.

“You may not be aware that the population of Ukraine is pretty much racially homogeneous (is is racism yet?)”: There is only one human race, so per definition, all humans are racially homogenous… So, to answer your question, to artificially create differences within the human race is racism.

Nitpicking at terms used in their broad and narrow sense. In the latter, I'm afarid, those outward differences have been already created. By God/nature/Aliens. So in your terms they were the first racists.

“ The success of the Soviet army boiled down to holding strategic locations (mainly cities and some mountains controlling the roads). Elsewhere was the domain of the guerillas.” So, the Russians and their allies had (controlled) the rich towns and valleys and the Guerrillas controlled the barren rocks…

and afflicted them in any way they could so that the Soviets had to always be on their guard and didn't feel secure outside their strongholds (and sometimes within them).

“Being successful (as you and others claim) they eventually legged it.” As you pointed out, that was not the debate, but your claim that Russia couldn’t win against ISIL as show by their military defeat in Afghanistan. So case closed as you agree they were not, in fact, defeated.

Legged it =/= won. Quite the contrary.

“This is what I argue is likely to happen to Russians in Syria.” That is not impossible indeed, but even Yahoo had to agree that the Syrian Army had retaken some village, and Hezbollah is preparing for major offensive against ISIL, thanks to Russian bombing campaign. So, it is possible that Russia did play well.

So far it did. As well as at the initial stage of their Afghanistan adventure. But there (as well as in Syria) at this stage was also only airstrikes. Like I said: let's wait for Putin to engage his infantry. And my arguments about the deplorable outcome of such a choice referred only to the consequences of THIS VERY CHOICE. Otherwise they can bomb indefinitely. It will not change the situation drastically. Like Hitler was bombing Britain for several years, but it didn't get him any closer to subduing it, rather the contrary - infuriated the locals and confirmed them in their decision to weather it no matter what.