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  1. #1
    Member Member Crandar's Avatar
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    Default Re: ISIS on the offensive in Iraq

    Quote Originally Posted by ICantSpellDawg View Post
    Additionally, Crandar, there are still rebels in Homs generally, in towns outside of the city. From what I understand there is still rebel presence & pretty fierce fighting in these places.
    As I said, they (including ISIL) have a small presence in the suburbs of the town. The opposition in the city of Homs has been completely eradicated, they didn't retreat, no. Thousands of them were either killed or captured, since the Syrian Army made a surprising encirclement.

    Currently, I would say that taking Homs is the most difficult task for the opposition, with the exception of Lattakia. They are simply inexistent and keep in mind that they disastrously failed to even capture Daraa, a city very sympathetic towards sunni extremism and sunder siege by a large group of rebels directly equipped from USA.

    Quote Originally Posted by ICantSpellDawg View Post
    Would Turkish control over these regions short of annexation be a bad thing?
    It would be, because it would signify the ethnic cleansing of Arabs or Kurds. Turkey has already assimilated Alexandretta (having incorporated it in the early 20th century), in spite of the fact that there were no Turks at all.
    Last edited by Crandar; 11-22-2015 at 10:53.

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    Part-Time Polemic Senior Member ICantSpellDawg's Avatar
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    Default Re: ISIS on the offensive in Iraq

    Quote Originally Posted by Crandar View Post
    It would be, because it would signify the ethnic cleansing of Arabs or Kurds. Turkey has already assimilated Alexandretta (having incorporated it in the early 20th century), in spite of the fact that there were no Turks at all.
    You think that Turks, when given nominal defensive control over the North - but not to occupy the Kurdish territory - would exterminate and cleanse Arabs? I dont think this is a realistic fear at the moment.
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  3. #3
    Member Member Crandar's Avatar
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    Default Re: ISIS on the offensive in Iraq

    Well, they haven't hesitated to arm the ex-ally of ISIL, Al-Nusra or Al-Qaeda of Syria.

    Speaking of Al-Qaeda, a video has been uploaded, where the terrorist commander of Al-Nusra thanks the moderate commander of FSA, for giving him TOWs.

    Not that they need them, considering that Saudi Arabia arms them directly, but it's alright, guys, they don't belong to the Axis of Evil.

    http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/28444/53/

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    master of the pwniverse Member Fragony's Avatar
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    Default Re: ISIS on the offensive in Iraq

    Might be bad, Turkey admitted they shot down a Russian jet, but it wasn't flying over Turkish territory. Putin is probably not able to sell a diplomatic solution back home, he would look weak. Bad idea in Russia
    Last edited by Fragony; 11-24-2015 at 10:33.

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    Default Re: ISIS on the offensive in Iraq

    After reading about it...I'm still not sure what happened:

    http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34907983
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    master of the pwniverse Member Fragony's Avatar
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    Default Re: ISIS on the offensive in Iraq

    Quote Originally Posted by HopAlongBunny View Post
    After reading about it...I'm still not sure what happened:

    http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34907983
    Don't we all. If Russia flew over Turkey Turkey did nothing wrong, If they didn't things are getting even more complicated.

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    Horse Archer Senior Member Sarmatian's Avatar
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    Default Re: ISIS on the offensive in Iraq

    BBC article says the plane was warned about violations of airspace. Reuters article mentions an "official" who said planes were approaching Turkish territory and were given warnings they are getting too close, but also mentions multiple airspace violations.

    Gonna be funny. Turkey has its own interests in Syria. Prop up Sunnis, annex the north where Turkmen live, help everyone (including Al Nusra and ISIS) who fight Assad and Kurds.

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    Part-Time Polemic Senior Member ICantSpellDawg's Avatar
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    Default Re: ISIS on the offensive in Iraq

    Quote Originally Posted by Fragony View Post
    Might be bad, Turkey admitted they shot down a Russian jet, but it wasn't flying over Turkish territory. Putin is probably not able to sell a diplomatic solution back home, he would look weak. Bad idea in Russia
    Putin has the benefit of not needing to respond to a public. That makes his actions more predictable in some ways, less so in others- which is good and bad for him.

    I doubt that Russia could take Turkey in any offensive war, notwithstanding their 4x higher military expenditure, and notwithstanding any NATO support. Turkey is economically self-contained and has a modernized military. The amount of money it would cost to do significant damage would bankrupt the Russian State
    Last edited by ICantSpellDawg; 11-26-2015 at 12:25.
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    master of the pwniverse Member Fragony's Avatar
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    Default Re: ISIS on the offensive in Iraq

    Quote Originally Posted by ICantSpellDawg View Post
    Putin has the benefit of not needing to respond to a public. That makes his actions more predictable in some ways, less so in others- which is good and bad for him.

    I doubt that Russia could take Turkey in any offensive war, notwithstanding their 4x higher military expenditure, and notwithstanding any NATO support. Turkey is economically self-contained and has a modernized military. The amount of money it would cost to do significant damage would bankrupt the Russian State
    You are probably right, so far only some economic sanctions, not retaliations on the rotaliations on the Turkoman rebels who killed the pilot. Would still be good if Turkey apoligizes though.

  10. #10
    Iron Fist Senior Member Husar's Avatar
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    Default Re: ISIS on the offensive in Iraq

    Quote Originally Posted by ICantSpellDawg View Post
    Putin has the benefit of not needing to respond to a public. That makes his actions more predictable in some ways, less so in others- which is good and bad for him.

    I doubt that Russia could take Turkey in any offensive war, notwithstanding their 4x higher military expenditure, and notwithstanding any NATO support. Turkey is economically self-contained and has a modernized military. The amount of money it would cost to do significant damage would bankrupt the Russian State
    A year or two ago some predicted he would be marching on Berlin by now, now he can't even take on Turkey.
    Politics are confusing.


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    Horse Archer Senior Member Sarmatian's Avatar
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    Default Re: ISIS on the offensive in Iraq

    Quote Originally Posted by Husar View Post
    A year or two ago some predicted he would be marching on Berlin by now, now he can't even take on Turkey.
    Politics are confusing.
    Turkey has a rather large and modern military. In a conventional total war, Turkey would stand no chance (even with nukes taken out of the equation), but Russia couldn't take on Turkey painlessly, they would suffer serious casualties, and the funds needed would be quite significant indeed.

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