Russian Airstrikes Unleash New Devastation in Syrian Region

[uhnope]

Source: Reuters

Syrians living in rebel-held areas of Homs province have seen a lot of destruction in four years of war, but say the Russian air force unleashed a whole new level of devastation in airstrikes on their towns on Wednesday. "We have gotten used to two or three barrel bombs a day, but not this intensive bombing which has not happened before," Obeid said.

Jets flying at higher altitudes than the Syrian air force emitted no noise to alert the people below to raids reported to have killed at least 33 civilians, including children. "We have been exposed to a wide range of weapons over the last five years, but what happened today was absolutely the most violent and ferocious, and the most comprehensive in the northern Homs countryside," said a doctor in the town of Rastan, speaking from one of the areas targeted by the jets.

He and others on the ground had no way of knowing for sure the jets were Russian when they struck in the morning. But their altitude, the way they manoeuvred, and later reports that Russia had started airstrikes, with Rastan among the targets, left them in little doubt. Syrian state media said Russian airstrikes had been mounted on seven locations including Rastan. The Homs region is of vital strategic importance to Assad's control of western Syria, linking the capital in Damascus to the coastal area including Latakia and Tartus, where Russia operates a naval facility.

While Russia says its raids on Wednesday targeted the Islamic State group, locals in the opposition-held area say the jihadist group has no presence in the region — echoing the assessment of a U.S. official and the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Read more: http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/russian-airstrikes-unleash-new-devastation-in-syrian-region/536390.html

---

So Russia started its bombing in the one area that ISIS is not, but that is a place of vital importance to Russia's global interests. Russia is killing a clear path to the sea for Putin's regime--that's what's behind their support of the war criminal dictator Assad.

While Russia says its raids on Wednesday targeted the Islamic State group, locals in the opposition-held area say the jihadist group has no presence in the region — echoing the assessment of a U.S. official and the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The Homs region is of vital strategic importance to Assad's control of western Syria, linking the capital in Damascus to the coastal area including Latakia and Tartus, where Russia operates a naval facility.

Hat tip Pampango

[AgingAmerican]

1. So now Russia acts like we do

nt

[virgogal]

3. Nope. Russia is acting like most powerful countries

have acted for centuries.

It never seems to end.

[Jesus Malverde]

2. .

[pampango]

7. Many liberals do not believe that everyone who opposes a dictator is a 'terrorist'. n/t

[Jesus Malverde]

8. We know them by their deeds.

Terrorists or Freedom fighters....always a debate.

[pampango]

14. Indeed, barrel bombs and torture chambers - meant to instill terror. n/t

[heartofstone]

50. Syrian girl sums it up and tells it like it is.

[Kurska]

9. Really

How long are you going to carry water for the homophobic, expansionist and fascist Russian regime, just because they are anti-American?

Did it ever occur to you that incredibly powerful bombs in cities kill civilians too? You'd be howling with indignation if it was America doing this we both know that.

[Jesus Malverde]

13. "incredibly powerful bombs" I've seen the footage from Syria

Nothing like the coalition are dropping in Yemen. Get back to me when the Russians drop some of these, then I might agree with you...

Compared to that I'd call todays attack moderate and restrained.

Here is one of the peace bombs from the "moderate syrian opposition".

More Freedom and democracy bombs from the "rebels", using a suicide bomber.

More from the moderates of Syria, another suicide bomb.

[7962]

17. Really? You post a video titled "Confirmed: tactical nuclear strike..."? Horseshit.

[Jesus Malverde]

51. Your an ordinance expert

Do tell what that was... Other than incredibly powerful bomb dropped on a city? Your deflecting.

[7962]

57. ANY type of nuclear strike would be headlines for days. Get a grip

Why dont you post some videos saying a missile hit the Pentagon next?

[newthinking]

30. Bbbbut... their "Russians". They stink more! (fuck russophobia)

I hated narrow stereotyping during the first cold war, it looks really bad seeing it on a supposed liberal site.

[Jesus Malverde]

48. I grew up when we're were supposed to hate the Russians, then not hate them, now hate them again.

The latest round all coinciding with their granting whistleblower Edward Snowden political asylum. Having dissidents fleeing the states isn't good optics and optics can be changed.

[Kurska]

45. Everything is about America and Russia

Most Syrians despise Assad. He has support of a very small ethnic minority, if you think a bombing campaign will save him you're delusional.

[LanternWaste]

10. Sounds like an accurate reference to Assad and Putin...

Sounds like an accurate reference to Assad and Putin...

[Jesus Malverde]

12. Lulz

[LanternWaste]

26. Whatever it takes to validate one's bias...

Whatever it takes to validate one's dogma and bias...

[uhnope]

38. ...

[NuclearDem]

52. "Lulz"? Are you a 12 year old on 4chan?

[Jesus Malverde]

54. Neocons getting a set back

[NuclearDem]

55. Don't you mean "lamerz"?

I'm not sure why I ever took you seriously.

[Comrade Grumpy]

4. I have a feeling you're going to be pretty prolific in the days and weeks to come.

You know, I think everyone understands the Russians are there to ensure the Syrian state endures. And to knock off some jihadis along the way.

It's way past time to settle this and stop the killing and destruction. The fact is that Assad isn't going anywhere anytime soon. But I think a negotiated settlement with a transition deal could be done. If there is the will. The US hasn't been interested in that so far, although the tune is starting to change now.

[Jesus Malverde]

5. Overtime.

[pampango]

6. "The fact is that Assad isn't going anywhere anytime soon." Agreed. Sometimes dictators win.

The Assad strategy for retaining power has proven to be a good one. We need to concede his victory so the suffering of the Syrian people (at least in overt military casualties in large numbers) can be brought to an end. A future generation of Syrians can perhaps win some freedoms that the current generation will not have, if big countries will stay out of their affairs in the future.

Russian rhetoric that they are there to destroy ISIS, when that is not the main goal, is no more helpful than the spin that the US gives many of its military adventures.

[newthinking]

19. Yep.

Someone will make sure to stir up that Russophobia as much as they can. Even if it means distorting and propagandizing.

[LanternWaste]

27. Or even if it means denying and trivializing.

"Even if it means distorting and propagandizing...."

Even if it means denying and trivializing.

Six of one, half a dozen of the other you see... and both as subjective and irrelevant as the other.

[840high]

59. Always.

[Yupster]

47. Why would Assad or the Russians accept a negotiated deal?

Last edited Thu Oct 1, 2015, 10:19 PM - Edit history (1)

Russian air power and Iranian ground troops will be plenty of power to end the Civil War. The remaining questions will be

1. Can anything be done to protect the Syrian Kurds?

2. Will Iraq allow Iranian forces to chase ISIS out of Iraq once it chases it out of Syria?

On edit, if I was the USA I would be worried about question number 1 because Assad will want to disarm the KUrds once the other battles are won.

[pampango]

64. "Russian air power and Iranian ground troops will be plenty of power to end the Civil War."

I bet Mr. Assad did not expect to need a foreign air force and army in order to stay in power. His dictator dad crushed a rebellion all by himself, with a little help from the Syrian army and air force, back in 1982. Our current dictator Assad probably thought he would be able to use his large and powerful military to do the same in 2011.

The Russian military was not able to keep its dictator-of-choice in power in Afghanistan. Nor was the US able to do it in South Vietnam. Both "succeeded" in Chechnya and Iraq, respectively, at least if you only look at the short run and ignore civilian casualties.

Here is another case of a big, modern, high-tech army showing up to roll over the Third World peasants. We will see how this one goes. I don't think the outcome is a foregone conclusion.

[Yupster]

69. The Russian Army would have trouble

The Iranian and Syrian armies backed by Russian air power will have little trouble.

[Elmergantry]

11. AS much as I detest Putin

for what he is doing in Ukriaine, he is doing the right thing with Syria.
Better a pro-Russian dictator there than an Islamist state. Lesser of two evils so to speak.

[pampango]

16. "Better a pro-Russian dictator there than an Islamist state. Lesser of two evils so to speak."

Hence the brilliance of the "Assad strategy".

He may not have been the 'lesser of two evils' in 2011 but he sure is now. Syrians have paid a high price but Bashar still lives in Damascus.

[LanternWaste]

29. No doubt, Assad's own victims believe as do you.

No doubt, Assad's own victims believe as do you.

[Comrade Grumpy]

36. Maybe 300,000 have been killed in the civil war.

They're not by any means all "Assad's own victims."

There is no denying that the regime is committing war crimes, but the death toll is actually about 100,000 dead Syrian soldiers, police, and paramilitaries, about 100,000 dead rebels, and maybe 60 or 80,000 dead civilians. While the regime has more military resources, there has been indiscriminate use of weapons that kills civilians on all sides of the conflict.

[Elmergantry]

43. So your think its ok to depose Assad

because he murdered his people?

Then getting rid of Saddam Hussein was good too then....

[msongs]

15. great now all those white racist christian russians can start taking in thousands of refugees they

are creating

[Jesus Malverde]

53. Interesting hatred of a race and religion in one post.

For what it's worth Russia is composed of many ethnicities and religions. Your post is bizarre and obviously xenophobic.

[840high]

60. wow - unbelievable post.

[7962]

18. Russia can defeat them because they have no ethics or morals during war.

They dont care about accuracy or civilian casualties or anything else. They'll bomb to destroy everything and everyone.

[newthinking]

20. Bullshit comment

You can't make a stereotyped (and untrue) statement like that without exposing bigotry. You should rethink your understanding of cultures you apparently know almost nothing about.

[7962]

23. "Bigotry" my ass. I have HISTORY to back it up. What have YOU got?

They've shown it repeatedly even in recent years. Georgia, Ukraine, Chechnya are good examples.
Just watch and see. You'll see soon enough.
High altitude bombing instead of low level precision strikes.
I'll admit it if I'm wrong, but I wont be.

[uhnope]

33. crying "bigotry" when people criticize Putin is Newthinking's common tactic

check it out, all the time

Hard to imagine what goes thru the mind of an apologist for that homophobic Czar wannabe

[newthinking]

34. This is a liberal site. If you express bigoted ideas or stereotype cultures expect to be called on

it.

[uhnope]

35. actually, you're the bigot. & yes it's a liberal site, so why do you support fascism?

Last edited Thu Oct 1, 2015, 04:58 PM - Edit history (1)

See http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1017&pid=241735

I have answered this (by someone, unlike you, who was actually well meaning) here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017238401#post14

Whereas you really do show a pattern of supporting a homophobic, fascist government, focusing on support of that government, while showing a wholesale disregard for human rights in general by never even admitting (nevermind condemning) that the government uses homophobia as part of its increasing totalitarian grip on control (a definition of fascism); you even blame the USA for homophobia in Russia. You also distort news to slam the Ukrainians on a regular basis. These patterns qualifies you as a bigot by your own definition.

You've already been given that link above and yet you continue abusing this serious charge of bigotry. You therefore volunteer for being labeled a bigot yourself.

I'm not the only one that has noticed.

[newthinking]

40. People here are intelligent and can make their own observations

I should not have even engaged your snipe. Reasoning with you is impossible.

Buh bye.

[7962]

44. You're correct. I'm intelligent and the observation is obvious!

[Comrade Grumpy]

37. Your passionate Putin hate is impressive. n/t

[uhnope]

39. what's to like?

[Xolodno]

56. It is impressivie.

We've been dicking around there for a long while now and for the most part, may have made the situation worse. Not a peep from him. But the minute Russia gets involved....

Holy Shit on a hamburger! Break the Russia hate dam! Release the Kraken!

I would almost suggest therapy for such and obsession.

[EX500rider]

25. He is quite correct...they left Grozny looking like WWII rolled over it..

[newthinking]

28. War is hell. We have similar pictures from Iraq.

It is better to avoid major conflict period.

[heartofstone]

46. Grozny today. It's a beautiful city.

[7962]

65. Yes, people are able to rebuild. Look at Europe.

The first video even shows its a representation of rebuilding from the rubble.

[LanternWaste]

32. Much as one can't rationalize Moscow's invasion of the Ukraine without exposing bigotry.

Much as one can't rationalize Moscow's invasion of the Ukraine without exposing bias and bigotry.

[Comrade Grumpy]

41. "Iraq Death Toll Reaches 500,000 Since Start Of U.S.-Led Invasion, New Study Says"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/15/iraq-death-toll_n_4102855.html

You were saying?

[840high]

62. ty

[7962]

63. Most Iraqi deaths are at the hands of other Iraqis. Everyone knows that

Which would still be zero if the war had never happened, of course.
But the US didnt kill most of those people.
Another failure to equivocate on your part

[840high]

61. You think US has ethics or morals?

What about those wedding parties we killed.

[7962]

66. Most people here dont know you're joking.

Because the US is ALWAYS equal to or worse than every other country to them

[frizzled]

68. US bombs don't kill: only Russian bombs kill. US bombs never hit civilians: only Russian bombs do.

nt

[Blue_Tires]

21. Where is Putin's fan club hiding?

Don't they want to defend their boy?

[uhnope]

22. synchronity--one posted one minute before you did

[7962]

24. See above

[earthside]

31. Frankly, I'm for this.

I think the US needs to begin a process of disengagement from the Middle East.

Virtually all the actors over there are unsavory, including Israel.

In the long run I just don't see any upside for the United States in getting/staying involved -- we've created enough problems in that region and we ought to get out.

Now, I'm in favor to the US doing what it can financial and diplomatically to remedy some to the problems we've caused, but only as part of a disengagement process.

Let Russia and Iran take care of terminating ISIS; then let the Syrians deal with Assad (if they can). The Saudis are not our friends, and even Israel has become much less than an ally, in my estimation.

There just isn't a 'good guys' side to be on in most of these conflicts, so let's get out and leave them to work things out for themselves.

[nyabingi]

42. It's funny how these organs of Western propaganda (Reuters, AP, etc.)

virtually ignored Syrian citizens until a day ago when the Russians started bombing our proxy armies.

The US can't just come out and say the Russians are killing the people we've been arming and rooting for (you know, the beheading fanatics) because our media played up the ISIS threat too much to reverse course now - not enough time to convince the public ISIS are actually "freedom fighters" they same way OBL's group was back in Afghanistan.

I think this is funny as hell seeing neocons in the Obama regime, the right-wing think tanks, Pentagon and leftovers from the Bush regime spitting fire and mad as hell about Russian intervention lol.

Too bad so many "liberals" have bought completely into the criminal Bush thugs' regime change schemes. SMH...

[daleo]

49. If only they were our airstrikes

Then it wouldn't be devastation.