The Iraqi Nightmare

[kalniel]

But how is that in Russia's interest?

They're defending an ally that also has the support of several other anti-US block countries. Russia wants more support on the international stage so it can do more things like Crimea. If they step in and force out US involvement in this region they win themselves a whole bunch of votes.

[peterb]

This is really a new topic - I'm minded to break it out into a new thread...unless there is a good reason not to...

[kalniel]

This is really a new topic - I'm minded to break it out into a new thread...unless there is a good reason not to...

Be fair enough to, IMHO, unless this is a catch-all regional thread (which is mostly interrelated I guess).

[TooNice]

I don't mind, but despite the title of the thread mentioning Iraq, from the first post onward, it has mainly been about ISIS. In which case it involves Syria just as much as Iraq (actually, it is probably more complicated in Syria as there are many more parties involved). Officially, Russia's recent involvement is also to target ISIS, though the coalition isn't buying it. The nightmares is not just about ISIS's actions (though their acts of destroying world heritage is just one more thing they've been engaging in recent months) but the entire geopolics of the region in my opinion.

[HalloweenJack]

They're defending an ally that also has the support of several other anti-US block countries. Russia wants more support on the international stage so it can do more things like Crimea. If they step in and force out US involvement in this region they win themselves a whole bunch of votes.

they bomb the crap out of ISIS and the house of saud will be rather not impressed with them

[kalniel]

they bomb the crap out of ISIS and the house of saud will be rather not impressed with them

They're not anyway - they're already US allies so no point the Russians trying to curry favour with them.

[TooNice]

The latest attack on Paris is truly awful but what seem to have gone undiscussed is the Metrojet Flight 9268 two weeks ago also believed to be a terror attack.

I said a few posts back that Russia's involvement in Syria will put them in the crosshair of terror groups, though I didn't think it would happen so soon (assuming it was a terror attack).

One thing I found notable is that Turkey and most Western goverments have accused Russia of targetting mostly moderates and barely on ISIS.. Yet if this was, as claimed, an ISIS attack, it would seem that they have done enough to attract a fast retaliation.

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend" doesn't seem apply here. This is not just a military but also a political and diplomatic quagmire.

[gni2]

Its sad too many people are dying