Would It Actually Be The United States Of America Russia Would Attack Or Western Countries Much Closer?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4396068/Russia-ups-ante-Syria-with.html

I ask this because it is fine for America to act so gung-ho while their citizens can still sleep safely in their beds, just as they did during the two World Wars.

[ToraToraTora]

"the whole of American Foreign Poiicy since 1945 has been that Russia will attac Eastern Europe - hence the american presence in Germany" - yes and that's is exactly why the west took measures to make sure they would not. Putin would not get involved in conflict with the West to defend a little thrupney like Assad.

[sandyRoe]

Putin may be more concerned with the naval base the Russians have in Syria than he is about the fate of Assad. If he has a watertight lease on it, like the Americans have in Guantanamo, he wouldn't be concerned about regime change.
If it ever came to nuclear war between the super powers nowhere would be safe.

[Peter Pedant]

// Wasn't Pearl Harbour a strategic US naval base, and its bombing in 1941 a turning point in WW2.//

turning point ish...Roosevelt wanted to enter the war but knew Congress was against it. SO Pearl Harbor ( this day of infamy ) was a god-send. By a secret treaty, Germany had agreed to declare war ( geddit so Roosevelt didnt have to) if Japan were attacked

Midway June 1942 was really the turning point ( two aircraft carriers sunk )

the one where the Americans sink the Japanese cover for an invasion for New Guinea so the invading troops either go home or drown

The great marianas turkey shoot - Japanese lose 340 aircraft and the americans 5 ( possibly 2' battle of Leyte Gulf or San Bernardino strait)

The one where 'Bull' Halsey is decoyed by the Japanese
and the commander sends a telegram " where is RT-6, the world wonders". Halsey throws a hoolie in the command post and a less senior officer has to tell him to pull himself to gether

or thw one where the Americans sink the largest airxraft carrier ever built

or Hiroshima

take you pick - all turning points

what was the question ? O where would the russians invade ?
we have already covered the choice of " they wont" havent we

[mikey4444]

We should be calling Putin's bluff on this issue.

Putin would be stupid if he launched attacks on America or its allies, because of what Trump did last week. Putin may be lots of things but he isn't stupid.

We should face up to him and Assad.

[ichkeria]

A lot of Putin's stolen billions are allegedly tied up in the US.
I wish Mr Tillerson well on Wednesday but the problem anyone has dealing with the Kremlin is that they are actually morally really no better than Assad. To echo what Tora said: Putin is also a cockroach. So the chances of them being swayed by any sort of moral argument are zero,

[Old_Geezer]

Putin is on the back foot for the first time in a while and is rattling his sabres. I trust he has more sense than to follow through starting a global war on the basis that he failed to stop the US giving Assad a "slap", for apparently committing an atrocity while Russia looked on in support. He's hoping that if he is threatening enough then the rest of the world will back off, but that's not likely. Putin usually plays things more cannily than that, perhaps his grip is slipping.

[jourdain2]

I rather agree with O_G there. Putin didn't expect this, so a lot of sabre-rattling. I do not think he wants a war with America and the West, so perhaps Boris' approach is the right one - to give him a way out with a bribe or re-establishing the G8. If he were to launch an attack, I think it would be to reclaim Russia's old boundaries, which he dearly wants to do, and so it would probably be the Latvia and
Estonia area, quickly followed by boots on the ground. I don't think he wants that right now, however, he would rather reclaim that area bit by bit - as witness the Crimea.

[sevenOP]

"If he has a watertight lease on it, like the Americans have in Guantanamo,"

extremely loose use of the word 'like' sandy, in yet another frenzy like thread of speculation by the indoctrinated. The Americans refuse to leave Cuba, which is against the will of that sovereign state.

"Tin helmets? chaps ? or maybe a drone consul ?

[ichkeria]

Of course Putin doesn't want a war with the west. He DOES need to bolster his position at home after being shaken by the recent protests hence the 'tough' response. All he understands is power. Both the exercising of it and the threat of it.

[mikey4444]

As far as Putin is concerned, Syria is a far away country, of which he knows little.

The only reason that he continues to give help and support to Assad, is because he needs a warm water port on the Med. No one else will entertain him, hence his reliance on Assad.

[jno]

mikey, Sochi to Aleppo is about 500 miles; it's not that far.

[mikey4444]

jno.....Putin couldn't give a stuff about Syria.......Russia is only there for that essential warm water port.......nothing more.

Trump has the upper card now, and Putin is on the back foot. Putin could have stopped Assad using chemical weapons at any time in the past, and still retained its desire for that port alive, but decided not to do so, and therefore become an accessory to the War Crime.

Putin has been made to look the fool here.

[sevenOP]

"Putin could have stopped Assad using chemical weapons at any time in the past, and still retained its desire for that port alive, but decided not to do so, and therefore become an accessory to the War Crime."

What verifiable 'past' would that be mikey ?

[ichkeria]

I think there's more to it than they mikey. It is a power and prestige thing. Syria was Russia's last friend in the Middle East and while yes Tartus is the key asset, it would look a little pathetic if that was all he was seen to care about. As I've said before though Putin has actually been Assad's worst enemy, unwittingly. His support for and latterly participation in his war crimes has actually destroyed Assad's credibility and reputation for holding the country together albeit using appalling repression. Once the people shouted they were no longer afraid of him he panicked and indulged openly in indiscriminate killing. The Russians could at any stage have used their influence in a positive way without in any way threatening their interests but they were too paranoid about western intentions and bunkered down with their man, with the results one now sees

[sevenOP]

" As I've said before though Putin has actually been Assad's worst enemy, unwittingly. His support for and latterly participation in his war crimes..."

What 'war crimes ' would you be referring to ?

[ichkeria]

Just watching our ex-ambassador to Syria on Newsnight. I'm not surprised Farage thinks he could do a better job. Scary!

[sevenOP]

No answers to my question mikey and Ichkeria ?

[ichkeria]

What 'question' would that be lol :-)
Ask a sensible question and I might respond