Carter Slams Russia for Bombing US-Backed Forces in Syria

[uhnope]

Source: VOA

WASHINGTON—
Secretary of Defense Ash Carter has slammed Russia for bombing U.S.-backed opposition forces in southern Syria, calling the actions "problematic."

Speaking to reporters Friday at the Pentagon, Carter said the fighters hit by Russia's airstrikes were fighting against the Islamic State militant group. He said the Russians either intentionally attacked the rebels — which would conflict with their stated goal of defeating IS — or they fired on the rebels by accident, as a result of "poor quality" intelligence.

The secretary also suggested the Russian military did not "properly use" a communication line that was established between the two countries to prevent unsafe U.S. and Russian air operations over Syria.

A senior U.S. official said Russian warplanes had not been active for some time in the area where the U.S.-supported rebels were attacked, near al-Tanf along Syria's border with Iraq and Jordan. That raises "serious concerns" about the Russians' intentions, according to the official, who asked not to be identified.

Read more: http://www.voanews.com/content/russia-bombs-us-backed-rebels-in-syria/3380332.html

[McKim]

1. Looks Like they Got the War They Wanted

Looks like the State Dept. is getting the war with Russia that they have been trying so hard to start. When all of Syria and all its people
are dead, will they be satisfied or move onto another proxy war. How did we get back to 1956 and have Russia as an enemy again?
Ridiculous. Keeps the money flowing to the defense industry I guess.

[leveymg]

2. War with Russia would be "problematic." Aiding al-Nusra and AQ is "problematic." Tolerating KSA/GC

assistance to ISIS is "problematic." Ash Carter is "problematic." Victoria Nuland is "problematic." AIPAC is "problematic." Hillary Clinton is "problematic."

If we really want to identify the "problematic," there it is.

[newthinking]

3. exactly.

But we are not supposed to notice.

[leveymg]

5. We notice.

Bernie's biggest problem was that he didn't seem to.

[newthinking]

8. Bernie could not fight every front in the primary

He may not be reading outside the narrative, or it could be caution.

The war narrative has a lot of people ignorant so far and many don't understand what is going on. Plus he would have brought out the MIC against him.

[840high]

9. +100

[geek tragedy]

4. Russia is propping IS up.

Their goal is to help Assad's strategy of making the only alternative to Assad be IS.

Putin is one evil, cynical thug.

[leveymg]

6. That's inverted logic. ISIS is the creature of Saudi and Gulf states regional ambitions.

Putin may be all those things, but he is hardly Sunni terrorist groups financial benefactors.

[JackRiddler]

7. First he should get the "U.S.-backed" jihadis to stop shooting at each other.

If the U.S. can't keep track of all the Al-Qaeda and Nusra and other insane militias it has armed and supported, so that the CIA's foreign jihadi "rebels" at several times fought militias supported by the Pentagon, how the hell do you expect the Russians to keep track?

Ash Carter should shut the fuck up unless it's to apologize for arming anyone, especially the Saudi regime, and to initiate an immediate process with the Russians for shutting down the arms market in the Middle East.

NONE OF THESE SIDES SHOULD BE RECEIVING U.S. SUPPORT.