Russia Says It Will Ship Missiles to Syria

[David__77]

Source: Wall Street Journal

Moscow plans to deliver already contracted ground-to-air missile systems to Syria, Russian officials said Friday, pressing ahead with an arms transfer that U.S. officials say could significantly strengthen Damascus's ability to ward off an attack.

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"Russia is not planning to sell. Russia already sold them a long time ago. It has signed the contracts and is completing deliveries, in line with the agreed contracts, of equipment that is anti-aircraft technology," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters in Warsaw.

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"We're supplying the legitimate regime that doesn't violate any international agreements," Mr. Putin said last month, renewing his calls for an arms embargo on all sides in the conflict.

The U.S. and allied powers have increasingly discussed in recent weeks military action without a U.N. mandate in support of Syria rebels. Russia analysts said the Kremlin's threat to sell anti-aircraft weapons complicate any Western planning for military strikes and could amount to a Russian veto on such action.

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324059704578475382014483030.html

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These are not the type of weapons used to fight Syria's civil war. These weapons will help prevent foreign intervention that would heighten the risk of the war spreading throughout the region.

[PatrynXX]

1. it's sticky area in contracts

can't pick and choose

there'd be a ton of things that would go wrong if they didn't come through on a contract

[hack89]

2. Purely symbolic

high tech systems like these require extensive operator training before their operators gain even basic proficiency. The Syrian's don't have the time.

[John2]

4. You an expert on

Russian weapon systems? If they bought missile systems, they probably already had the prior training on them. When I was in the U.S. military, my specialty was in missile systems. we trained prior to any new system that was coming into the Army. All professional Armies operate that way. Everything is tested before the Army buy the system, so they know exactly what they are buying from the seller. I was trained on every new weapon system coming in the Army and then I trained other troops. Usually the officers and NCOs get the training first. The Russians probably already trained them on it when they sold it to them.

[hack89]

5. No - just on US Navy missile systems

the Syrians are in the midst of a bloody civil war that has completely dislocated their entire military structure. The notion that they can integrate complex missile systems in a short period of time in such a manner that it has any strategic impact is nonsense. They don't have an intact command and control infrastructure to even integrate these systems into. They might have some local tactical impact but this is not some game changing strategic capability.

This is merely Russia trying to remain relevant in the region.

[John2]

7. Did the article indicate, they

were additional weapon systems already in the system or an entirely new system? Supposedly Syria already has a complex missile system in place. If I can get information, I like to look at what the other side is doing. The Syrians claimed that they move more complex missile systems nearer the border, in case Israel attacked again. I guess they are claiming Israe caught them off guard with their recent attack. Everyone is saying their missile system might not be as good as people thought but you do have to account for other reasons. I was surprised the Syrian airforce did not try to intercept the Israeli airforce and thought they might had been knocked out. That is not the case though because they used their Air Force in a recent offensive against the opposition. It is not just Russia supplying weaponsystems either. People totally discount the Iranians and their suppliers also through the pipeline to Syria.

[Steviehh]

14. Syria air force

Missiles were launched from Lebanon. IAF did not fly into Syria.

[David__77]

6. I would actually doubt the training has already happened for the most part.

Russia will send trainers to go along with the equipment under the contract terms. There are currently Russians filling that role in Syria.

However, the important thing is that this will help politically defuse the attempts from some quarters to swindle Obama into making the grave error of intervening militarily.

[John2]

8. I certainly hope so,

because the U.S. could be getting into a trap, they can't get out of. I think people are very gullible to dismiss what the other side is planning. I do not trust any of them because they want to see the U.S. fail. Everybody is focusing on one Arab leader, but it is more than one leader within the Hemisphere want to see the U.S. bought down to size because of what they perceive to be the arrogance in Washington. I donot trust Russia,China or Pakistan. Considering front runner for Pakistan's next leader wants to break ties with the United States. People are taking the Iranians lightly too, but I think they are plotting. If the Iranian Government was so isolated, where did they get the influence to call at least 40 countries in a private meeting to Tehran to discuss the issue? What I found the significance in was the exclusion of some countries in the region but Pakistan was included. They excluded certain countries like India and Turkey, and certain countries supporting the opposition. Iran supreme leader also issued a threat to Jordan's leader if he intefered. You see no reports of that in the Western media. And there was no reports of jordan expelling an Israeli ambassador after Iran's ultimatin to them. I think they are caught twixt and between of angering both sides.

[Ghost Dog]

12. That's very interesting. Thanks.

Yours is the first report I've seen on these weighty matters.

[Steviehh]

15. Iran

I've been waiting for Israel to threaten Iran again, then strike. This could easily unite Syria, Lebanon and Iran into the conflict. Clearing out the Western threat to the area is possible, with the bonus being that they clear out Syrian rebels. Al Quds could roll right up to the Golan and threaten their true objective.

Netanyahoo should have sat down and shut up awhile ago. Now the US and Israel are deeply embroiled in this conflict.

Just as we pivoted to Asia.

[riderinthestorm]

3. More heavy weapons in the region isn't great but honestly, I don't have a problem with this.

Russia's trying to balance the players - Sunni v Shia. The region's going up in flames anyway imho, anti-aircraft missiles are important but not necessarily key when this battle is really going to happen on the ground, down and dirty.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

9. It has signed the contracts and is completing deliveries, in line with the agreed contracts...

Oh sure,..because a contract is a contract is a contract.

[Mr. X]

10. Good for Russia!

I think that it's good that Russia has enough honor to stay true to previous agreements, despite other persons trying to convince them not to.

[SCVDem]

11. Wild Weasels

Time to test our latest anti-radiation technology. (Anti-radar)

I wonder if Russia gave us the operating algorithims?

Todays Weasels are F-16CJ.

[jakeXT]

13. What version is it? Is it the same PMU-1 version they already have and Israel has figured out thanks

to Cyprus?

[RedstDem]

16. the russians need to sell them the good stuff

good enough that they can defend themselves from israel.

[Pterodactyl]

17. Reset! Reset! Reset!