Turkey’s Shootdown of Russian Jet: What You Need to Know

[Demeter]

http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2015/11/must-know-facts-turkish-shootdown-russian-jet.html

A U.S. official told Reuters that the Russian jet was inside of Syria when it was shot down:

The United States believes that the Russian jet shot down by Turkey on Tuesday was hit inside Syrian airspace after a brief incursion into Turkish airspace, a U.S. official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Russia denies that the Russian fighter jet – which was bombing ISIS – ever entered Turkish air space, and has put out its own map purporting to prove that claim.

The Russian jet pilots who parachutted free of their burning plane were then purportedly killed by Turkish rebels inside Syria. If true, this is a war crime.

Then – when a Russian helicopter tried to save the pilots – it was shot down by American-backed Syrian rebels – using weapons provided to them by the United States – and a Russian marine was killed.

Russia is deploying a warship off the Syrian coast to “destroy any threats to Russian planes”. Many believe this is the start of World War III. While the U.S. and NATO tried to blame Russia, German Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel slammed Turkey:

“This incident shows for the first time that we are to dealing with an actor who is unpredictable according to statements from various parts of the region – that is not Russia, that is Turkey,” Gabriel said, as cited by DPA news agency. He added that Turkey was playing “a complicated role” in the Syrian conflict.

Indeed, NATO-member Turkey is MASSIVELY supporting ISIS, provided chemical weapons used in the jihadi’s massacre of civilians, and has been bombing ISIS’ main on-the-ground enemy – Kurdish soldiers – using its air force. And some of the Turkish people are also unsympathetic to the victims of ISIS terrorism.Turkey was also instrumental in the creation of ISIS. An internal Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) document produced recently shows, the U.S. knew that the actions of “the West, Gulf countries and Turkey” in Syria might create a terrorist group like ISIS and an Islamic CALIPHATE.

As the former DIA head explained:

It was a willful decision [by Turkey, the West and Gulf countries] to … support an insurgency that had salafists, Al Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood ….

[TexasProgresive]

2. There is a lot of smoke occuding the view.

The 1st claim was never in doubt. Yes the plane was hit in Syrian air space but was it in Turkish air space when was the missile was launched? Those things are no respecter of borders once launched they will seek their target.

The second is partially correct and partially wrong. The pilot was killed but not the co-pilot who was rescued unharmed by Russian forces. The Turkmen Syrian Brigade is responsible for the killing of the pilot. The destruction of the Russian chopper. They may've been trained by the Turks but they are not Turks.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34910389
The Turkmen are ethnic Turks who have lived in the region of Syria, Iraq and Iran since the 11th Century.

They are mainly concentrated in the north, in the Turkmen Mountain area in Latakia close to the Turkish border, as well as in Aleppo, Idlib, Homs, Tartus and the Damascus region.

The destruction of the Russian chopper was carried out by a Syrian group who received arms from the U.S. They would view the Russians as enemies since they have been on the receiving end of Russian bombs and guns.

None of this will ever be crystal clear since it behooves all concerned to well George W. Bush accidentally said it right:
"See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda."

My analysis is suspect but that in your post has a few known falsehoods.

[That Guy 888]

3. Maybe the helicopter was shot down because Syria uses Russian vehicles and military gear

I don't know what specific type of Russian helicopter it was nor where it was shot down, but the Syrians do use Russian made equipment. It's a mess, too many sides, too many weapons.

[TexasProgresive]

6. " It's a mess, too many sides, too many weapons"

A succinct and correct answer.

[flamingdem]

4. Plus or so, the Russians were NOT attacking Isis

They were attacking anti-Assad fighters or.. ? That part is confused.

[TexasProgresive]

5. The Chopper was attacked by anti Asssad fighters armed by the US

It is a very complicated situation in Syria with the Turks backing groups, the US other groups, the Russians still more groups and then the Syrian armed forces. And I don't doubt there are other groups independent of all of the above.

The situation in Syria is the very definition of a clusterf**k.

[flamingdem]

7. We need Mel Brooks to do

a comedy about it. Well in a few years.