no respite from Russia

Submitted by Mohammed Waza Khiddif Id'ullah (Australia), Nov 26, 2015 at 19:39

The only "surrender" the Caliphate is likely to give the Russians, is a face-saving opportunity for the Russkies to leave them alone.

They really are in no position to be making bargains with Russia.

Russia has already systematically leveled Raqqa, a city of 200,000;

I don't think that is correct. Can you list your sources on that? Even the Russians realise levelling a city of 200,000 people - mostly civilians - would have them strung up at the UN where they hold powerful positions.

and I doubt that ISIS dead were more than 2000 -- which can be replenished within a few weeks by zealous volunteers from abroad.

You must be in New South Wales

Correct

At any rate, the US is far more powerful than Russia;

Also correct

and we were unable to hold South Vietnam -- which is smaller than Syria.

Not because the US physically could not do it - but it was hamstrung by politics and having to adhere to the Geneva convention and play by rules its enemies did not.

The Peshmerga? They are allied with Turkey, and hence connected with ISIS.

Peshmerga is an army of Kurds. What makes you think they have any allegiance to Turkey? Peshmerga are the main group of ground troops actually killing ISIS and retaking their territory.

"It is the PKK and YPG who are doing most of the fighting against the Caliphate."

....who are comprised purely of Kurds seeking their own state completely independent of Turkey and Iraq.

I doubt that its Sunni inhabitants will live peaceably under Assad. If he remains in power, I expect vengeance to fall upon the people of Raqqa, big time. Turkish intervention is a real possibility (cf Ezekiel 38-39).

Turkey cannot go on making dangerous unilateral decisions to attack places (or Russian aircraft) then turn around and say 'look, Nato, we're a member, now you have to come and protect us'. Turkey cannot break Nato rules without consequences and if it left Nato - it would be fair game for Russia. Turkey seems to be always acting deviously. The pathetic excuse was offered the other day that it 'didn't know whose planes' were allegedly flying over its territory.

So it didn't check to see if it was French or US planes - and its airforce was so inept it could not recognise the profile of an Su24.

I'm on Russia's side on this one.

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