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October 01, 2015:

Game Changer: Putin deploys Russian troops in Syria

Posted by Vijeta Uniyal
Thursday, September 3, 2015 at 1:00pm

COMMENT: This incredible action appears to have surprised the rest of the world. Or so most of them claim. Can’t imagine why, Russia has always been a supporter of Syria.

As if biting off a big chunk off Ukraine in Crimea wasn’t enough, Putin is now putting Russian troops on the ground in Syria. Counting on President Obama’s continuing Foreign Policy paralysis on Syria, Russian army is reinforcing Dictator Bashar al-Assad’s air and ground forces. Neither Russia nor Assad’s Syria have any real intentions of destroying the Islamic State (ISIS) in the region. Their primary aim is to restore and maintain territorial control.

Emboldened by America’s retreat under President Obama’s reign and the recent rise of its regional ally Iran in the Middle East, Russia feels confident opening up a new front in the Arab heartland.

A story by Michael Weiss in The Daily Beast confirms that Russian troops are playing combat role in Syria. Previous reports from the Syrian frontlines dating back to 2013 had indicated Russian presence amidst the ranks of Assad’s Syrian Arab Army (SAA). Michael Weiss writes:

Russian pilots are gearing up to fly missions alongside the Syrian air force, dropping bombs not just on ISIS but on anti-Assad rebels who may or may not be aligned with the United States or its regional allies.

Several sources consulted for this story said the Pentagon is being unusually cagey about Russia’s reinvigorated role in Syria. A former U.S. military officer told The Daily Beast, “I’m being told things like, ‘We really can’t talk about this.’ That indicates to me that there’s some truth to these allegations.”

Click on Link:

http://legalinsurrection.com/2015/09/game-changer-putin-deploys-russian-troops-in-syria/

COMMENT: Notice the following article, dated just a few days later.

Russia 'is building military base in Syria'

By Rob Crilly , New York

5:53PM BST 05 Sep 2015

COMMENT: So it’s a little more than just “deploying troops”, it’s going to be a permanent establishment! Wonder who made that decision and when?

Russia is building a military base in Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s heartland, according to American intelligence officials, in the clearest indication yet of deepening Russian support for the embattled regime of Bashar al-Assad .

The anonymous officials say Russia has set up an air traffic control tower and transported prefabricated housing units for up to 1,000 personnel to an airfield serving the Syrian port city of Latakia.

Russia has also requested the rights to fly over neighboring countries with military cargo aircraft during September, according to the reports.

The claims, which will raise fears that Russia is planning to expand its role in the country’s civil war, will ratchet up tensions between Moscow and Washington over the future of Syria and its brutal ruler.

Click on Link:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/11846382/Russia-is-building-military-base-in-Syria.html

COMMENT: Then comes this piece of information … today!!!

Russia launches first airstrikes in Syria

By Ed Payne , Barbara Starr and Susannah Cullinane, CNN

Updated 4:09 PM ET, Wed September 30, 2015

COMMENT: Notice the publication dates on the above articles. By the end of September, Russia gives short notice on airstrikes in Syria. Looks more like support for Syrian regime than an assault on ISIS.

Washington (CNN) Claiming to target ISIS, Russia conducted its first airstrikes in Syria, while U.S. officials expressed serious doubts Wednesday about what the true intentions behind the move may be.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, warplanes targeted eight ISIS positions, including arms, transportation, communications and control positions.

But U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter countered that claim.

"I want to be careful about confirming information, but it does appear that they (Russian airstrikes) were in areas where there probably were not ISIL forces," he told reporters. ISIL is another acronym for ISIS.

"The result of this kind of action will inevitably, simply be to inflame the civil war in Syria," Carter said.

A senior U.S. administration official told CNN's Elise Labott that a Russian airstrike near the Syrian city of Homs "has no strategic purpose" in terms of combating ISIS, which "shows they are not there to go after ISIL."

Syrian state-run news agency SANA reported that Russian warplanes had targeted "ISIS dens" in al-Rastan, Talbiseh and Zafaraniya in Homs province; Al-Tilol al-Hmer, in Qunaitra province; Aydoun, a village on the outskirts of the town of Salamiya; Deer Foul between Hama and Homs; and the outskirts of Salmiya.

The official said the United States had no intention of preventing the strikes, but that Russian planes didn't seem to be flying in areas where the United States is operating.

"They are not stupid," the official said.

Click on Link:

http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/30/politics/russia-syria-airstrikes-isis/

COMMENT: So again, let me ask, why would Russia do this? Especially since it would worsen relationships with the west? Is this simple arrogance or is there more? Let’s see what the next article has to say.

Pope Francis meets with Russian President Putin

Jun 11, 2015

COMMENT: So here is the question. What decision was made back in June during this meeting with the Pope, which has affected the actions taken by Russia in Syria?

(Vatican Radio) Russia’s President Vladimir Putin met Pope Francis Wednesday evening in a private audience in the Vatican. It was the second meeting between the Pope and the Russian President.

A statement issued by the Head of the Holy See Press Office, Fr Federico Lombardi said the meeting held between the Holy Father and Russian President Vladimir Putin took place in the Library of the Apostolic Palace.

During the discussions which lasted 50 minutes both the Pope and the President focused on the conflict in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East.

Fr Lombardi said Pope Francis stressed the ``need to commit oneself in a sincere and great effort to achieve peace,'' adding that both men ``agreed on the importance of reconstructing a climate of dialogue and that all sides commit themselves to implementing the Minsk accords.''

Regarding the conflicts in the Middle East, both men discussed the situation in Iraq and Syria.

The Vatican statement highlighted the ``urgency'' with which the international community must pursue peace efforts, ``assuring at the same time the necessary conditions for the life of all components of society, including religious minorities and in particular Christians.''

Click on Link:

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/06/11/pope_francis_meets_with_russian_president_putin/1150645

COMMENT: So many questions today. Here is another; how influential is “Francis” in these matters?

Pope writes to Putin urging him to tell Obama and other G20 leaders to oppose Syria strike and pray for a peaceful solution

Military action would be 'futile' Pope Francis writes to Russian President

By Jessica Jerreat

Published: 08:10 EST, 7 September 2013

The Pope has written to the Russian President urging him to tell President Obama and other world leaders at the G20 summit to oppose a strike in Syria.

The letter was the latest in a series of moves by Pope Francis to prevent involvement in Syria's bloody civil war.

He has sent tweets condemning a potential war and declared today a day of fasting and prayer for peace in the war-torn country, according to Time .

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops also wrote to President Obama, saying the Pope had 'made it clear that a military attack will be counterproductive, will exacerbate an already deadly situation, and will have unintended negative consequences'.

The Pope has also taken to Twitter to push for a peaceful resolution after the Syrian regime was blamed for a chemical weapons attack that killed more than 1,400 people.

He started the week with a tweet on Monday that read: 'War never again! Never again war!', followed by: 'How much suffering, how much devastation, how much pain has the use of arms carried in its wake.'

This was followed by: 'With utmost firmness I condemn the use of chemical weapons.'

Click on Link:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2414901/Pope-writes-Putin-urging-tell-Obama-G20-leaders-oppose-Syria-strike-pray-peaceful-solution.html

COMMENT: So the Pope writes to Vladimir telling him to speak to Obama about the pending attack on Syria, even thought the U.S. military is already ready in the gulf, Obama backs off, Pope also speaks concerning the use of Biological Weapons, and Assad immediately ADMITS to possessing these weapons and agrees to hand them over. (See following article.”)

Syria crisis: Barack Obama puts military strike on hold

11 September 2013

US President Barack Obama has put military action against Syria on hold and vowed to pursue diplomacy to remove the regime's chemical weapons.

Damascus now admits it has chemical weapons and has agreed to abide by a Russian plan to hand over its arsenal.

The US had threatened strikes after a gas attack killed hundreds last month.

Russia announced its plan on Monday and Syria quickly responded, saying it "welcomed" the initiative.

Late on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Walid Muallem then made the fullest public admission of the regime's stockpile and a much clearer commitment to the Russian plan.

"We are ready to inform about the location of chemical weapons, halt the production of chemical weapons, and show these objects to representatives of Russia, other states and the United Nations," he said.