Carter Slams Russia for Bombing US-Backed Forces in Syria
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
(2,412 posts)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
(36,418 posts)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
(3,982 posts)But we are not supposed to notice.
leveymg
(36,418 posts)Bernie's biggest problem was that he didn't seem to.
newthinking
(3,982 posts)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.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)Their goal is to help Assad's strategy of making the only alternative to Assad be IS.
Putin is one evil, cynical thug.
leveymg
(36,418 posts)Putin may be all those things, but he is hardly Sunni terrorist groups financial benefactors.
JackRiddler
(24,979 posts)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.