Russia recently deployed fighter aircraft to Libya to support Russian state-sponsored private military contractors, U.S. officials have announced.

The Russian fighter aircraft arrived in Libya from an airbase in Russia after transiting Syria, where U.S. officials assessed that they were repainted to hide their origins.

“The Russian fighter aircraft arrived in Libya from an air base in Russia after transiting Syria, where Africom officials assess they were repainted to camouflage their Russian origin.”

Image

Russia now reportedly has at least 14 combat aircraft in Libya, suggesting a major intervention in the country.

“Russian military aircraft are likely to provide close air support and offensive fires for the Wagner Group PMC, which is supporting the Libyan National Army’s fight against the internationally recognized government of national accord, Africom officials said in a news release. The Russian fighter aircraft arrived in Libya from an air base in Russia after transiting Syria, where Africom officials assess they were repainted to camouflage their Russian origin.”

U.S. officials say that Russia has employed state-sponsored Wagner in Libya to conceal its direct role and to afford Moscow plausible deniability.

Image

“Russia is clearly trying to tip the scales in its favor in Libya. Just like I saw them doing in Syria, they are expanding their military footprint in Africa using government-supported mercenary groups like Wagner,” said Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, Africom’s commander.

Russian fighter jet.

“For too long, Russia has denied the full extent of its involvement in the ongoing Libyan conflict. Well, there is no denying it now. We watched as Russia flew fourth-generation jet fighters to Libya — every step of the way. Neither the LNA nor private military companies can arm, operate and sustain these fighters without state support — support they are getting from Russia.”

A graphic showing a blown up section where a jet is sitting.
Image via U.S. Africa Command.

“If Russia seizes basing on Libya’s coast, the next logical step is they deploy permanent long-range anti-access area-denial capabilities,” said Air Force Gen. Jeff Harrigian, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa.

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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dave12
dave12
3 years ago

Apparently over 1000 Wagner mercenaries had to be evacuated after a GNA attack forced them out south of Tripoli. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-52811093

ChariotRider
ChariotRider
3 years ago
Reply to  dave12

That probably explains the build up of Russian Air Force power in country.

Bad enough that the Russians have got away with turning the tidy in Syria, but given its proximity to Malta and the narrow central region of the Med, Libya in under Russian control is a serious challenge to NATO.

Not sure how we should respond given that risk that we tend to end up being drawn into long and costly conflicts, but we need to find away to counter Russias new aggressive stance.

dave12
dave12
3 years ago
Reply to  ChariotRider

Yep I totally agree. I suppose arming the GNA with stingers is not a good option either considering its a Muslim nation.NATO might have to react by Air power, I did hear some where we have SAS over there.

ChariotRider
ChariotRider
3 years ago
Reply to  dave12

Special Forces are deployed all over the place doing lots of sneaky beaky stuff rare that we ever hear anything of their activities. What ever they are up to they are not really capable of taking and holding ground against large heavily armed forces. 1000 heavily mercenaries, for example, would need to be matched with NATO airpower or conventional forces on the ground both are unlikely, but the chances of the latter happening are vanishingly small I think. Ground holding support is what the Government Libya needs and it is unlikely that they’ll it so if Russia is looking to… Read more »

Andy
Andy
3 years ago
Reply to  dave12

SAS with stingers then?

Andy
Andy
3 years ago
Reply to  Andy

Sorry, I obviously mean Independent Contractors.

Rudeboy
Rudeboy
3 years ago
Reply to  Andy

The MiG-29 will be operating above Stinger range. They’re not an A2G platform. The deployment is purely an attempt to protect the LNA forces from Turkish drones which have been devastating the GNA forces. The SU-24 could use precision missiles, but if they attack GNA forces they could find themselves in range of Turkish supplied I-HAWK systems. Given the small numbers they’re probably just a threat or for isolated strikes. The smart move for the Turks would be to quickly deploy some fighters and kill the Russian planes. Given that they’re unmarked the Russian’s could hardly complain…that’s the problem with… Read more »

Douglas Newell
Douglas Newell
3 years ago
Reply to  Rudeboy

Yeah, smart! Shoot down the aircraft of the large military power just 100 km away across the Black sea.

Mind you. The Russians would be doing us another favour getting rid of islamo-nazi Erdogan.

Meirion X
Meirion X
3 years ago
Reply to  Douglas Newell

The Black Sea is about 2000km from
Libya!
Erdogan would be doing us NATO a favour, by throwing out Christian Fascist Putin from Libya!

Douglas Newell
Douglas Newell
3 years ago
Reply to  Meirion X

My point was, and is, Russia is only about 150miles away from Turkey over the Black Sea. The Turks got away with shooting down one Russian Plane not so long ago, I’m pretty sure Putin would have something to say if they deliberately took out a Russian Expeditionary force.

Erdogan is a politician driven by his Islamism and his need to become the leader of the Islamic world by re-establishing a new Ottoman Empire. Putin is a nasty piece of work, but he’s not a “Christian Fascist” driven to become the ideological leader of Chrisendom.

Meirion X
Meirion X
3 years ago
Reply to  Douglas Newell

Of cause Erdogan is not perfect, but Turkey is still essentially a democratic country, the opposition won the local elections there last year.
Are you saying he is as bad as Prince Mohammed, a who rules a country that has very little democracy?
He doesn’t look too bad looking either, No beard at least!

Douglas Newell
Douglas Newell
3 years ago
Reply to  Meirion X

Nope never mentioned that lot. That opens another big can of fish.

Meirion X
Meirion X
3 years ago
Reply to  Douglas Newell

So yes, the Saudis and UAE are involved with Russia? What strange bed follows!
So your mate Putin is on the side of the headchoppers?

whl grubber
whl grubber
3 years ago
Reply to  Rudeboy

Agreed. A massive drone attack, the Turks are well up for this . But we should provide help.

julian1
julian1
3 years ago
Reply to  ChariotRider

I actually think that the whole fiasco that Libya has become is down to lack of EU policy. And it is EU rather than NATO policy, since beyond the increasing Russian involvement, there are and have been huge migrationary forces which have de-stablised the EU over the last 9 years. This is hardly a NATO issue, it is an EU/European issue. I always believed and still do that EU/European countries should have created a safe haven along the Libyan coast. This could have been used to prevent the massive influx of African refugees to Europe, to keep a legitimate government… Read more »

Elliott
Elliott
3 years ago
Reply to  julian1

A highly coordinated and committed military response from the EU is contradiction in terms.

Andy
Andy
3 years ago
Reply to  julian1

That might have worked, now it’s probably just gonna become another hellish Syria. The EU are just as racist and short sighted as everyone else.

SoleSurvivor
SoleSurvivor
3 years ago
Reply to  julian1

Julian that’s a bit of a stretch to put the blame on the EU for Libya come on, it was NATO that helped turn a quite prosperous North African country with free healthcare and free education into the biggest hell hole on the planet The blame lies well and truly with Obama and Killory Clinton, their thirst for regime change using NATO as their tool, it was a NATO no fly zone, NATO military action and a NATO blockade, and you say “This is hardly a NATO issue” that’s like looking at Europe in 1942 and saying this is hardly… Read more »

dave12
dave12
3 years ago
Reply to  SoleSurvivor

I agree with some of your comment but Gaddafi bought it on himself with arming the IRA and the downing of Pan am flight 103.

SoleSurvivor
SoleSurvivor
3 years ago
Reply to  dave12

Did the Libyan population bring a decade of terror, death and forced migration to countries where they’re described as cockroaches on themselves though? That’s the question

Gaddafi was old and frail should of just left him to it

HF
HF
3 years ago
Reply to  dave12

Gaddafi was a murdering dictator, but Libya didn’t have anything to do with that dreadful crime (Pan Am).

Elliott
Elliott
3 years ago
Reply to  SoleSurvivor

Libya is the fault of Sarkozy and Cameron who instigated the whole affair. Should President Obama and Secretary Clinton have backed them? No, but they didn’t start it. The only blameless party was Italy.
As for the US paying to secure and stabilize the southern borders of Europe? Not only no but hell no. Europe doesn’t pay to secure America’s border with Mexico or Mexico’s border with Guatemala.
A “proper” superpower takes care of it’s security and citizens first and everyone else is a distant second.

SoleSurvivor
SoleSurvivor
3 years ago
Reply to  Elliott

I disagree, Cameron and Sarkozy in public but leaked diplomatic cables tell a bit more of the story, the US were furious with Gaddafi for potential “resource Nationalism” the same term used for the reason for the coup in Iran in the 50’s, these cables were getting more furious from 2006 onwards, add to that the US would never in a million years allow regime change in the most oil rich county in Africa without them having two hands firmly on the steering wheel, Obama had to play a game at home, acting like he was hesitant because of the… Read more »

Elliott
Elliott
3 years ago
Reply to  SoleSurvivor

My country does not HAVE to spend any “nuggets” on a country so far away when there are far more pressing concerns. Like say the Kennedy Center or a bridge to Nothing, Arizona. I don’t complain about spending blood and treasure in Libya, I reject that it is a necessary expenditure for the US.
Yes Europe doesn’t bomb Mexico, however you have not made a case for America solving Europe’s immigration crisis for it. While I might add being criticized by the EU for attempting to solve it’s own.

Douglas Newell
Douglas Newell
3 years ago
Reply to  Elliott

Obama is as guilty as the rest of the idiots wo plotted to oust Gadaffi when he was finally trying engage with the west.

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/libya/2019-02-18/obamas-libya-debacle

But we knew better. And the Libyan people have been paying the price with 10 years of conflict.

dave12
dave12
3 years ago
Reply to  Douglas Newell

Douglaski could you be trying split western alliances? lol pull the other one with your BS.

Douglas Newell
Douglas Newell
3 years ago
Reply to  dave12

Ha ha you are a wag, assuming I’m a Russian troll.

I’m not actually a huge fan of the Russian (hence me calling them Russkies) but at least they have a coherent strategy – meanwhile the succession of idiots voted into the White House have screwed things up across the whole middle east with the support of the UK and most of Europe as we need to keep on the good side of the Yanks.

dave12
dave12
3 years ago
Reply to  Douglas Newell

Fair enough Douglas I retract my comment.

Trevor
Trevor
3 years ago
Reply to  Elliott

The Libyans were on their way to benghazi to massacre thousands… thats what got us involved.

Glass Half Full
Glass Half Full
3 years ago
Reply to  SoleSurvivor

Actually Sole it was a UN mandated no-fly zone, per Security Council Resolution 1973, that kicked this off with the stated goal “to take all necessary measures… to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamhariya, including Benghazi, while excluding an occupation force.” Doubtless there will be differing perspectives on who, if anyone, was behind the curtain pulling strings, but Ghaddafi was well on the way to committing genocide against the Arab Spring revolutionaries who started the conflict. As always seem to be the case, any prospect of peace fell by the wayside… Read more »

Rudeboy
Rudeboy
3 years ago

The whole ‘it was NATO’s fault’ line is possibly the dumbest take ever…

Do these people forget the Libyan’s rising up against a Dictator and said Dictator shelling civilian areas? He’d laid siege to an entire city (Misrata), and was preparing an assault on the 2nd city (Benghazi).

Do the idiots who spout this nonsense think we’ve somehow forgotten all the preceding events??

SoleSurvivor
SoleSurvivor
3 years ago
Reply to  Rudeboy

That’s kind of what happens in a civil war, towns and cities get besieged and people die

Unless we are willing to totally commit to backing a side and putting troops on the ground for the aftermath the only thing we did was make it worse

The civil war at the start was absolutely nothing compared to what’s happened in the years since, most people with half a brain can see that

Douglas Newell
Douglas Newell
3 years ago
Reply to  Rudeboy

America wants to be the big boy in the world but doesn’t have the wits or the guts for it. (I’m talking politicians not the actual military)

When the going gets tough, the Yanks retreat (with a face saving treaty to hide the tail between their legs). Vietnam. Iraq. Afghanistan. Syria.

SoleSurvivor
SoleSurvivor
3 years ago

I know it was a U.N. resolution but I don’t think the resolution had what’s going on now in mind when it passed did it

It was a NATO campaign at the request of NATO, the main aim was getting rid of Gaddafi

Glass Half Full
Glass Half Full
3 years ago
Reply to  SoleSurvivor

@Sole. The UN Resolution would not have wanted to see the current situation as a result, but it explicitly excluded the occupation force you are suggesting should have been put in place. You clearly have your perspective on this and I doubt anything I say will change it. But to say “NATO that helped turn a quite prosperous North African country with free healthcare and free education into the biggest hell hole on the planet” and “Gaddafi was old and frail should of just left him to it” when the country was in the midst of a civil war with… Read more »

SoleSurvivor
SoleSurvivor
3 years ago

That’s my point though, there should not have been a U.N. resolution in the first place, it was hastily put together and Russia and China abstained, which they both later regretted This is healthy debate that I enjoy, I believe perspectives can change when presented with sufficient evidence, if you could point me in the direction of proof that Gadaffi would of committed “genocide” then I’ll take that on board and perhaps alter my viewpoint, but there is not one bit of legitimate evidence of any genocide in Libya, I have read and researched it and every single use of… Read more »

Glass Half Full
Glass Half Full
3 years ago
Reply to  SoleSurvivor

Its difficult to prove Gadaffi would have committed genocide when actions taken stopped him from doing so. Perhaps he shouldn’t have threatened to take actions that suggested massive non-combatant casualties. There wouldn’t be evidence of genocide in Rwanda or the Balkans if action had been taken early enough to prevent it. That’s the problem, we are damned if we do and damned if we don’t. Do we wait until it becomes a fact before taking action. Russia is only a stablising force as a by product of their desire to increase influence with authoritarian regimes and in some cases their… Read more »

SoleSurvivor
SoleSurvivor
3 years ago

But there is no evidence to suggest he would have, this is propaganda to even suggest he would have, there is not a tiny bit of evidence to suggest otherwise There is a documented case for every single genocide that’s ever happened, Rwanda a million dead with a big pile of documented evidence, footage, eye witness accounts Propaganda did not stop when Geobbells died, think about it for a second, if you were a militant in Libya let’s say, and you wanted to overthrow the government, what is one of you’re main strategies? It’s to get the western powers on… Read more »

Glass Half Full
Glass Half Full
3 years ago
Reply to  SoleSurvivor

“… there is not a tiny bit of evidence to suggest otherwise” apart from “he said there would be no mercy to Benghazi” – your language not mine. It seems you advocate for waiting for him to commit the act because there is no other way of knowing for certain whether he would have or not, at which point it would have been too late had that been his intent.

I think we, or at least I, am done on this topic. Thank you for the discussion.

SoleSurvivor
SoleSurvivor
3 years ago

No worries ?

SoleSurvivor
SoleSurvivor
3 years ago

“There wouldn’t be evidence of genocide in Rwanda or the Balkans if action had been taken early enough to prevent it”

Also where the hell are you getting that from , we never prevented the genocides in Rwanda or the Balkans, they happened and we never prevented it

Glass Half Full
Glass Half Full
3 years ago
Reply to  SoleSurvivor

Exactly. We didn’t prevent genocide and therefore there is evidence. Had we prevented genocide then ipso facto there would be no evidence because nothing would have happened.

Meirion X
Meirion X
3 years ago
Reply to  SoleSurvivor

You would have criticised the intervention even if we had done so!
It is very difficult to make out wether You come from a extreme right position, or a extreme Communist left position!

Douglas Newell
Douglas Newell
3 years ago
Reply to  SoleSurvivor

And lets admit it, NATO is a tool of the Americans. So of was at the request of NATO it was at the request of the Yanks. Obama was part of the flawed decision making right up to his neck.

Douglas Newell
Douglas Newell
3 years ago
Reply to  julian1

The problem is there isn’t a legitimate government. And the fact that a government has been selected by the West and their Gulf Sate allies as legitimate, doesn’t actually make it legitimate.

Give the problem that our Gulf Ste allies invariably favor lunatic Islamic Militants as their proxies – i don’t hold out much hope for any future involvement by the West.

Ekaterina
Ekaterina
3 years ago
Reply to  ChariotRider

You should respond as always: change your Pampers ?

dan
dan
3 years ago
Reply to  dave12

Surprised anyone wants to use Wagner anymore. They’ve gotten their asses kicked numerous times the past few years.

Aethelstan the curioAreus
Aethelstan the curioAreus
3 years ago

Are we about to see “Syria” unfolding all over again? Trump useless, the EU unable to organise and the bit part UK without an ally to be a host. Then what, NE Europe? Really would like to read what the guys here, who know more about this than me, think?

SoleSurvivor
SoleSurvivor
3 years ago

Well done Russia, someone has to mop up the mess in Libya and put an end to the conflict, don’t see NATO or the US putting in any effort to sort it so fair play to them Stepping up to the plate like they did successfully in Syria For anyone not in the know we’re backing the shithouses that most of the Libyans don’t want, we’re backing the guys who have 8000 jihadis that Turkey shipped in from Syria in their ranks While Russia is backing the guys that have spilt most blood clearing ISIS and other jihadi groups out… Read more »

Meirion X
Meirion X
3 years ago
Reply to  SoleSurvivor

You Do realise that the Libyan government in Tripoli is the U

Meirion X
Meirion X
3 years ago
Reply to  SoleSurvivor

You Do realise that the Libyan government in Tripoli is recognised as the legitimate government of Libya by the United Nations? If Russia really wanted to help, it should
STOP undermining that government, by supporting rebel warlords, and take its responsibilities as a permanent member of the UNSC seriously, and help to stabilise Libya.

SoleSurvivor
SoleSurvivor
3 years ago
Reply to  Meirion X

And what does being recognised by the U.N. mean in this day and age, absolutely nothing, the UN, EU along with most western governments are corrupt with only self interest in mind

The UN passed a resolution for us to give the Chagos islands back to Mauritius, can’t see us doing that anytime soon can you, UN resolutions are not worth the paper they’re written on

dave12
dave12
3 years ago
Reply to  SoleSurvivor

Ok sole you just showed your true colours again as I said before go live in Russia and enjoy the low living standards and benefits of a dictatorship.

SoleSurvivor
SoleSurvivor
3 years ago
Reply to  dave12

??

I knew you’d bite

Reds under the bed Dave!

dave12
dave12
3 years ago
Reply to  SoleSurvivor

Not really sole its not like the Russian military have a moral compass , using cluster bombs in Syria carpet bombing Aleppo and Idlb to dust and
targeting and destroying hospitals, not to mention letting Assad air force use of Sarin gas on it’s own people which the Russian’s most likely supplied.

SoleSurvivor
SoleSurvivor
3 years ago
Reply to  dave12

Who wants a moral compass when you’re fighting head chopping, sharia law loving jihadis It’s strange Dave that in all the times we have discussed the middle east the only people in your crosshairs are the Russians, you have never, not once talked about the guys they’re fighting, you know the guys that are blowing our children in concerts to pieces and making people slice up our own soldiers on our streets Your anti Russian sentiment is blind to the real enemies in the Middle East The Syrian rebels are proven jihadis, even the western media can’t hide that fact,… Read more »

Paul.P
Paul.P
3 years ago
Reply to  SoleSurvivor

So the Russians are heroes for propping up the Assad family? Now I’ve heard it all.

Airborne
Airborne
3 years ago
Reply to  SoleSurvivor

Problem is the Wagner guys are absolute wankers. Their are two classes of Wagner’s, the guys who have recently left the Russian military and then recruited straight off to Wagner, and those Spetnatz lads who are still actually serving, and are acting on behalf of Putin and his politics. While I’m not ever going to moan about the use of PMCs, obviously, Wagner group operate with no moral compass whatsover and while they are mostly effective, most of their methods used to achieve their aim would make the average person shudder and puke. Even as a PMC you can and… Read more »

dave12
dave12
3 years ago
Reply to  Airborne

Totally agree as usual Airborne, have you heard the fine details of Wagners attempt to take the Syrian northern oil fields, more than 200 dead Russians in a couple of hours of well coordinated US air strikes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaeDMOWkCwU worth a watch.

Trevor
Trevor
3 years ago
Reply to  SoleSurvivor

you are totally biased and objective. I wonder why I waste time criticising you.
A massacre was on the way and we stopped it. Hard to see how we could just watch it happen.
Thereafter the West mismanaged it and Obama was half hearted in not folowing up with necessary resources.

James
James
3 years ago

Well this is turning into a melting pot.

Turkey, Egypt, UAE, Saudi now Russia, who is fighting in which side?!

Watcherzero
Watcherzero
3 years ago
Reply to  James

The military coup/Gaddafi Loyalist supporters are Egypt, UAE and Russia. The democratic government supporters are Syria, Turkey and Italy. Britain, France and the US have helped both sides in military operations against ISIS.

James
James
3 years ago
Reply to  Watcherzero

Combinations like that are how major wars start!

Barry Larking
Barry Larking
3 years ago

Russia (Putin) teams up with another failed state. Another failed Moslem state. Good.

Douglas Newell
Douglas Newell
3 years ago

We need to give the Russkies their due. Its not their Job to do what the Yanks or the West tell them. And given the resources they have – they’ve done a great job of catching us on the hoof. And lets admit it, Assad is the best of a bad bunch in Syria – much better than any of the insane hardline Islamist idiots the Gulf States want to install. And in Libya, Haftar is the same. The Russkies have started to help stabilise a Middle East that we in the west screwed up royally with our half cocked… Read more »

Sceptical Richard
Sceptical Richard
3 years ago
Reply to  Douglas Newell

Douglas I have to agree with you. Sad to say, but the entire Middle East/North Africa problem is of our own making. The Russians merely stepped in, in an opportunistic manner and took over the mess we left behind. Or they got the Iranians to do it for them. I don’t like it but I can’t really blame them for it. If we don’t like Russian planes in Libya, then take them out. Russians can’t complain if the aircraft don’t have Russian markings. But we won’t. Having caused the mess in the first place, we failed to follow up with… Read more »

HF
HF
3 years ago

Russians were flying in both Korea & Viet Nam so it’s hardly new.

dave12
dave12
3 years ago
Reply to  Douglas Newell

I think Douglaski you have drunk to much vodka, Russia cuts corners by using cluster bombs and carpet bombing Aleppo and Idlb to dust ,not forgetting targeting and destroying every hospital in the area and letting Assad air force use sarin gas on it’s own people, its not like the Russian military has a moral compass. Pull the other one Ivan Douglski lol .

SoleSurvivor
SoleSurvivor
3 years ago
Reply to  Douglas Newell

That’s a great post Douglas

Don’t listen to Dave he’s a western media melt, anyone who doesn’t share his opinion is Russian

Dave thinks Kelly’s heroes is documentary, he dressed up as a cowboy as a kid fighting the Indians in his back garden, he also keeps his fallout shelter well stocked with tins of baked beans for when the Russians attack

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
3 years ago
Reply to  Douglas Newell

I have to agree with Douglas too. It’s true. Whatever Putin’s motivations the west has utterly mucked up the Middle East and North Africa, and continues to do so. If the Russians want to deploy forces that is their right.

Meirion X
Meirion X
3 years ago

Showing your true colours at last Daniele, as a anti western Troll?

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
3 years ago
Reply to  Meirion X

You joking Meirion? An anti western troll who’s here daily wanting the best for the UK military? Who just happens to think many of our actions regards foreign policy have been mistakes? That’s called having an opinion. It might not be yours. Or Dave’s. That doesn’t make me anti western. I do however read history and try to see both sides, including the Russian. I have photos of the Queen on my bookcase, Churchill, Battle of Britain Pilots, I want the best for my country, I support NATO, I support Brexit. I support our armee forces. And I’m “anti western”… Read more »

dave12
dave12
3 years ago

Not my opinion you are Russian troll Daniele I have never said that. From all that you have contribute to UKDJ with your military knowledge that would be a mistake, but I will argue my point are view when it come’s to Putin and I’m happy to be corrected when I have jumped the gun.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
3 years ago
Reply to  dave12

That’s fine Dave. My comment was primarily aimed at M.

Understood and respect your view. No doubt Putin is a SOB, never said otherwise. Russia needs watching and I want the west/NATO armed likewise.

All I like to do occasionally is point out some of the more hypocritical western stances vs those of Russia.

Otherwise, respect.

dave12
dave12
3 years ago

I think Meirion X is new to the chat so he does not know your input, and I’ve accused wrongly people before on being a Russian troll and as I said I’m happy to be corrected . I do respect your views and maybe I should be a bit more flexible when it comes down to it with my views.

Meirion X
Meirion X
3 years ago

Daniele you said in a previous post, that Russia can deploy force wherever they like, just like in Crimea!
That was got me wound up about you, as you seemed to suddenly changing sides?

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
3 years ago
Reply to  Meirion X

No, I said Russia have a right, like we do, to deploy their armed forces, and i used the words “deploy forces” as they see fit! Not “deploy force” as in engage in conflict. Although again, even if they did that, again, it’s their right. We, as in the west, do it all the time.

I also never mentioned Crimea did I, that is a totally different arena again long argued over on this forum.

If those comments get you wound up about me….boy, I cannot help you, sorry.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
3 years ago

In addition, see John Clark’s excellent comment below.

HF
HF
3 years ago

‘An anti western troll’ – I’m having a good chuckle at that ! Reminds me of the line from Alfie Bass in ‘The Fearless Vampire Killers’. Alfie was Jewish and when they showed him a crucifix he said ‘Boy, have you got the wrong vampire’.

Sceptical Richard
Sceptical Richard
3 years ago
Reply to  HF

Hahaha! Brilliant!

dave12
dave12
3 years ago

So Russia and Pakistan are free of blame when it comes down to Afghanistan?
Also Syria with Lebanon?

HF
HF
3 years ago
Reply to  Douglas Newell

No fan of Putin but he had the power – and offered – to get Assad to step aside but was rebuffed because the west didn’t want Russia to have any more influence there. 8 years later and they have that influence at a cost of thousands upon thousands of innocent lives anyway.

Paul.P
Paul.P
3 years ago

This is why we need the carriers.

dan
dan
3 years ago

Midget Putin probably had the guy in charge of this killed.

John Clark
John Clark
3 years ago
Reply to  dan

This situation raises some pretty strong feelings. We can attribute blame to the US, NATO or Russia, the reality is they all share blame. Our collective interventions in Iraqi, Afghanistan and Libya were highly questionable, they turned into a destabilising horror show. Situations of such mammoth complexity were created as factions within factions fought for power and settled old scores in the power vacuum created by our missguided intentions. The Russians ‘might’ actually accomplish what we failed to do by using absolutely ruthless violence against anyone they deem necessary, as they have in Syria They do need to be counted… Read more »

Sceptical Richard
Sceptical Richard
3 years ago
Reply to  John Clark

Well said! And saying it doesn’t mean you’re a Russian troll, or you don’t love your own country, or care for and have pride in our armed forces.

John Clark
John Clark
3 years ago

The last time I was accused of being a Russian troll, I was so shocked, I dropped my vodka on my Stalin tone Computer, loosing 400 false facebook accounts and spent six months in a Siberian salt mine!

Not all bad news though, I got some excellent investment advice from fellow Oligarch inmates!

Hoping to upgrade to Lada with a sunroof next year!

John Clark
John Clark
3 years ago
Reply to  John Clark

Joking aside, surely no one can possibly argue our interventions in Iraqi, Afghanistan and Libya were justified and worked! They all failed, one after the other. Iraqi has finally starting to emerge from a living nightmare, despite us, not because of us and we have let Iranian infiltration and influence in through the back door, that’s just an added bonus! Afghanistan is reverting to “type”, a multi sided shit show of mutual hatred, while the West desperately tries to disengage, with ‘Operation let the Taliban into Government’ and run like hell before it blows up in their faces…. What’s been… Read more »

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
3 years ago
Reply to  John Clark

Bravo John.