The Coming War with Russia

Bonam · September 21, 2015

Now if our Canadian leadership would prioritize what is best for Canada and wipe our hands of Israel and look towards Iran for the future of the Middle East then we may save the lives of future Canadian soldiers.

You know, though I disagree about the whole "wipe our hands of Israel" thing, I can at least understand the argument. The middle-east is a quagmire and not wanting to deal with any country there is understandable (though in the case of Israel there are many counter-arguments).

But looking toward Iran and allying with it as you have mentioned in thread after thread after thread... that I don't understand at all. All I can guess is that you have very deep misconceptions about what Iran is.

Big Guy · September 21, 2015

You know, though I disagree about the whole "wipe our hands of Israel" thing, I can at least understand the argument. The middle-east is a quagmire and not wanting to deal with any country there is understandable (though in the case of Israel there are many counter-arguments).

But looking toward Iran and allying with it as you have mentioned in thread after thread after thread... that I don't understand at all. All I can guess is that you have very deep misconceptions about what Iran is.

If you are interested in this topic I suggest you take a close, objective study of Iran of to-day and make up your own mind.

Canada, like every other nation, makes alliances, associations, treaties, pacts, trade deals etc that will benefit us. Our trade with China or Russia or Iraq or Saudi Arabia is not based on our support of the regime or human rights record but on what benefits it gives to Canada. From everything I have read, Iran is going to be the next power in the Middle East. There is every indication that the power within Iran is moving from the Religious to the Secular. They are the 17th most popular nation (about 2.5 times that of Canada) and about 12th largest military (about 6 times that of Canada). There are a number of demographics that I believe also point to moderates taking control of that nation. There are all kinds of benefits that Canada can gain from looking to Iran as our contact in the Middle East.

Israel, through their re-election of Netanyahu, has gone rogue. It is doing things to the Palestinians that I greatly disagree with, is ignoring UN direction and thumbing its nose at the USA. I believe Israel wants war with Iran et al while the USA and Canada are there as automatic allies. I do not want Israel pulling Canada into helping it expand its own boundaries. I do not think that is a good thing for Canada.

I do not trust Netanyahu or the extremist Zionists which have appeared to have taken control of Israeli policy. Religious extremists, be they Muslim or Jewish, are not people we want to be supportive of.

Edited September 21, 2015 by Big Guy

Canada_First · September 21, 2015

If we go to war with Russia I will go to Russia to be with Putin. He is a great man. A great leader a real man who wrestles bears.

dre · September 21, 2015

But looking toward Iran and allying with it as you have mentioned in thread after thread after thread... that I don't understand at all. All I can guess is that you have very deep misconceptions about what Iran is.

Doesnt seem that hard to understand to me. We have some policy objectives that are fairly well aligned with Iran... Support for the Shia government in Iraq, and opposition to ISIL, Alqeada and other Sunni extremist groups. Also western policy has greatly increased Irans ability to be a regional player, so we might as well take advantage of all the new regional influence we have given them.

Thats not to say we are going to be "allies", but we SHOULD cooperate with them in areas where its in our interests. And I think the world in general is recognizing that economic and diplomatic isolation does not work very well, and its being replaced with a policy of engagement.

Also, the west has never had any problem with collaborating with brutally repressive regimes when its in our interests, or when various different policy objectives are aligned. We have a rather rich history of it in fact.

dre · September 21, 2015

BTW, a war with Russia is just a chickhawks wetdream. Its not going to happen. Russia may continue to interfere with or even Annex areas on its border like South Obsetia, and Crimea where a lot of ethnic Russians live, and we will continue to do nothing about it besides piss and moan a bit. Putin and western leaders will shoot their mouths off a little and try to look tough, but thats about it.

We only fight wars against little fish that we think are going to be easy.

Rue · September 21, 2015

I agree with Dre's last two comments except his last sentence in the last post.

Fighting terrorism is not a little fish and its not easy. Its huge, thankless and in the long run its far more fatal than conventional wars.

WIP · September 23, 2015

Neil Macdonal has a useful editorial up at CBC News today, pointing out some simple facts like how the narratives have morphed and changed as the weeks go by in this latest round of The War on Terror. Now, whether Pentagon stooge - Harper will admit it or not, there is either an intentional or accidental alliance with the Assad Government in Syria in the fight against ISIS.

I doubt that the recent shifts in strategy have much to do with the financial and military costs of fighting in Iraq and Syria or even this bullshit scare tactic that terrorists are coming over and going to plant the black flag over Parliament Hill. It's because the poorly thought out and ineptly managed strategy of regime change has led to refugee crises that can't be contained in nearby refugee camps in Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan, and are now knocking on Europe's doors! And the flood of refugees looks like it's going to get worse next year, so they better cool things down, stop feeding ISIS and stop providing the fuel that actually creates and motivates terrorism!

Big Guy · September 24, 2015

I read a headline that "Putin to speak to Elton John about gays in Russia". I read that a few days ago and later read that it was a joke by some pranksters. So I was surfing the web and found "Putin to speak to Elton John about gays in Russia":

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/09/russia-putin-discuss-gay-rights-elton-john-150924170044070.html

So looks like the pranksters did Putin and Elton a favor.

Big Guy · September 28, 2015

Looks to me like the smartest participant in that Middle East fiasco is Putin. He has declared that contoversial idea that if you take our Assad with nothing to replace him it will become a failed state just like Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Yemen.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/09/putin-overthrowing-assad-lead-failed-state-150927151816200.html

Why should we not screw up Syria the same way we did to Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Yemen.

Well, Obama and Putin are getting together for a talk about the state of affairs in the region.

BTW - How come Harper is not involved in those talks-negotiations.

GostHacked · September 28, 2015

The US has started an economic war to destaibilize the ruble by lowering oil prices and it is impacting but its also taking a toll on Canada, Euro, China and the US all inter connected to the Chinese market collapse related to the oil prices. Its a dangerous move and it may come back to haunt Obama.

Whoa, that sounds like anti-American to me. I am glad no one calls me anti-American for pointing out similar things.

WIP · September 29, 2015

Looks to me like the smartest participant in that Middle East fiasco is Putin. He has declared that contoversial idea that if you take our Assad with nothing to replace him it will become a failed state just like Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Yemen.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/09/putin-overthrowing-assad-lead-failed-state-150927151816200.html

In a previous interview, Putin noted that Assad is president of the internationally recognized government of Syria....a minor inconvenience for Obama and US lawmakers in general, but someone should ask what right the United States has to determine who should be in charge of Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, and every other nation in the world!

bush_cheney2004 · September 29, 2015

The same right that Canada had in determining who should be president of Haiti.

On Guard for Thee · September 29, 2015

In a previous interview, Putin noted that Assad is president of the internationally recognized government of Syria....a minor inconvenience for Obama and US lawmakers in general, but someone should ask what right the United States has to determine who should be in charge of Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, and every other nation in the world!

Well they certainly screwed up the four you mentioned. There's a few more in Africa as well.

Topaz · September 29, 2015

Isn't it more important to deal with ISIS than worry about the Syria leader right now? One can talk to the Syria leader but ISIS is another matter , so NATO should work with Russia or any country that can help bring an end to ISIS, IF that is what US and the NATO countries REALLY want.

dre · September 29, 2015

Isn't it more important to deal with ISIS than worry about the Syria leader right now?

Nope! Canada has no compelling interest in getting involved with either of those things.

WIP · September 29, 2015

Isn't it more important to deal with ISIS than worry about the Syria leader right now? One can talk to the Syria leader but ISIS is another matter , so NATO should work with Russia or any country that can help bring an end to ISIS, IF that is what US and the NATO countries REALLY want.

Reminds me that the reason why there is a Syrian war, an ISIS and a Syrian refugee crisis with as many as 4 million Syrians already having fled the Country is because the US Coup Machine seized upon the local unrest caused by a long-running severe drought, and decided regime change was in order for Syria while they were still mired with overthrowing Col. Kadaffi in Libya! After more than 80 coups and attempted coups, when will the clueless realize that the source of instability and conflict in the world has been right in Washington the whole time:

America's Coup Machine: Destroying Democracy Since 1953

U.S. efforts to overthrow foreign governments leave the world less peaceful, less just and less hopeful.

Big Guy · September 30, 2015

Now you need a scorecard and detailed directions to try to figure ouit what is happening in Syria:

At this point in time, there are three groups who are legitimately on the groud in Syria; The Assad Syrians, the rebel Syrians and the Kurds in the North.

To-day we hear that Russia is not only supplying military equiment to Assad but Russian fighters have just attacked Syrian rebel bases in Syria to help Assad. They are not attacking ISIS. American airplanes are bombing ISIS and Assad positions to help the rebels. Turkish fighters are bombing ISIS and Kurdish positions to weaken Kurdish independents in Turkey which is also indirectly helping Assad. Syrian fighters are bombing Syrian rebels, ISIS and Kurds. France has just joined to attack ISIS positions if somebody can show them where they are. Canadians airplanes are bombing where the USA tells them to bomb while hoping that we are hitting bad guys - our government continues to keep the Canadian public in the dark about what we are doing there.

So in the skies over Syria, right now, we have French airplanes, Russian airplanes, Canadian airplanes, Turkish airplanes, Syrian airplanes, American airplanes and ...? Since they all have different targets I assume they are not sharing information. Just what will it take for some of these guys to shoot somebody else down and/or find themselves bombing the same targets.

Time for Harper to declare an emergency and get our Canadian folks the h&ll out of there before that civil war that has turned into a regional war that has turned into a proxy war that is on the edge of an accidental catastrophe!

We are being played like a fine, fine fiddle.

Big Guy · October 1, 2015

In the last while when the West was applying sanctions to Russia, condemning Russia and trying to isolate Putin as a rogue leader, Israel has been playing both sides of the road.

http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21669563-though-opposite-sides-syrian-conflict-binyamin-netanyahu-and-vladimir-putin-agree

The emergency meeting in Moscow between Mr Putin and Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu on September 21st, seems to have put Israeli minds at ease. The Russians will not endanger Israel’s strategic interests in Syria. For his part, Mr Netanyahu assured the Russians that Israel would not help those trying to remove their ally—“we are neither for or against (Syrian president Bashar al-) Assad” he said.

Just shows you that we can count on Netanyahu to protect our backs! - NOT!

“Russia’s main interest in Syria is maintaining its warm-water port in Tartus” says one Israeli official. “That has been Russia’s overriding strategic concern for centuries. In addition they want to make a geopolitical point by keeping Assad in power.”

Israel is reaping the fruits of a long and delicate engagement with Mr Putin, in which its leaders have heeded his warnings not to sell arms to his rivals in neighbouring countries, Ukraine and Georgia. At the same time Israel has supplied Russia with drone technology.

I guess for Israel, diplomacy and alliances are for self protection and survival. As they should.

And Canada should also look after our own self interest and wash our hands of Israel.

Rue · October 1, 2015

Um its real difficult when I wake up to tell the difference between ISIL and pro Assad forces. I need a score card. They all look the same. Priceless. The irony in that kind of thinking of course went zip over the writer's head.

WIP · October 1, 2015

It's hard to tell the difference between ISIL and the Israeli Government!

bush_cheney2004 · October 1, 2015

It's hard to tell the difference between ISIL and the Israeli Government!

The one that has a free trade agreement with Canada would be Israel.

Big Guy · October 1, 2015

Senator John McCain, a previous candidate for President of the USA, stated this morning that he thought the Russians may have hit some ISIS forces but was targeting the CIA backed Syrian rebels. Since the CIA belongs to the USA one could assume that the Americans have been in Syria training and building up Syrians to defeat Assad. I thought that the Americans had been saying that they would not interfere in the Syrian civil war.

Liar, liar, guns on fire!

Rue · October 2, 2015

Again Wip your comment that you can' tell the difference between ISIL ad Israel says it all. Thanks I could not have done a better job of summarizing your position. Lol. Thank you

Rue · October 2, 2015

Someone ask Big Guy to repeat where he read or believes the US said it would not assist rebels overthrow Assad. Its unbelievable the fantasies that are spun on this forum.

WIP · October 2, 2015

Again Wip your comment that you can' tell the difference between ISIL ad Israel says it all. Thanks I could not have done a better job of summarizing your position. Lol. Thank you

Through their covert alliance with Saudi Arabia and Gulf States, Israel has been supporting the rise of all of the Sunni extremists....including ISIS. That's why their screaming bloody murder, along with the Sauds, that Russia is bombing their jihadis who invaded Syria to overthrow the Assad regime. It doesn't matter what alphabet soup of names they call themselves, they have received their guns and training from the US/Saudi/Israeli partnership.