Extraordinary. A 3 star Russian general went to US embassy in Baghdad this am, saying bombing starts in 1 hour, clear #Syria airspace
— Jon Sopel (@BBCJonSopel) September 30, 2015
The Telegraph: Russian general tells US diplomats: 'We launch Syria air strikes in one hour. Stay out of the way'
Vladimir Putin orders airforce into action over Syria in first Russian war in Middle East since end of Soviet Union - giving US diplomats one hour's notice.
Russian generals are not regular visitors to the US Embassy in Baghdad. Once, this newly built complex near the Tigris was the de facto seat of power in Iraq – and a place where decisions affecting Syria were often taken as well.
n Wednesday, US diplomats in Baghdad were reduced to the role of meekly receiving a message. Russian air strikes on targets across Syria would commence in one hour, their visitor told them. For the safety of all concerned, it would be better if the US Air Force stayed out of the way and suspended its own bombing campaign in Syria.
Soon afterwards, SU-24 strike aircraft based outside the city of Latakia - Bashar al-Assad’s heartland – were airborne.
So began the day when Russia hurled its military power into the vortex of Syria’s civil war. By deploying about two dozen warplanes in the country – protected by air defence systems and anything between 500 and 2,000 troops – Mr Putin has done what the West agonised over for years and chosen the path of direct intervention in the crisis.
Update #1: This is how Russia let the US know about its airstrikes in Syria -- Al Bawaba
Update #2: Syria bombing: Russian three star general warned US officials 'we request your people leave' -- The Independent
WNU Editor: When I first read this story it told me all that I needed to know on what is the current state of "communications" between the U.S. military and the Russia military. In short ... they are non-existent .... and what to me is even more scary .... the back-door channels are non-existent.
3 comments:
I guess Hillary's reset button worked.
Ah, the diplomatic niceties!
Could you imagine the tension in that room?!
The Russians are simply not playing. I expect to seem them popping up elsewhere. There's a good chance it'll be with the Chinese.
I wonder if Porky and Co. will (be encouraged to) try and make a move thinking that Moscow is distracted in Syria. It'd be a mistake but no one ever accused them of letting fear and common sense get in the way.
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