Washington Free Beacon: Mattis on Russian Mercenaries in Syria: I Ordered Their Annihilation
Secretary of Defense James Mattis explained Thursday why he directed a strike that reportedly killed hundreds of Russian mercenaries in Syria back in February.
Mattis told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the U.S. has a deconfliction line with Russia to ensure that the two countries can communicate in order to avoid direct conflict with one another in Syria. He said that a group of "irregular forces" were in conflict with U.S. forces, and once it was ascertained that those forces were not Russian regulars, Mattis directed a counterattack.
"The Russian high command in Syria assured us it was not their people, and my direction to the chairman was for the force, then, to be annihilated," Mattis said. "And it was."
Read more ....
WNU Editor: This is what U.S. Secretary Of Defense Mattis said a few days after the attack .... Mattis Calls Attack in Syria on U.S.-Backed Forces 'Perplexing' (Reuters).
ReplyDeleteWNU,
Fascinating article, but still no accurate accounting of casualties. No gun camera footage, no onsite photos (bodies, destroyed vehicles, etc), no captured voice comms. If what Mattis says is true and I find no reason to doubt him, one would think the US would provide evidence of the above types to backup this account, but there is none.
Beyond some rumors in the very first reporting of mounted infantry and some maneuvering against US forces there has been nothing of the above or any comprehensive description of the engagement, all very curious.
JH
Anon,
ReplyDeleteThis actually explains allot. These forces were acting against Russian government orders. Had they had official support for their actions, mainline Russian forces would have come to tneir aid and the outcome would've been far differnt. It appears they actually acted against Russian government orders. As such, tne Russians allowed the US military to annihilate them.
The Russians would like to ens Cold War 2. DJT and his team would like to as well. Unfortunately there are crazies in the US government who want war with Russia at ANY cost. As such, we can't release such tapes.
We already know Russians died in mass numbers. We already know who did it. To release tne tapes in Russia would only inflame tensions. To release the tapes in America would only provide fuel to tne fire for the crazies in America who want war with Russia at any costs.
Fortunately some in both countries have sense enough not to do such tnings. Let's pray it stays that way.
I agree with anon. No need to present photos of dead Russians or video of them getting blown up. It does absolutely nothing to help the situation and would actually be counterproductive.
ReplyDeleteDistasteful Ass. .trying to look tough and score political points by looking tough on Russians. Those mercenaries were people too and calling for the "annihilation" of any people leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I wouldn't shed a tear if Mattis were to be fired over this remark. ..it would certainly mean a lot to Russians, symbolically at least. Or am I alone in this thought?
ReplyDeleteYeh the way I read it.... your alone. But your right that every life is worth something
Delete