Russian Air Force strikes on ISIS

Castel, strange statement. There's an implication that our military, or that of other NATO powers, would carpet bomb if unfettered. Once upon a time, different foe, that was true.

I don't think you'll find a group more dedicated to doing the job right than our military leaders, and it's not out of fear for their pensions.

I just hope it ends soon. I personally don't see these ISIS as really having the stomach for the fight, to die out there in the desert after growing up in France and eating at McDonalds etc. We shall see.

No, they were fighting the rebels that the West backed who were pushing Assads forces towards the sea. The downing of the Russian airliner by ISIS changed that focus for their strikes. The Russians are highly motivated on two fronts now- to protect their Eastern Mediterranean access, and to get payback on ISIS, and potentially get out of the doghouse with the West by doing so.

But let's face it, the Russians have never shied away from collateral damage. That is one of the deterrence factors of fighting the Russians, knowing they will level you in payback.

They can do that because they don't have an army of lawyers, human right activist, juornalists etc who are just looking for one misstep to accuse, sue, point fingers, demand huge payments, call on rights of these or those. Maybe it is good that they are in...but is fighting ISIS their true motivation? They have some ports in Syria, eh?

Yes, it is one impressive bird. Russia's B-52.

Those big TU-95 MR planes are really awesome. I would love to see one in the flesh one day. Those big turboprop engines generate something insane like 12,000 hp each. A semi-sonic prop aircraft. 8,000 nmiles range unfueled.

At the same time that 160th was inserting two ODAs into the north to work with the Nothern Alliance, the 3rd Rangers jumped into Kandahar in a diversionary showboat raid. They were extracted after doing whatever the specific mission tasks were and that action was sent out to all the news organizations. That same location would later be where the Marines would insert when all was ready for them.

But yes, Airborne opertions, especially extraction on raids, is a tricky proposition. Once surprise has been achieved on forced entry, you no longer have that for any extraction and need lots of firepower on call to allow for an extraction. Or any follow on forces coming in to expand an airhead.

I have a very close friend who has worked for various NGO's over the years  as a public school teacher in French speaking third world countries. He was in Rwanda with his wife and sons when the spit hit the fan. The Legion landed in big transports and herded all the foreign nats out. All they could bring with them was the hard drive from his office PC. A really tough group of characters.

I don't have to tell you, extrication of course is always the key to airborne ops. Or land bound relief and that is so risky. What did the Army do in A-stan?

Yeah, the footage is rather stock, but it is something we dont see too much on this side of the world. At least not bomb dropping from those sorts of aircraft. The Russian Cruise Missiles (I am not up on type nomenclature) bear a strong resemblence to Tomahawks and AGM-86C CALCMs, right down to the rotary launcher.

But let's face it, the Russians have never shied away from collateral damage. That is one of the deterrence factors of fighting the Russians, knowing they will level you in payback.

I see the Legion Paras going to do some raid type missions in Syria in the not too distant future. Like the Rangers did at the opening of Afghanistan. ISIS areas are a little too landlocked for their Naval Commandos to work their voodoo.

Totally correct on all regards. Its like people have forgotten the flames he fanned in the Ukraine and Crimea.

That all looks like stock footage to me. From a milhardware point, pretty cool stuff.

gjw we really have to stay out of the politics here. My own personal concern is that the Russian Military never does anything other than totally obliterate everything in sight. They did it in Eastern Europe, Afghanistan, Chechnia and now Eastern Syria. They'll kill great heaps of civilians without caring a bit about it. Following their logic, Malaysia ought to bomb them with all they've got, but of course they can't.

I would not be at all surprised to see a French Para operation in Raqqa soon.

In light of the terrorist attacks in Paris, It seems that we and the European Powers are starting to realize that you can remain out of a fight for so long. Although I am not a fan of Putin, Im glad someone wants to take action.