Canadian Parliament authorizes air strikes in Iraq

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

Wow, 600 people to support 10 aircraft........I wonder why the us requested help. Are they short on outdated aircraft?

We're not fighting the Russians. A Sopwith Camel could drop bombs on ISIS effectively.

[Azure]

Unless they radically change the rules of engagement and allow for what would effectively be known as carpet bombing, I'm not sure how much use air strikes will have.

Seems like they're not making much of a dent.

You'd think that every single ISIS target would be on the receiving end of a Tomahawk right now.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Rerun

jtf2 ?

http://www.forces.gc.ca/en/operation...rces/jtf2.page

Officially it's CSOR, but you'd have to be pretty dumb not to believe JTF-2 has been there secretly for months already.

[CaptainYooh]

Our agreed participation level is fairly low. I am guessing this move is more about advancing Keystone pipeline decision by US than anything else.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Because Western combat missions and intervention are what created this mess in the first place.

So let that mess run rampant? That's a couple hundred thousand Kurd civilians there on the other side of your anti-war stance.

[FLAMESRULE]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

Our agreed participation level is fairly low. I am guessing this move is more about advancing Keystone pipeline decision by US than anything else.

Great thought. I didn't connect the two. Makes sense politically for both countries governments.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Because Western combat missions and intervention are what created this mess in the first place.

That in itself is an insufficient justification. Technology solves problems that technology creates. Radiation causes cancer, yet radiation cures cancer.

Is this specific combat mission going to make things worse than if we don't do it? I don't think so.

[lucky1]

Unless there are boots on the ground, this is basically showmanship. I'm seriously dissapointed at the Turks that they have ISIS knocking at their back door, but just sit idly by hoping that they will take care of thier Kurdish 'problem' for them.... Exactly why are they a NATO partner?

[CaptainCrunch]

I think we're going to see a serious game changer over the next few days with the situation in Kobani which represents a major control point on the Syria/Turkey Border especially for Kurdish refugees.

If ISIL is successful in their seige we will see a slaughter of Kurds like we've never seen before, and if that happens the Kurds will give up on getting any type of significant help.

Turkey doesn't want this town to fall but will not intervene unless there's a guarantee that Asaad is deposed.

If this siege is successful and a major refugee route is blocked, and we see a slaughter of the Kurds, then the Kurds will no longer see any real strong benefit in working with the Western Powers.

The US has already admitted that the air strikes will be pretty much ineffective.

If ISIS is successful, then you might see a precursor to a heightened Military action

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by T@T

We're not fighting the Russians. A Sopwith Camel could drop bombs on ISIS effectively.

errrm what?


There is a good chance they have surface to air missles.....

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by lucky1

Unless there are boots on the ground, this is basically showmanship. I'm seriously dissapointed at the Turks that they have ISIS knocking at their back door, but just sit idly by hoping that they will take care of thier Kurdish 'problem' for them.... Exactly why are they a NATO partner?

ISIS has been very careful in not pushing Turkey too hard. They basically took over a Syrian town that also has a Turkish enclave and so far has left the enclave alone. ISIS is pretty much holding it hostage, so Turkey is in a bit of difficult situation.

I also don't think that Turkey is hoping that ISIS takes care of their "Kurdish problem". If anything, ISIS is drastically increasing the Kurdish demographic in Turkey... most of those refugees are not going home.

[Igster]

Originally Posted by T@T

We're not fighting the Russians. A Sopwith Camel could drop bombs on ISIS effectively.

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by lucky1

Unless there are boots on the ground, this is basically showmanship. I'm seriously dissapointed at the Turks that they have ISIS knocking at their back door, but just sit idly by hoping that they will take care of thier Kurdish 'problem' for them.... Exactly why are they a NATO partner?

Turkish involvement would (will?) prove very sensitive given its problematic colonial history in the region (although now over 100 years ago).

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

errrm what?


There is a good chance they have surface to air missles.....

Would those work on a biplane? I would think the heat or radar signature on an old bird like that would be pretty tiny.

I dunno, I aint no expert.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

Would those work on a biplane? I would think the heat or radar signature on an old bird like that would be pretty tiny.

I dunno, I aint no expert.

Yeah a Stinger can basically pick up a camp stove at long distances and track it.

A radar guided anti aircraft missile would hit it as well.

Some of the non man portable systems can use an optical lock and guide system like a video game.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Crazy bells. Ok, someone tell the camels to turn around then. We need something better.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by Makarov

Turkish involvement would (will?) prove very sensitive given its problematic colonial history in the region (although now over 100 years ago).

Obviously the Middle East is so much less sensitive to the US getting involved, what with their lack of history of colonialism in the area.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

ISIS has been very careful in not pushing Turkey too hard. They basically took over a Syrian town that also has a Turkish enclave and so far has left the enclave alone. ISIS is pretty much holding it hostage, so Turkey is in a bit of difficult situation.

I also don't think that Turkey is hoping that ISIS takes care of their "Kurdish problem". If anything, ISIS is drastically increasing the Kurdish demographic in Turkey... most of those refugees are not going home.

Turkey is hoping ISIS will take care of militant Kurds, it's basically using the Joe Stalin Warsaw play book.

What the US should do is heavily arm the Kurds in Iraq, everything, tanks, missiles choppers, turn it into a mini Israel fully capable of taking care of its people, I'm sure the Israelis would help out with the training, the threat of this alone would get turkey off its arse.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

Turkey is hoping ISIS will take care of militant Kurds, it's basically using the Joe Stalin Warsaw play book.

What the US should do is heavily arm the Kurds in Iraq, everything, tanks, missiles choppers, turn it into a mini Israel fully capable of taking care of its people, I'm sure the Israelis would help out with the training, the threat of this alone would get turkey off its arse.

That's a really unique idea.

Right now I can see the Kurd's getting very disgruntled with the Western response, which is not a good thing.

If Kobani falls to IS and we get a bunch of videos of IS brutes machine gunning and executing Kurdish woman and children there will be enormous pressure on the Western Powers to put actual infantry and armor on the ground to carve out safe zones.

If that happens look at Syria and to an extent Russia to react.

The pressure will also increase on the U.S. to force the fall of Syria's government in order to secure Turkish involvement.