Russia Threatens to “Target” US Aircraft, But What is the Real End Game?

The Russian Defense Minister Sergey Kuzhugetovich Shoygu has labeled the downing of a Syrian regime aircraft by an American fighter jet as an “act of aggression” and has shut down communications between the two sides.  He has gone so far as to say that should any U.S. aircraft come close to the airspace of the Russian-controlled sectors that they will be “tracked.”

Russia has said it will treat US warplanes operating in parts of Syria where its air forces are also present as “targets” amid a diplomatic row caused by the downing of a Syrian jet.

The country’s defence ministry said it would track US-led coalition aircraft with missile systems and military aircraft, but stopped short of saying it would shoot them down.

A hotline set up between Russia and the US to prevent mid-air collisions will also be suspended.

“All kinds of airborne vehicles, including aircraft and UAVs of the international coalition detected to the west of the Euphrates River will be tracked by the Russian SAM systems as air targets,” the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement.

The warning comes after a US F-18 Super Hornet shot down a Syrian army SU-22 jet on Sunday in the countryside southwest of Raqqa – the first such downing of a Syrian jet by the US since the start of the country’s civil war in 2011.

“The shooting down of a Syrian Air Force jet in Syria’s airspace is a cynical violation of Syria’s sovereignty,” the ministry said.

“The US’ repeated combat operations under the guise of ‘combating terrorism’ against the legitimate armed forces of a UN member-country are a flagrant violation of international law and an actual military aggression against the Syrian Arab Republic.”

And meanwhile, Syria under Bashar al-Assad continues to send out warplanes and strike forces against its own people to combat the rise of anti-government supporters and freedom fighters.  For a UN member-country, you’d think there’d be a bit more “condemning” within the United Nations because of the flagrant human rights violations.  But like all Leftist organizations, the United Nations only finds countries like the United States and Israel as being way too aggressive, whereas places that are actually supporting terror campaigns are given a free pass.

In reality, all these saber-rattlings and puffed-up chests are for show to an adoring Leftist public who whole-heartedly agree that the United States and Israel are the aggressors and their powers need to be curtailed.

All this tough talk masks the real news behind the scenes that Russia has been quietly working for decades to amass the kind of power that will command “half of humanity” on the Earth.  Along with a coalition of some of the Near East and Far East’s biggest players, Russia is hoping to create the anti-NATO, one that will mimic it in strength and power, but that will have an opposition mentality to the rest of the civilized world.

While they are putting out news about how offended they are about the Syrian downed jet, make no mistake that they are not as concerned about Syria as they are about the overall balance of power on the continents.  These threats are merely a pretense, a façade, that will help the Russians to consolidate more Leftist support behind them, while justifying the possible counterstrike against one of the coalition forces aligned with the U.S.

A statement released by US Central Command on Sunday said the Syrian jet was “immediately shot down… in accordance with rules of engagement and in collective self-defence of Coalition partnered forces”.

“The Coalition’s mission is to defeat Isis in Iraq and Syria. The Coalition does not seek to fight Syrian regime, Russian, or pro-regime forces partnered with them, but will not hesitate to defend Coalition or partner forces from any threat,” it added.

“The Coalition presence in Syria addresses the imminent threat Isis in Syria poses globally. The demonstrated hostile intent and actions of pro-regime forces toward Coalition and partner forces in Syria conducting legitimate counter-Isis operations will not be tolerated.”

With all the countries involved in this conflict, there are bound to be even more strikes that will be condemned and counter-condemned.  In the end, it’s all political posturing meant to drive attention away from the ultimate goal of finally being able to stand up to America and NATO.

Source:  Independent