As long as the A-10's are not attacking Syrian targets they don't need escorts. Your alternative explanation sounds more likely.
ISIS/ISIL conflict in Syria/Iraq (No OpEd, No Politics)
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
Zool
Junior Member
There is a lot happening behind the scenes over the last couple days. Saudi's attempting a new play (more Sunni vs Shia, surprise surprise), while a closer understanding on objectives seems to have now been reached between Russia & US. Turkish and Saudi actions on the ground, however they unfold, await to be seen.
Image caption: The alliance was announced by Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Defence Minister, Mohammed bin Salman
A number of countries have expressed surprise that they were included by Saudi Arabia in a new military alliance to fight terrorism.
Officials in Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia all said they had not formally agreed to join the alliance.
34 mainly Muslim nations would be part of the counter-terrorism grouping.
Prince Mohammed said it would focus on efforts to fight terrorism in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Egypt and Afghanistan.
"Currently, every Muslim country is fighting terrorism individually... so co-ordinating efforts is very important," he told a news conference.
He indicated there were still "procedures" for these countries to go through before joining, "but out of keenness to achieve this coalition as soon as possible, [the alliance of] 34 countries has been announced".
'Awaiting further details'
Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry was quoted in the as saying he was surprised by the announcement and had asked the Pakistani ambassador in Riyadh for clarification.
The country's foreign office said in a statement later on Wednesday that it was "awaiting further details to decide the extent of its participation in different activities of the alliance" before making a decision on whether to join.
In Indonesia, the foreign ministry said it too had not yet decided whether to join.
"The government is still observing and waiting to see the modalities of the military coalition formed by Saudi Arabia," foreign ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir told .
Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein went further - expressing support for the coalition but .
"The Saudi initiative does not involve any military commitment, but an understanding that we will combat militancy," he said.
Announcing the alliance, Saudi Arabia said a joint operations centre would be established in the capital Riyadh and the coalition would focus on terror groups "whatever their doctrine".
It comes amid international pressure for Gulf Arab states to do more in the fight against so-called Islamic State.
The BBC's Frank Gardner points out that the Shia-majority nations of Iran and Iraq, as well as Syria, are noticeably absent from the alliance.
It is far from clear how it could conduct counter-terrorism operations in IS-plagued Iraq and Syria without the agreement of those governments, he adds.
Saudi Arabia's list of 34 alliance members: Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Palestinians, Qatar, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
Zool
Junior Member
I would characterize initial responses from the US and Europe as cautious.
© AP Photo/ Mosa'ab Elshamy
00:27 17.12.2015(updated 00:32 17.12.2015)
With the Saudi-led anti-Daesh coalition officially off the ground, several of the 34 member states have some important questions, including, "What is this?," "What role do I play?," and, "Is it too late to opt out?"
On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia announced the creation of an "Islamic coalition against terrorism." The coalition includes 34 nations from across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, and will be coordinated from a command center in Riyadh.
The true intentions of the new coalition are already in question. The exclusion of Iran has led some to criticize the partnership as a dividing force between the Sunni and Shiite religious factions. Others have labeled the alliance as little more than a hollow attempt by the Saudi government to distance itself from Daesh, also known as ISIL/Islamic State.
But that confusion isn’t limited to outsiders. The coalition’s own members seem to be unclear as to what is expected of them.
Indonesia has expressed alarm over a statement from Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in which he described the partnership as an "Islamic military coalition."
"We don’t want to join a military alliance," Indonesia’s Chief Security Minister Luhut Pandjaitan told Reuters.
Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Armanatha Nasir elaborated, saying that Saudi Arabia had previously argued for the establishment of a "center to coordinate against extremism and terrorism," without mentioning any military aspects.
"…What Saudi Arabia has announced is a military alliance," Nasir told Reuters. "It is thus important for Indonesia to first have details before deciding to support it."
According to Pakistani Senator Sehar Kamran, Riyadh’s announcement of a coalition came as a complete surprise.
"I haven’t seen the news yet," she said, having learned of the announcement in a Reuter’s phone call seeking her comment. When asked if the motion had been debated in Pakistan’s Senate or National Assembly, she said, "No. Not yet."
The daily newspaper Dawn also quoted Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry as saying he was surprised to find that Islamabad had been formally included in the Riyadh coalition.
Despite the early signs of infighting, Riyadh is standing by its newly formed coalition. On Tuesday, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told reporters that member states could take part by contributing financial aid, as well as providing material or security expertise. Military assistance was also mentioned, though Jubeir did concede that more concrete plans are still under discussion.
The US has expressed support for the new coalition.
"We look forward to learning more about what Saudi Arabia has in mind in terms of this coalition," US Defense Secretary Ash Carter told journalists in Turkey. "But in general, it appears it is very much in line with something we’ve been urging for quite some time, which is greater involvement in the campaign to combat ISIL by Sunni Arab countries."
Washington’s allies in Europe aren’t so sure.
"The kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been subject to criticism in Europe, and France in particular, with regard to extremism and Daesh," Jubeir said on Tuesday, "and I think it is based on not knowing the facts."
Whatever the facts may be, Riyadh may want to inform their teammates.
I only read some news articles but haven't found a direct qoute of actual words from this prince. From reading other news such as WSJ, the substance of the coalition is still not clear. But using word "coalition" seems to mean actions are not limited to sharing intelligence.
So I want to ask two questions:
Did this prince actually use the word "coalition" or "alliance"?
Was this prince surrounded by his colleagues from these 34 countries when he said the word "coalition" or "alliance"?
If the answer is yes to the first and no to the second (as your qoutation indicated), it seems to me that this prince just hijacked other countries' good will by stuffing his own words into other people's mouth. Not an honest act, but "forgivable" considerring his age (31) and being a royal.
It is not surprising that Saudi Aribia announced this "coalition" now soon after BND (the German Intelligence Agency) released report accusing SA of being destablizing factor in the region, and German deputy chancellor openly accused SA's relation with IS just after BND report.
Well, they say that the F-15Es there were a part of a temporary deployment.
That could mean that those aircraft were part of something different than the ISIS mission, or that they represented a particular, temporary part of that mission only. That sounds mor elike the reasoning to me.
The A-10s are going to accomplish more against ISIS in any case.
I would not draw too much from it, or ascribe it to a knee jerk as a result of current other geo-political considerations.
At least not until we know a lot more about it.
I agree.
Iraq (same as Syria) has the manpower suply from Iran and airpower from Russia if asked. What it need the most that Iran and Russia can not provide but US is most capable of is pressing Iraq's neighbour to block the inflow of terrorists and weapons. Without such assistance, this offer from US present nothing that Iraq does not already have.
After night now day operations
Jura, Brohave you heard something for this deal :
I did not know him
No for money
I have find mysterious deal because former Swedish BMP-1 ! and with law Sweden can't sold then Excalibur do.
But big order 250 BMP-1 first batch of 45 actualy delivered, old AIFV but good for the bad guys.
LOL thinking for meFootage of First Helicopters Taking off From Kuweires Airbase after SAA Secured The Perimeter
I thought somebody would beat me to it
