U.S. intelligence: Bomb likely brought down plane

[SouthsideSooner]

Curious if the 50 aren't being imbedded with the anti-ISIS / Anti-Assad Syrians so the Russians won't bomb them?

I think you may be giving Obama too much credit. His legacy is all about getting our troops out, no matter what the cost...not the aftermath of those on our side that were left to suffer at the hands of extremists...

[mugofbeer]

I'm referring to the 50 or so Special OPS that were sent into Syria announced last week.

[Midtowner]

not the aftermath of those on our side that were left to suffer at the hands of extremists...

This seems to be some sort of backhanded compliment. The U.S. has a long history of losing thousands of young men and women because we want to occupy foreign countries. When we left Vietnam, the NVA took over. When we left Iraq, ISIS took over. These are all predictable things. What is clear is we probably never should have been there in the first place. Obama's choice was between continuing to lose Americans in an effort which would prove ultimately no-win, or withdraw and cut our losses.

At least at this point, ISIS has appeared and any force which can defeat ISIS and control territory can finally bring peace to the region, or at least stability.

[shawnw]

I'm sorry to say, but there will never be true peace in that region.

[OKCRT]

I'm sorry to say, but there will never be true peace in that region.

Putin to Obama. Lets work together and cut the snake up in little bitty pieces and be done with it.

[Tundra]

Would a stinger missle bring down a plane at that altitude? If so , how can we rule that out , we know ISIS has hundreds of those ,that we supplied them. I read where radar doesn't always detect or pick up small missles. I don't think its to far off track.

[Achilleslastand]

Would a stinger missle bring down a plane at that altitude? If so , how can we rule that out , we know ISIS has hundreds of those ,that we supplied them. I read where radar doesn't always detect or pick up small missles. I don't think its to far off track.

I don't believe anything that is "shoulder fired" aka "manpads" are capable of bringing down anything cruising at higher altitudes{30-thousand plus feet}.

[Achilleslastand]

I'm sorry to say, but there will never be true peace in that region.

Of course there wont, and to think we can go in and wave the magic wand of democracy and sure all ills, especially those that have been around for hundreds of years or more is ignorant.

[Chadanth]

Would a stinger missle bring down a plane at that altitude? If so , how can we rule that out , we know ISIS has hundreds of those ,that we supplied them. I read where radar doesn't always detect or pick up small missles. I don't think its to far off track.

No, MANPADs have a ceiling well below that. Do you have evidence that we provided them?

[Chadanth]

Of course there wont, and to think we can go in and wave the magic wand of democracy and sure all ills, especially those that have been around for hundreds of years or more is ignorant.

True. Government has to reflect the values of the governed, and we may have to accept that western style republics and democracy may not work there, in the short run.

[Tundra]

No, MANPADs have a ceiling well below that. Do you have evidence that we provided them?

No , those facts were buried with Ambassador Stevens, but I have no doubt that we did.

[Achilleslastand]

Would a stinger missle bring down a plane at that altitude? If so , how can we rule that out , we know ISIS has hundreds of those ,that we supplied them. I read where radar doesn't always detect or pick up small missles. I don't think its to far off track.

We did supply the Mujahideen with Stingers during the Soviet invasion in the 80s, then attempted to get them all back in a "buy back" program if memory serves correct. At the time we didn't get all of the Stingers back and which no doubt fell into the hands of ner-do-wells.

[Chadanth]

No , those facts were buried with Ambassador Stevens, but I have no doubt that we did.

If we were, he wouldn't be the one doing it, nor the only one who knew. I'm guessing you're unaware that the state department isn't a branch of the military and doesn't have their own heavy weapons. For now, I'll just assume you're making s$*t up, or just parroting things people forward you in emails.

[Chadanth]

We did supply the Mujahideen with Stingers during the Soviet invasion in the 80s, then attempted to get them all back in a "buy back" program if memory serves correct. At the time we didn't get all of the Stingers back and which no doubt fell into the hands of ner-do-wells.

And there are accounts that more recently, Qatar gave the Taliban stingers and other weapons that were intended for other theatres.

[Tundra]

If we were, he wouldn't be the one doing it, nor the only one who knew. I'm guessing you're unaware that the state department isn't a branch of the military and doesn't have their own heavy weapons. For now, I'll just assume you're making s$*t up, or just parroting things people forward you in emails.

Clinton in here own testimony said Stevens was overseeing a flotilla of weapons to Syrian rebel forces. Thats not made up!

[Chadanth]

Clinton in here own testimony said Stevens was overseeing a flotilla of weapons to Syrian rebel forces. Thats not made up!

Actually, in response to Rep Pompeo, she said that she was not aware of that. Do you have a transcript that says otherwise? You also said that knowledge would have died with Ambassador Stevens, then immediately contradicted yourself. Can you be consistent?

[Tundra]

Actually, in response to Rep Pompeo, she said that she was not aware of that. Do you have a transcript that says otherwise? You also said that knowledge would have died with Ambassador Stevens, then immediately contradicted yourself. Can you be consistent?

Can you be civil?

[Chadanth]

Can you be civil?

I can if you can offer something that makes sense. You're just hurling accusations with little or no basis in fact.

[Edmond_Outsider]

Breaking news: Clinton had Ron Brown and ambassador stevens put on the plane and had it blown up just so she could have them killed again to keep them from "telling what they know" again.

With the Clintons, if you know something, they'll just keep killing you.

[Tundra]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...UmOfBTVVQWKtiQ

[kelroy55]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...UmOfBTVVQWKtiQ

and that proves what?

[Chadanth]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...UmOfBTVVQWKtiQ

It's crazy that we are just hearing about this, but the one that did go down was probably a bomb, rather than a missile. The shoulder-fired stuff doesn't typically reach 20,000 feet and higher.

Also, there has been a history of a fairly low-intensity insurgency on the Sinai, including some rocket attacks on Sharm el Sheikh, an IED or two, and miscellaneous small arms attacks on police and foreign troops.

[Tundra]

It's crazy that we are just hearing about this, but the one that did go down was probably a bomb, rather than a missile. The shoulder-fired stuff doesn't typically reach 20,000 feet and higher.

Also, there has been a history of a fairly low-intensity insurgency on the Sinai, including some rocket attacks on Sharm el Sheikh, an IED or two, and miscellaneous small arms attacks on police and foreign troops.

Not sure why they would keep something like this to themselves, I mean it might make a difference in someone traveling or not to that part of the world.... And as far as ISIS is concerned how do we know they don't have larger weapons with the capabilities, i mean didn't the pretty take over a country or two's entire military equipment , including loads of our we just left....

[Achilleslastand]

Not sure why they would keep something like this to themselves, I mean it might make a difference in someone traveling or not to that part of the world.... And as far as ISIS is concerned how do we know they don't have larger weapons with the capabilities, i mean didn't the pretty take over a country or two's entire military equipment , including loads of our we just left....

And most of their equipment is horribly dated. Assault Rifles that are older than I am, as well as a line of battle tanks that are no match for our Abrams line of tanks. As far as AA goes they have some Stingers as well as some platform Soviet stuff that again is dated. Again I believe their conventional weapons are dated or hand me downs{little inside USMC joke}, I would be more worried about any N.B.C. weapons they may get ahold of.

[Chadanth]

Not sure why they would keep something like this to themselves, I mean it might make a difference in someone traveling or not to that part of the world.... And as far as ISIS is concerned how do we know they don't have larger weapons with the capabilities, i mean didn't the pretty take over a country or two's entire military equipment , including loads of our we just left....

True, but the Sinai is not Syria, and something like a BUK (what took out the Malaysian jet over the Ukraine) is probably not within ISIS's Sinai chapter's experience or something they even have. No, I wouldn't fly a jet over Syria or Iraq, either....