Russian warships cross Bosphorus, enroute to Syria

[Holly_Hobby]

Three Russian warships crossed Turkey's Bosphorus Strait Thursday en route to the eastern Mediterranean, near the Syrian coast, amid concern in the region over potential US-led strikes in response to the Damascus regime's alleged use of chemical weapons.

The SSV-201 intelligence ship Priazovye, accompanied by the two landing ships Minsk and Novocherkassk passed through the Bosphorus known as the Istanbul strait that separates Asia from Europe, an AFP photographer reported.

The Priazovye on Sunday started its voyage from its home port of Sevastopol in Ukraine "to the appointed region of military service in the eastern Mediterranean", a military official told the Interfax news agency.

...

http://news.yahoo.com/russian-warships-cross-bosphorus-en-route-syria-141156573.html

[HooptieWagon]

1. As expected.

Russian troops, ground attack choppers, and S300 air defense systems. Probably back-up communications gear also.
Obama's balls really in a vise now (borrowing another DUers eloquent phrasing).

[David__77]

2. Obama is playing with fire.

Russia is facing a challenge to its security not unlike the Cuban missile crisis in its gravity.

[stevenleser]

6. That is the one thing here I am not concerned about. Russia is only doing this for show.

If you know who controls Russia and what they are about you understand that the last thing they would do is go to war with us.

[markiv]

3. The Cold War has, for all practical purposes, returned

with an eerie symmetry

Russia, without the Warsaw pact, and the US, without NATO

[fujiyama]

4. Syria seems to be the first hot conflict in this second Cold War

Kinda like Korea was for the first one.

How ironic though, considering one of Obama's only real efforts during his short time in the Senate was in trying to work with the Russians on non proliferation issues.

[markiv]

5. just as you never pay a contractor in advance....

you dont give out nobel peace prizes in advance, either

[fujiyama]

7. Haha, well stated! nt

[Catherina]

8. Getting a bit crowded

[fujiyama]

9. Shit. No wonder the Russians want to keep Syria within their sphere of influence.

From what I can see, it's pretty damn limited as it is in the Mediterranean.