Here it comes: Syria

[SASless]

You are free to believe what you wish.....be it fantasy or not!

Originally Posted by Al-bert

If the good Col is to be believed, this latest Trumperation wasn't a mistake but a pre-planned deception nichts war?

[flash8]

But if the US ships would attack the Russian base, where IADS is really deployed and operated by right people, the result would be different, but there is a great probability that millions would not wake up this morning. Good night.

Along those lines... I can't understand how the missiles managed to avoid certain parts of the base where the Russians resided. Who the heck knows where they were during the operation and the projectile accuracy.

Worries me that there could have been Russian casualties and that takes the game to an entirely new and unreal level.

Either Trump is extremely clever or very naive, if the former one suspects that we aren't viewing the whole picture and that he possibly could have been working with the Russians all along, if the latter deeply worrying, and I thought Bush was a cowboy.

[KenV]

Originally Posted by flash8

Worries me that there could have been Russian casualties and that takes the game to an entirely new and unreal level.

Ummmmmm, the US informed the Russians of the attack hours before the attack, including the base that was being targeted. The Russians had ample time to get their folks out of harms way. No "cowboy" antics here.

And incidentally, the Russians could have warned the Syrian Air Force who could then have evacuated their aircraft. But they did not. The Russians also made no attempts to shoot down the missiles.

[KenV]

Originally Posted by Buster Hyman

Sorry if I'm covering old ground but, 59 Tomahawks? Are that many needed to disable an airbase? (Genuinely don't know).

Here's the target tally we know about:
15 concrete aircraft parking revetments
10 aircraft maintenance hangars/buildings
10 anti aircraft defense sites
7 fuel storage/pumping facilities
10 ammunition bunkers
That's 52 specific targets we know about. Some targets (like large hangars) may have had more than one missile targeted at it.

And for those nitwits who complain about the cost of those missiles, each aircraft destroyed cost 20 to 50 times the cost of the missile. 20 aircraft were destroyed. The hangars, maintenance buildings, fuel facilities, ammunition facilities, aircraft revetments, etc etc almost certainly cost way more than the missiles. Those missiles got a LOT of bang for the bucks spent.

[flash8]

each aircraft destroyed cost 20 to 50 times the cost of the missile.

Six ancient Floggers?

[TEEEJ]

Originally Posted by flash8

Six ancient Floggers?

Not just MiG-23s but also Su-22s.

Fitter undercarriage in one of the targeted shelters.

Sputnik Images media library :: Gallery

Reference link

http://data3.primeportal.net/hangar/...028_of_145.jpg

Fitter tail in targeted shelter

Sputnik Images media library :: Gallery

Reference link

http://data3.primeportal.net/hangar/...072_of_145.jpg

[TEEEJ]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf_50

Photo #3067785 seems to show that something got through the roof of a bunker.
Not sure how that news agency (Sputnik) got those photographs, nor their date ... ..

Looks like the work of a Tactical Tomahawk (TACTOM) variant with the penetrating warhead.

See at 1:30 and from 1:37.

[The Sultan]

Bottom line is base back up in less than 24 hours and back to bombing hospitals and killing civilians. A Wag the Dog operation to boost Trumpet's pathetic approval numbers.

[Fonsini]

This thread is rich in tinfoil.

[Rhino power]

Originally Posted by KenV

And for those nitwits who complain about the cost of those missiles, each aircraft destroyed cost 20 to 50 times the cost of the missile...

Er, no... Obsolete MiG-23's and SU-22's do not cost '20 to 50' times the amount of one TLAM!

-RP

[West Coast]

What's the price of an equivelant replacement from the Russians?

[Pontius Navigator]

Originally Posted by The Sultan

Bottom line is base back up in less than 24 hours and back to bombing hospitals and killing civilians. A Wag the Dog operation to boost Trumpet's pathetic approval numbers.

As s the runways were not targeted that is true. Repairing the aircraft in the shelters might take a little longer. I think you will find the orbat is a bit reduced.

As I said earlier, the most effective counter air program is kill the aircrew. To do that would pose a politically high risk of collateral casualties which makes the aircraft and facilities the next best thing.

It they wanted to close the airfield two sticks of bombs along each runway would do the trick but for cost effectiveness you would need one or two B2.

[Lyneham Lad]

Originally Posted by beardy

I find it ironic that Trump is mired in inactivity on the home front where he can't enact much of his election promises but has taken action he indicated he wouldn't take in the only sphere where he has free reign as Commander in Chief.

But does he / should he have free rein? ISTR that President Obama tried to take action on Libya but could not get the agreement of Congress necessary to take those actions. On that basis, shouldn't President Trump also have sought Congress approval rather than make a unilateral decision to launch missiles?

[beardy]

I suppose he felt that he could be blocked and frustrated, again.

[Pontius Navigator]

LL, I don't believe Clinton was so inhibited. He launched cruise missiles against Somalia on 20 Aug 1998. Coincidentally he also submitted testimony to the grand jury 3 days earlier.

[TEEEJ]

Another video showing aftermath of the airstrike. More footage of shelters with roof holes from the Tomahawks. The remains of the aircraft shown are MiG-23s. Extensive damage to weapons storage areas.

[A_Van]

I wonder if he is now going to cut the north korean mad shorty further down? Is it a coincidence that after he talked to the Chinese commy boss "CVN-70 & Co" started moving north?

[BEagle]

If American intelligence (that well-known oxymoron) has 100% proof that the Sarin was dropped by the Syrian air force, then the TLAM attack was justly deserved.

But was it? Where is the clear and unambiguous proof?

However, if the Russian version is correct, namely that the Syrian air force bombed a rebel installation which was producing chemical weapons, then that swivel-eyed imbecile has a lot of questions to answer.

[AnglianAV8R]

Originally Posted by BEagle

If American intelligence (that well-known oxymoron) has 100% proof that the Sarin was dropped by the Syrian air force, then the TLAM attack was justly deserved.

But was it? Where is the clear and unambiguous proof?

However, if the Russian version is correct, namely that the Syrian air force bombed a rebel installation which was producing chemical weapons, then that swivel-eyed imbecile has a lot of questions to answer.

Well, some of the media coverage of this alleged airstrike shows 'White Helmets' dealing with casualties. They are shown wearing industrial dust filter masks and no gloves, handling casualties.... Absolute folly if it were sarin.

The location appears to be a 'depot' of sorts and is probably also used by the extremist fighters. So, there is good reason to suspect that any CB agents may have been in the hands of these rebels and a hit by conventional munitions from the air or artillery resulted in the contamination.

The White Helmets have been 'outed' using the same girl as a casualty in different bombings and also using what are believed to be dummies. They are funded by Western interests and are closely associated with extremist fighters too.

Alternatively, we can trust our media who describe the alleged Syrian air strike as absolute fact, whilst failing to proffer any evidence.

[ShotOne]

The alternative explanation is these were rebel stocks blown up by conventional attack. The rebels have stated they would never use poison gas. Which is believable as they have no means of delivery and using it would instantly strip them of support and sympathy. So why would they have a stockpile a) at all, b) unprotected in the midst of a crowded civilian area?