Three Russian warships have entered Syrian territorial waters, Russian wire services reported on Tuesday. The ships are believed to be operating near Syria.
Final destination of the Russian warships were reported to be the Syrian port of Tartus, where Russia maintains a strategic naval base.
“We are not commenting on this information,” said Russian Navy spokesman Igor Dygalo. Unofficial sources confirm this, but add that Russia is there to protect strategic and national security interests and prevent war.
There are over 100,000 Russian citizens in Syria. Russia is obligated to protect its citizens in Syria from any sort of military aggression by the United States.
Russia dismissed new U.S. “exterritorial” sanctions against Iran as “unacceptable and violating international law”.
The U.S. sanctions slapped on Iran on Monday “seriously complicate efforts for constructive dialogue with Tehran,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said in a statement.
“Ratcheting up the sanctions pressure, which for some of our partners is becoming practically an end in itself, will not encourage Iran to sit down at the negotiating table,” the Russian statement said.
"The United States is playing avery dangerous game here. One that may result in Russia taking defensive military actions to protect itself, its military installation and Russian citizens", said one Russian foreign intelligence operative, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
In the region already is the U.S. nuclear aircraft carrier HW Bush, as well a compliment of supporting ships, part of a carrier battle group, that includes support ships and frigates - it provides unmatched fire power and force projection capabilities. Carrier battle groups such as the one deployed off the coast of Syria are increasingly vulnerable to arsenal ships and cruise missiles, especially those with supersonic flight and the ability to perform radical trajectory changes to avoid anti-missile systems.
One Russian military expert suggested recently "U.S. carriers, like the kind deployed near Syria are $6 billion dollar expensive floating targets, that are vulnerable to attacks by aircraft, missiles and torpedos. They were designed for Cold War scenarios, and are less useful in establishing control of areas close to shore."
It is unclear what will happen if the United States decides to start bombing targets in Syria under the guise of humanitarian reasons. Many would argue that you don't protect civilians by bombing them or targeting critical infastructure like utility and water lines, as was the case in Libya. Should they do that it could be interpreted as an attack against Russian citizens living in that country. God forbid what will happen is Russian citizens get killed or attacks by U.S. aircraft in Syria.
For now the entire world watches and wait to see if the U.S. Adminstration will start yet another war in the middle east, that we can't afford - as part of "the Plan" according to U.S. General Wesley Clark (Ret.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXS3vW47mOE.
See also article: "General Wesley Clark Reveals US Plan To Invade Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Lybia, Somalia, Sudan, And Iran" http://blog.alexanderhiggins.com/2011/05/22/general-wesley-clark-reveals-plan-invade-iraq-syria-lebanon-lybia-somalia-sudan-iran-22858/
"This is not good news, my son is in the Navy searving in the 6th Fleet aboard the Bush right now", says *Mary M. of Charlotte, N.C. "I'm scared to death what might happen. My entire family is super worried that President Obama will get us into another war." (*NOTE: Mary's ast name is being withheld for operational security reasons to protect both the family and service member involved.)
Robert Tilford
Charlotte, N.C.
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