Tag: No Fly Zones

Ukraine No-Fly Zone

The big Ukrainian ask of the West is the implementation of a ‘no-fly zone’ over Ukraine. 

There are many Americans that also think the best thing for the US is to impose a “No-Fly” zone over Ukraine to help the people fight against the troops of ‘Vlad the Invader’…..and the case keeps being made by Ukrainian lawmakers as well as the president of that country.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is urging President Biden and NATO to impose a “no-fly zone” over “significant parts” of the country, telling Axios in a statement that Ukraine “can beat the aggressor” if the Western allies “do their part.”

(axious.com)

Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksandra Ustinova continued to make the case.

“We need to protect our sky, and that’s why we need a no-fly zone,” Ustinova said. “I know this is something that nobody wants to talk about because everybody is scared of Vladimir Putin. … My only question here to the international community would be, what is the red line for him? What is the red line when you actually step in? How many children have to die?”

On Friday, Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., called for the implementation of a no-fly zone, stating that it would “disrupt Russias air [operations] to give the heroic Ukrainians a fair fight. It’s now, or later.”

Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., joined him on Monday.

A No-Fly Zone?

A terrible idea!

Why?

First how many know what is actually meant by a ‘no-fly zone’?

A no-fly zone refers to any region of airspace where it has been established that certain aircraft cannot fly.

It can be used to protect sensitive areas, such as royal residences, or brought in temporarily over sporting events and large gatherings.

In a military context, a no-fly zone is designed to stop aircraft from entering banned airspace, usually to prevent attacks or surveillance.

It has to be enforced by military means.

That could be surveillance, pre-emptive strikes against defensive systems or bringing down aircraft which enter the restricted area.

A no-fly zone over Ukraine would mean that military forces – specifically Nato forces – would engage directly with any Russian planes spotted in those skies and shoot at them if necessary.

(bbc.com)

An article as published in Vox.com…..

This is a catastrophic idea. Stripped of cant, the US announcing a no-fly zone in Ukraine would be an American declaration of war on Russia — the first major conflict between the two nations that, put together, control 90 percent of the world’s nuclear weapons.

“A No Fly Zone is not a magical umbrella that prevents planes flying in a given area. It’s a decision to shoot at planes that fly in a given area,” explains Olga Oliker, the International Crisis Group’s director for Europe and Central Asia. “To put in a no fly zone is to go to war.”

This would put NATO and the US in direct action against Russia if the ‘zone’ is to be enforced….now is that really something the US needs to do?  (Think Afghanistan and Iraq)

It started to sound like Ukraine is begging for the US and NATO to go into direct confrontation against Russia…..

I understand the urgency that Ukraine has assigned to this issue….they are just trying to survive…I can sympathize with their desire and their plight….but I still do not think the US needs a new war to contend with right now.

But all this depends on how much lobbying and cash is passed around in DC…..I remember how Wilson was conned into WW1….will Biden be that easy?

The ‘No-Fly Zone’ is a really bad idea.

Any thoughts?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Syria: Are They Safe Now?

Back a few years ago Hillary had the bright idea for Syria….those darn pesky “no-fly zones”…..then during the 2016 campaign season candidate Trump had another brilliant idea for Syria….”Safe Zones”……… both were ideas to protect the refugees and to make it safe for humanitarian aid…..

But enough talk….read my take for yourself……

Source: Seriously? “Safe Zones” Again? – In Saner Thought

I bring this up again because of a situation that has occurred in Syria….the regional powers in the conflict, Russia, Turkey and Iran have signed a deal to implement “safe zones” in the country…..but they are calling them “de-escalation zones”….

Russia, Iran and Turkey have signed a deal calling for the setup of so-called de-escalation zones in war-torn Syria during talks in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana.

The signing ceremony on Thursday was briefly interrrupted as some members of the Syrian armed opposition’s delegation stormed out in protest against Iran’s participation in the deal.

Source: Regional Powers Agree on Syria ‘De-escalation Zones’ | World Affairs Journal

I have written several times about the failure of most “no-fly zones/safe zones”…whatever the Hell you want to call them.

But if you think I may be mistaken then there is a way to see what I am talking about….

Is there more to this move than what we see on the surface?

A new deal aimed at reducing violence in Syria is now in effect, but questions remain as to its implementation and its consequences.

The agreement signed on Thursday by Iran, Russia and Turkey in the Kazakh capital, Astana, is the latest in a series of ceasefire proposals aimed at ending Syria’s war, now in its seventh year.

The plan calls for the cessation of hostilities between rebel groups and forces fighting on behalf of Bashar al-Assad‘s government in four so-called “de-escalation zones” in mainly opposition-held areas of the country.

Source: Syria’s ‘de-escalation zones’ explained | Syria News | Al Jazeera

This story of “safe zones” has not been all that successful…..will this one be any different?

If history is any indication, the creation of a series of safe zones in Syria, currently being discussed by the United States, Russia, Turkey, and the war-torn country, is likely to provide little relief for hundreds of thousands of civilians on the ground.

Moscow, Ankara, and Tehran on May 4 signed a memorandum backing a Russian proposal that calls for such zones to be created in rebel-held territory in northwestern Syria. The United States said it supported any effort to de-escalate the violence in Syria, though it had “concerns” about the agreement.

Source: ANALYSIS. The ‘Very Bad History’ Of Safe Zones | World Affairs Journal

I have said before and still firmly believe that unless everyone involved in the conflict is on board with the “safe zone” thing then there is a high probability that something could go horribly wrong.

I mean the Syrian air force will still be carrying out sorties and so will the US and its allies…..one false move and this conflict could become a full blown war.

So NO this is not a step forward if anything it could become a provocation in one form or another.

Seriously? “Safe Zones” Again?

Oh good God….these twats are talking “safe zones” in Syria again….Clinton was hot on the topic and now Trump likes the idea and he even has his little sock puppet at State down with the idea.

I wrote about this issue awhile ago when it made the headlines…BTW…personal opinion…it is an idea that sucks large!  The problem is great terminology but none of these micro-brains has any idea what it takes to maintain a “safe zone”…..

Source: Trump And His Syrian Strategy – In Saner Thought

SecState Tillerson was at an anti-ISIS meeting (I’m guessing it was after his nap) and he pledged that the US would set up those ever popular “safe zones”……

Speaking today at an anti-ISIS coalition meeting, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson confirmed previous comments by President Trump that the US intends to set up “safe zones” in northern Syria “to allow refugees to return home.”

As has been the case in the past, Tillerson’s comments did not offer much in the way of details on how the US intends to make this happen, though he did offer the idea that the US would establish “interim zones of stability, through ceasefires.”

There were no details on exactly where these safe zones would be located, but one would have to assume that the territory occupied by Turkey in northern Aleppo Province would house at least some of the zones, and that it is unlikely the Idlib Province, which is torn by fighting among various rebels, would have any.

(antiwar.com)

Nice idea the problem is no one seems to know what the Hell he/she is talking about……

Coalition military officials denied that any orders have been given to them so far to establish safe zones or “any kind of zones” at all. Though Turkey now controls territory that could be used for such zones, it is likely the US would be expected to deploy a lot of troops to secure those areas.

Nothing like decisive plans coming from the State Department of the Trump administration….goddamn amateurs…..

But for further reading:

Source: Clinton And Her “Safe Zones” – In Saner Thought

Source: Syria: “No Fly, Schmo Fly” – In Saner Thought

Syria: “No Fly, Schmo Fly”

Guess what idea is making the rounds with the people that have failed to contain ISIS?  (I’m waiting…..the title can help if you are suffering from brain farts)….

There are those in the US and elsewhere that are pushing the idea of a “no fly zone” or a “buffer zone”….the excuse is that it will help protect innocent civilians from the ravaging of war……(I have my doubts on the validity of the promise)…..

During an interview with Maddow on MSNBC Clinton joined the club calling for a “no fly zone”……

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton reiterated to MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow on Friday that she completely supports a No Fly Zone in Syria – but that it wouldn’t necessarily lead to conflict with Russia.

How’s that?

After getting a long and rambling answer to the question of shooting down Russian aircraft, Maddow cut Clinton off by pointing out that “ultimately a no-fly zone is an anti-aircraft proposition.” But Clinton responded, “It is, but that doesn’t mean you shoot at every aircraft that might violate it the first or second time.”

Sorry Hil but that is exactly what it means…..if not then what purpose will it serve?

Those in favor of this point to the Iraqi “no fly zones” after the first Gulf War as to just how successful these can be……first of all (laugh my ass off at the stupidity of that statement)…….

This zone strikes me as a way to try and control ISIS not defeat it….the more I read the more I am sure that this is about the most asinine idea yet for this conflict.

Granted that ISIS has been getting their butts handed to them in recent months but that does not mean that it is being defeated…..

I read a piece in the “New Eastern Outlook” that made some excellent points……….( read on if you would like to see where this may not be this best idea to come out)….

Source: US-Turkey “Buffer Zone” to Save ISIS, Not Stop Them | New Eastern Outlook

The Institute for the Study of War has an analysis of what people will call a “no fly” scenario…..the proposed plan has many facets than the simplistic title…..before such a situation is installed there are many parts to the whole and all parts need to be considered seriously not out of hand…..

Source: U.S. Options For A Syrian No-Fly Zone | Institute for the Study of War

The tactics being used in our conflict against ISIS are tactics used in the past….some worked out beautifully and others not so much…..instead of recycling techniques from the past there needs to be a new way of thinking…..a new way to handle international conflicts….I dunno like……war is NOT the only answer ( after the latest attacks this one line ought get the mental midgets fired up).