Putin Declares No-Fly Zone in Western Syria

[What Would Jesus Do?]

OK, not really. But what if he did?

I raise this because plenty of people here as well as politicians and pundits on both right and left have suggested that WE should impose a no-fly zone over Syria. That always struck me as a dangerous idea, given all the different players in this war. Not least because what would we do if Russia violated our no-fly zone?

So flip the scenario. What should our response be if Russia declares its own no-fly zone? Should we challenge it? And if we do, how would Russia respond?

 

[ICHerky]

OK, not really. But what if he did?

I raise this because plenty of people here as well as politicians and pundits on both right and left have suggested that WE should impose a no-fly zone over Syria. That always struck me as a dangerous idea, given all the different players in this war. Not least because what would we do if Russia violated our no-fly zone?

So flip the scenario. What should our response be if Russia declares its own no-fly zone? Should we challenge it? And if we do, how would Russia respond?

I would let them know we will fly where we want and when we want. If they were to engage one of our planes we will take them down.

I'd tell them the same thing if we were to impose a no fly zone. Russia wants no part of the USA.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

I would let them know we will fly where we want and when we want. If they were to engage one of our planes we will take them down.

I'd tell them the same thing if we were to impose a no fly zone. Russia wants no part of the USA.

Do you send US pilots into Russia's no-fly zone without coordinating with them?

Or, if we are the ones declaring a no-fly zone, do you shoot down a Russian plane that strays into our no-fly space?

If they shot down our plane in their no-fly zone, what should we do?

If we shoot down their plane in our no-fly zone, what should we expect them to do?

 

[ICHerky]

Do you send US pilots into Russia's no-fly zone without coordinating with them?

Or, if we are the ones declaring a no-fly zone, do you shoot down a Russian plane that strays into our no-fly space?

If they shot down our plane in their no-fly zone, what should we do?

If we shoot down their plane in our no-fly zone, what should we expect them to do?[/QUOTE

They'd get a couple warnings but, yes, I'd shoot down their planes if they continually ignored the no fly zone. Then I'd expect them to stop flying where prohibited.

If they shot out plane down I would retaliate because I would have already let them know we are not bound to their restrictions.

Our POTUS has really screwed up this whole situation. He is Ming numbingly bad.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

They'd get a couple warnings but, yes, I'd shoot down their planes if they continually ignored the no fly zone. Then I'd expect them to stop flying where prohibited.

If they shot out plane down I would retaliate because I would have already let them know we are not bound to their restrictions.

Our POTUS has really screwed up this whole situation. He is Ming numbingly bad.

This is what is known by the rest of the world as American Exceptionalism.

 

[Herkmeister]

1. First, BHO would ask Putin if he's sure his no-fly zone is big enough.
   
2. Then,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,BHO would sneak yet another glance at the Russian leader's crotch to confirm is gigantic set of balls.
   
3. BHO will finish by fondling himself with the amazement that a small white man could balls soooooo much bigger than his.

 

[Herkmeister]

Do you send US pilots into Russia's no-fly zone without coordinating with them?

Or, if we are the ones declaring a no-fly zone, do you shoot down a Russian plane that strays into our no-fly space?

If they shot down our plane in their no-fly zone, what should we do?

If we shoot down their plane in our no-fly zone, what should we expect them to do?

Ahhhhh yes, the dance of the cold war is once again upon us.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Ahhhhh yes, the dance of the cold war is once again upon us.

Here is my biggest spin-off hope - and I'm not kidding. I hope authors of the caliber of Le Carre and Deighton and some others will resume writing good spy novels. Among my favorite genres and there's hardly been anything since the fall of the USSR. Le Carre made a valiant (and career-damaging) effort to shift gears with the excellent Constant Gardner, but that's all I can think of at the moment.

I'm not sure spy novels will ever have the same punch without a genuine ideological clash and without more parity between the players, but I can hope.

 

[Herkmeister]

Here is my biggest spin-off hope - and I'm not kidding. I hope authors of the caliber of Le Carre and Deighton and some others will resume writing good spy novels. Among my favorite genres and there's hardly been anything since the fall of the USSR. Le Carre made a valiant (and career-damaging) effort to shift gears with the excellent Constant Gardner, but that's all I can think of at the moment.

I'm not sure spy novels will ever have the same punch without a genuine ideological clash and without more parity between the players, but I can hope.

Man, you're making me wish I read fiction. No, wait.............I read it here quite often. Never mind.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Man, you're making me wish I read fiction. No, wait.............I read it here quite often. Never mind.

Well . . . they made Constant Gardner into a very good movie, too.

 

[ICHerky]

This is what is known by the rest of the world as American Exceptionalism.

We are exceptional and everyone knows we are. To pretend countries like Iran, Iraq or any other middle eastern county is our equivalent is ridiculous.

Russia is not our equivalent either. Not economically or militarily. We need a POTUS that will reestablish our leadership.

 

[soybean]

Do you send US pilots into Russia's no-fly zone without coordinating with them?

Or, if we are the ones declaring a no-fly zone, do you shoot down a Russian plane that strays into our no-fly space?

If they shot down our plane in their no-fly zone, what should we do?

If we shoot down their plane in our no-fly zone, what should we expect them to do?

Nothing. They would do nothing.

 

[lucas80]

I would let them know we will fly where we want and when we want. If they were to engage one of our planes we will take them down.

I'd tell them the same thing if we were to impose a no fly zone. Russia wants no part of the USA.

Get your check book out to donate to the memorial funds for our dead pilots under your scenario. But, hey, someone has to back up your tough talk.

 

[lucas80]

ISIS doesn't have any air capability so a no fly zone, no matter who runs it, doesn't help against ISIS.

 

[ottumwan in tx]

Is this the muslim side of syria? Trump wants to know

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Nothing. They would do nothing.

Do you mean "they" as in the Russians or "they" as in our government? Or both?

Here's the tricky part for those who talk up this option: just who are you targeting?

At the moment, all the planes that are flying belong to us, our partners or the Russians. ISIS doens't have planes. Assad may have some, but we don't hear about them. We do sometimes hear about helicopters dropping barrel bombs. These are always attributed to Assad, although I don't think there's ever been any effort to prove that and it's not implausible that ISIS might have a few choppers.

 

[Nat Algren]

I would let them know we will fly where we want and when we want. If they were to engage one of our planes we will take them down.

I'd tell them the same thing if we were to impose a no fly zone. Russia wants no part of the USA.

As an ally and neighbor of Syria, Russia was 'invited' in by Assad. The U.S.A. otoh, was not. It is 6K miles from Syria and has no flipping right to be on their soil and implement regime change.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

As an ally and neighbor of Syria, Russia was 'invited' in by Assad. The U.S.A. otoh, was not. It is 6K miles from Syria and has no flipping right to be on their soil and implement regime change.

Basically correct. But that doesn't phase most Americans.