Why the U.S. Hopes ISIS Didn't Destroy the Russian Airliner
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If the airliner?s destruction in linked to ISIS, it may clarify U.S. thinking in two important ways. It could solidify public support for more military action (imagine if 224 Americans had died in the blast). It also might force Congress to act; it has stood passively on the sidelines since Obama ordered bombing of ISIS targets to begin in August 2014. The U.S. public tends to be fickle about sending troops to fight overseas; a congressional declaration of war on ISIS might go a long way to steeling the nation for a lengthy campaign.
Confirmation that an ISIS explosion brought down the plane would signal that the U.S.-led efforts against the ISIS heartland in Iraq and Syria have done little to deter the terror group?s ambitions. If confirmed, the fact that the airliner was brought down by ISIS?s Egyptian affiliate would only highlight the challenge posed by the group and its expanding network of like-minded terrorists.
Secondly, it would show ISIS?s willingness to bring the war home to both Russians and Americans.
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Hopefully, there will be some aircraft malfunction that caused this disaster -- and not some cover-up to protect vulnerability. Conversely, if it was a terrorist event both the USA and Russia have to seriously rethink their strategies.
Russia has placed anti-aircraft missiles in Syria and:
Russia has anti-aircraft missiles in Syria to defend against "different emergencies, such as hijacking" - CBS News
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Russian officials have insisted that their military involvement in Syria will be limited to an air force operation.
Col. Gen. Viktor Bondarev said in an interview with the daily Komsomolskaya Pravda that the anti-aircraft missiles are there to project Russian fighter jets from a possible attack or hijack while on mission.
"There can be different emergencies, such as hijacking the jet on the territory of a neighboring country or an attack on it," he said. "We should be prepared for that."
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1sf8EpgkSQ
Kiddies -- it's déjà vu again ... Been there done that ..