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War, War, War See other War, War, War Articles Title: US-Turkey-Saudi Arabia Arm Terrorists with Surface-to-Air Missiles in Syria Sputnik... Second Syrian plane shot down by Islamist rebels in one month as al-Nusra and Daesh continue to acquire American weaponry from Turkey, bankrolled by Saudi Arabia. On Tuesday, Islamist rebels shot down a Syrian plane, the second such incident in less than a month, and captured the pilots. Inquiries are being made at the highest level as to how the al-Nusra Front, a branch of al-Qaeda in Syria, has come into possession of advanced Western surface-to-air missiles. Russian servicemen at Hmeimim airbase in Syria © Sputnik/ Dmitriy Vinogradov Russia Registers Four Ceasefire Violations in Syria in Past 24 Hours Loud & Clear’s Brian Becker sat down with Institute of Islamic Thought director Zafar Bangash on Thursday to discuss the developing situation in Syria and whether access to this weaponry will undermine Syrian air superiority. Where are al-Qaeda affiliates getting these advanced weapons? "According to the information that has emerged, it was al-Nusra Front, a branch of al-Qaeda in Syria," explained Bangash. He speculated that the missiles were sold to the extremist group by Turkey and paid for by Saudi Arabia, in a continuing effort to overthrow the Assad regime. He suggested that the Americans have a hand in it as well, saying, "the United States has always been involved in providing these weapons, even if not directly." The plane shot down on Tuesday was over Aleppo, an al-Nusra and Daesh stronghold. Why is that significant? "Aleppo is the only major city that has been under the control of al-Nusra or Daesh," explained Bangash. "The Syrian Army was making progress along with Hezbollah fighters and Iran’s revolutionary guards backed by the Russian Air Force and have been inching towards Aleppo." Police keep watch over passengers at Los Angeles International Airport after the US State Department issued a worldwide travel alert warning US citizens of the heightened risks of traveling due to increased terrorist threats November 23, 2015 in Los Angeles, California © AFP 2016/ MARK RALSTON Senate Votes to Strengthen US Airport Security After Recent Terror Attacks Bangash elaborated that the capture of Aleppo by rebel forces is significant, due to it being the largest city in Syria, and formerly the country’s financial hub. "It is even larger than Damascus, so obviously the terrorist groups and their backers will put up a tough fight not to lose it," said Bangash. Does terrorist access to anti-aircraft technology deprive the Syrian army of air supremacy? "Not completely. I don’t think it will prove a game-changer because Russia is still there," said Bangash. "These terrorists can cause some damage and some threat to the Syrian air force, and I am sure that the Syrian air force will change their tactics." The first F-35A for the Italian Air Force, and the first F-35 built at the Cameri FACO, takes to the skies over Italy © AP Photo/ Lockheed Martin Photography by T The Money Pit Deepens: US Air Force to Spend $500 Million to Prep Base for F-35s Nonetheless, Russia’s continued presence in the fight against extremist militants will continue to keep rebel groups on their heels as allied forces march towards Aleppo. "Russian air force planes carried out a number of operations last week," said Bangash. "Further, per the ceasefire agreement between Russia and the US, the terrorist groups were specifically excluded from the ceasefire, so Russia has no obligation whatsoever to avoid attacking these groups." Has the US presence in Syria benefitted the extremist organizations? “Yes,” said Bangash who explained that, since 2005, the Americans along with Saudi Arabia and Turkey have had their eyes on ousting Assad from controlling Syria. "If the Syrian people don’t want Assad, that is for the Syrian people to decide, it isn’t for the United States or any other country to decide." He said that he "thinks it is very clear that the US wants to bring down the government of Bashar al-Assad, and that is why the Americans are talking about increasing their special forces in Syria." Bangash said that the US presence has never been welcomed by the Syrian government. "They have not been given permission by the Syrian government and that is in violation of international law and the UN Charter." US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump addresses the crowd at a campaign rally in Farmington, New Hampshire January 25, 2016. © REUTERS/ Gretchen Ertl Obama Defends Costly NATO War Machine Over Trump’s ‘Ill Advised’ Opposition In contrast, Bangash says that the Russian government came in to maintain the stability of the current Syrian regime, and prevent the country from becoming a failed state, similar to Libya following the ouster of Muammar Gadhafi. "Russia went there with permission of the legitimate government, but the US is there illegally," he stressed. Poster Comment: Korz53 02:22 08.04.2016 USA LAW : (a) Offense.— Whoever provides material support or resources or conceals or disguises the nature, location, source, or ownership of material support or resources, knowing or intending that they are to be used in preparation for, or in carrying out, a violation of section 32, 37, 81, 175, 229, 351, 831, 842 (m) or (n), 844 (f) or (i), 930 (c), 956, 1091, 1114, 1116, 1203, 1361, 1362, 1363, 1366, 1751, 1992, 2155, 2156, 2280, 2281, 2332, 2332a, 2332b, 2332f, 2340A, or 2442 of this title, section 236 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2284), section 46502 or 60123 (b) of title 49, or any offense listed in section 2332b (g)(5)(B) (except for sections 2339A and 2339B) or in preparation for, or in carrying out, the concealment of an escape from the commission of any such violation, or attempts or conspires to do such an act, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 15 years, or both, and, if the death of any person results, shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life. A violation of this section may be prosecuted in any Federal judicial district in which the underlying offense was committed, or in any other Federal judicial district as provided by law. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
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