ARmy Rumour SErvice

I guess this is really naughty as well ;(if)


Report: Iran, Russia, China to hold mass military drill in Syria
Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency claims plans underway for joint land and sea-based war games, with 90,000 soldiers and hundreds of aircraft taking part, to take place in early July.
By Haaretz | Jun.19, 2012 | 11:51 AM | 4



Iran, Russia, China and Syria are planning to hold joint military drill in Syria in early July, according to a report published Tuesday morning by Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency.

Citing "informed sources," Fars reported that the four countries will conduct war games on land and at sea, with the participation of some 90,000 soldiers, 1,000 tanks and 400 aircraft.

According to the sources, Egypt has agreed to allow 12 Chinese warships passage through the Suez Canal on their way to Syria.

Iranian battleships and submarines, along with Russian nuclear submarines, warships, aircraft carriers and mine-clearing destroyers will also participate in the exercise.

Fars quoted "unofficial sources" who described the exercise as the largest war games exercise ever conducted in the Middle East
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Haaretz

Originally Posted by OldSnowy

The Yanks can't upset the Russkies on Syria. Reason is - we're fucked getting stuff out of Afghanistan without the Russkies, and Putin knows it. Expect Obama and Putin to agree to leave Assad in place. If we do any morestupid things like stopping that ship, we'll be fucked too.

A problem for you:
- Unless we want the Armyto have to 'walk to work' for the next 20 years, we're going to need vehicles.
- They are all in HERRICK, and we can only get them out via Russia or airyplane.
- One method is MUCH cheaper than the other.
- We are skint.

Work it out for yourself

Turkmenistan
Sea Transit
Azerbaijan
Georgia
Sea Transit

Just saying like... although have been no-where near.

What's the betting a Russian firm will be sorting out the new policy as we speak?

Let the Russians, Chinese and Iranians have the hell-hole.

Once Assad has done a bit more crushing, she'll start loosening the thumbscrews anyway - if the West was serious about helping the rebels they would be arming them by now. They're on their last legs already.

IF Assad were to fall, she'd be replaced by just as savage a dictator - or a committee of them - who would go on to create far more trouble and carry out far more massacres, than Assad.

Originally Posted by philc

Couple of points, this removal of insurance is just a gesture, seriously does anyone think this Russian ship is just going to stop and get new insurance. Best case scenario the Russian government underwrite the thing. In Jan a big thing was made about a Russian ship being stopped in Cyprus as its destination was Syria, it was allowed on its way next day after the captain to change his destination, the new destination was not disclosed.

Russia need and want a Navel port of Syria so they will prop up the present government.

As for not upsetting the Russian, I hear what you say Oldsnowy, but come the time, either through Pakistan to Karachi then shipping or Train through Turkmenistan, ferry to Baku and then Turkey seems the easier route. A few problems, but easier than the long way round.

Without club insurance, apart from this one, none of this owners other seven vessels are employable either. They cannot call at many of the world's ports, most charterers cannot employ them. That affects behaviour. Maybe on this trip some sticking plaster will be applied, and it will get to syria, but it makes the next shipment much more difficult. The sanction that means Iranian ships, for example, cannot be insured via London is one of the single most effective measures in place - Iran will struggle to move the oil from its terminals.

I suspect if there's enough political mileage to be gained from blocking this kind of interference, we might see a nucleus new shipping insurance market being opened elsewhere.

What if the own goal turns out to be ours?

Is it just me or do heli's not get upgraded over night. Its Syria's Kit already and Russia's just giving it back.

Is it just me but if someone's going to do something about this it should be the Arabs.

Originally Posted by Emsav

This is getting more intriguing by the hour, the MV Alaed has vanished off the face of the planet – has not transmitted an AIS signal in over nine hours. Maybe it has been abducted by aliens – think not – somebody has been told to “pull the plug”!! Nothing to get excited about, obviously manager of the vessel and those in charge of the cargo, presumably helicopters and missiles, mull over further actions. The media is presuming the vessel won’t be able to continue the voyage without the insurance, withdrawn by Standard Club, but that’s doubtful, because the powers behind that shipment wouldn’t consider withdrawal of the insurance as serious enough problem to cancel the delivery. To the best of my belief, if MV Alaed is loaded with what everybody now believes she’s loaded, the manager of the vessel doesn’t control the situation and will do what he’s ordered to do. There is one more fact to consider – EU may impose sanctions, but Russia doesn’t agree with them or undertake any obligations, legally speaking, Russia is delivering legal arms to legal government of Syria, what’s the problem? There is or may be the problem for the owners of the vessel, but that’s the last thing Russian authorities and arms dealers would care about. There again the owner may be just one more victim of power games and arms trade, like Mr. But or MV Arctic Sea owner. Hands up; who wishes to admit to making the MV Alaed disappear?

Nearly forgot, one more interesting fact in the “Russian freighter Alaed riddle.” FEMCO have announced the vessel will be open in Saint Petersburg July 5^th -10^th and is looking for any cargo destined for Vladivostok. That means the vessel is scheduled to return to Saint Petersburg after its present voyage, even though AIS reports the vessel is sailing to Vladivostok already. Something is not legitimate; the vessel cannot possibly complete a voyage to Vladivostok, unload/load and return to Saint Petersburg by July 5^th. However there is enough time to sail to Tartus, unload and return to Saint Petersburg.

Looking into FEMCO, it would appear to be a private shipping company and maybe the Russian government does not have direct involvement in the shipment to Syria. That might be some of the issue here. The shipping paperwork specifying the cargo and its owner appears to be in question, possibly a problem with ownership of FEMCO, too. Hmmm. Very confusing. Ship owners are supposed to have their act together. It is very upsetting to realize the ship was underway without proper credentials to a place where people are under attack from their government – this situation gets curiouser and curiouser by the minute. I wonder if you Brits might consider sending your Navy to board the damn thing as it was last known to be in UK waters.

Sorry love, cant't do that, human rights.....