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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
DoD: U.S. and Russian Aircraft Have Close Encounter Over Syria
2015-10-08
[NBCNEWS] There has been at least one close encounter between a Russian aircraft and a U.S. aircraft over Syria, forcing the U.S. to re-route that aircraft to avoid a conflict, the Pentagon confirmed on Wednesday.
Perhaps the two forces should exchange phone numbers? Maybe the officer of the day could contact the operations duty officer? Or divide the airspace east and west or north and south or by quadrant.
Moscow's unexpected move to launch Arclight airstrikes in Syria has brought the greatest threat of an accidental clash between Russian and Western forces since the Cold War. Russian warplanes as well as those of the United States and its allies are now flying combat missions over the same country for the first time since World War II, raising concerns about potentially dangerously crowded airspace.

The U.S. continues to conduct Arclight airstrikes over Syria, but the missions are "not unabated" as the U.S. had been saying in recent days, Pentagon spokesperson Captain Jeff Davis told news hounds during a briefing on Wednesday. The manned U.S. aircraft was within 20 miles of a Russian aircraft.

He did not elaborate on exactly when and where in Syrian airspace the incident occurred.

The U.S. has "a high level of situational awareness" of the airspace above Syria, Davis said, and American military officials have "taken some actions to ensure safe separation of aircraft."
Posted by:Fred

#6  You may be correct Beso.

The problem is, to continue your metaphor, when the younger brother becomes enraged at the constant humiliation inflicted by the elder and the resulting temper tantrum gets way out of hand and the gun is grabbed.
Posted by: AlanC   2015-10-08 09:58  

#5  I fear that the only real question left about our regime is exactly when and where they will stumble (or step) into WWIII.

A military 'incident' is inevitable. A U.S. retreat and a further weakening of our military is also inevitable. War is unlikely. This is a row between like-minded brothers, Vlad being the older and much more cunning of the two.
Posted by: Besoeker   2015-10-08 07:25  

#4  This is just the latest example of "smart" diplomacy coupled with unlimited hubris and bottomless incompetence and ignorance.

I fear that the only real question left about our regime is exactly when and where they will stumble (or step) into WWIII.

With the tone and content of all their recent pronouncements denigrating any prospective foe I would be not be surprised to find out that the step I mention above was deliberate as a ploy to support some sort of martial law movement.
Posted by: AlanC   2015-10-08 07:19  

#3  Its starting to feel a lot like "Alas Babylon" to me.

This could get very ugly as Russia and the US are on opposite sides flying close air support in the same AO...
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom   2015-10-08 06:14  

#2  Let's hope the next U.S. 'aircraft' that has a close encounter is an F-22.
Posted by: Raj   2015-10-08 01:19  

#1  See RELATED BIGNEWSNETWORK > PENTAGON: COALITION WARPLANES RE-ROUTED" OVER SYRIA TO AVOID RUSSIANS.

OTOH DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > THREAD showed a computer graphic from CBSNEWS.COM indic that the overwhelming majority or bulk of third-party aircraft - Manned or Drone - ON-SCREEN are AMERICAN, US ALLIES = RUSSIA = HAD ONLY TWO AIRCRAFT BLIPS???

Personally, I'd like to know iff the US = POTUS Obama do the same + "re-route" the USN-USDOD vee the Chinese PLAN in the SCS andor ECS???

GUAM'S CAMEL ROCK WANTS TO KNOW!

* TOPIX > [Red State] OBAMA'S UNVEILS SYRIA PLAN: "STRATEGIC PARALYSIS".
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2015-10-08 00:14