Syria under Bashir Assad (closed end 2014)

[CrowBat]

Nobody said they're not getting support: just that they're not getting support from the USA, and - much more importantly - that the USA are curbing support they're getting from other parties.

...and, of course, that the Jihadists are getting more support than the insurgents.

... If they're getting support from several other countries how much of our own treasure should be spend?

Effectivelly: nothing (and if they get anything, then most of that is provided by private groups - sanctioned by official DC).

But, the US should stop curbing support the insurgents are getting from other parties. That would prevent the following from happening:

Another issue is that the reliability of Syrian rebel groups allied with the West is sometimes not clear-cut, particularly when the groups must frequently make compromises with groups blacklisted as terrorists by the U.S. to remain viable.

Namely, these 'unreliable' insurgent groups are forced to do what they do because they're not getting support they've not only been promised, but they need in order to continue their fight too.

On the other hand: curbing support for Jihadists might be not only much more effective, but also in the higher interests of the USA too.

(That is: unless there is interest to let the ISIS spread...?)

[davidbfpo]

This short report, with sourced data and photos by Conflict Arnaments Research popped up yesterday on a US origin emailed daily briefing and in The Guardian today.

Link:http://conflictarm.com/images/dispatch_iraq_syria.pdf

I've never heard of them and their website has no named staff. Anyway this is their explanation:

Conflict Armament Research identifies and tracks conventional weapons in contemporary armed conflicts. Established in 2011, it was created in response to the growing need for informed, on-the-ground reporting on weapons proliferation in modern wars and insurgencies.

I have added this post here in view of the exchange in the last few posts.

[CrowBat]

...and that there was next to no interest to stop the spread of such elements like the ISIS so far, and that for reasons of 'political correctness' is rather 'obvious' (after all, we can't go demanding Saudis to clean up the mess they've created through private sponsoring of such groups since 60 years, can't we, they're our friends, or aren't they...?), can be read here (ignore the title, it's rather sensationalistic, as usually in the media):

Iraq crisis: How Saudi Arabia helped Isis take over the north of the country

...Western governments traditionally play down the connection between Saudi Arabia and its Wahhabist faith, on the one hand, and jihadism, whether of the variety espoused by Osama bin Laden and al-Qa'ida or by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's Isis. There is nothing conspiratorial or secret about these links: 15 out of 19 of the 9/11 hijackers were Saudis, as was Bin Laden and most of the private donors who funded the operation.
...

[CrowBat]

Something else to keep in mind in the future too...

Pit Weinert from ACIG.info has reviewed all the videos he could find on the internet that were taken at recently captured Tabqa AB, in northern Syria. As should be known, this was overrun by the ISIS in August. Pit came out with following numbers of aircraft captured there:

- 1 MiG-21bis
- 11 MiG-21MF
- 1 MiG-21M (probable M; if so, then ex-East German example; if not, then another MF)
- 10 MiG-21UM

Note: it is possible that additional examples are around, then Google Earth photos are showing more MiG-21s around Tabqa than these 23.

Obviously, most of are derelict and there is no chance of them ever being returned to service - at least not without really a complete rebuilt and replacement of most important parts.

But, there is some uncertainty about the exact status of at least the above-mentioned bis. Plus, a photo surfaced of an 'extra' MiG-21U-400, supposedly taken inside one of maintenance hangars at Tabqa, and showing it as captured while still in a very advanced state of overhaul...

So, theoretically - and provided they might ever find enough personnel with the necessary knowledge and experience, plus enough spares and weapons (the latter should be possible) - the ISIS might now be able to make at least 1, perhaps even two MiG-21s airborne.