The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant Megathread

[Syt]

Putin: "It's no wonder that IS acts so boldly when it has the backing of a nation's armed forces"

That's war talk right there.

Well, it's a bit of a role reversal from Ukraine, isn't it?

[Duque de Bragança]

Putin: "It's no wonder that IS acts so boldly when it has the backing of a nation's armed forces"

That's war talk right there.

He's also accusing Turkey of aiding IS in its oil selling business.

This is not exactly new. Even showed up in Western press.

[Liep]

Putin: "It's no wonder that IS acts so boldly when it has the backing of a nation's armed forces"

That's war talk right there.

Well, it's a bit of a role reversal from Ukraine, isn't it?

Putin is clearly counting on the animosity against IS from the entire world will help people forget about Ukraine.

[Liep]

Putin: "It's no wonder that IS acts so boldly when it has the backing of a nation's armed forces"

That's war talk right there.

He's also accusing Turkey of aiding IS in its oil selling business.

This is not exactly new. Even showed up in Western press.

The news is surely that the accusation comes from the leader of a major power.

[Legbiter]

Seems a bit excessive just for an airspace violation, why not escort the plane out?

[LaCroix]

there won't be a war

[Tamas]

there won't be a war

Both leaders have their power based on them being unrelenting uncompromising major machos. They can't both walk away from this without losing face.

And Erdogan just recently re-ignited his country's civil war (Kurds) just to win a single election.

I am not saying I would put money on there being a war, but it is far from impossible.

[LaCroix]

russia can't afford a war right now. its economy has tanked. and turkey doesn't have the internal strife ukraine had and is much more powerful than georgia. russia relies on being perceived as formidable

[Liep]

Russian media reports that a Russian helicopter has just been shot down in its search for the pilots.

[Tamas]

Russian media reports that a Russian helicopter has just been shot down in its search for the pilots.

[Duque de Bragança]

Russian media reports that a Russian helicopter has just been shot down in its search for the pilots.

By whom? 

[alfred russel]

So WWIII is going to begin with us backing up Erdogan when defends ISIS? 

[Tamas]

So WWIII is going to begin with us backing up Erdogan when defends ISIS? 

WW1 started with the Entente backing a terrorist state, so what's new?

[Legbiter]

Russian media reports that a Russian helicopter has just been shot down in its search for the pilots.

By whom? 

Shot down by rebels so Russia launches a second rescue mission which is then shot down by the Turks.... 

[Syt]

So WWIII is going to begin with us backing up Erdogan when defends ISIS? 

If it becomes clear that Turkey support IS to a point where the rest of NATO can't ignore it then the question becomes what to do - if NATO kicks Turkey out, it would be a major victory for Russia, and further destabilize the whole area. So while direct conflict is unlikely, this is a great opportunity for Putin to drive a wedge between Turkey and her allies.