There are now Islamists from 42 countries involved - including the UK. What happens when they return to this country? Oh, we already know the answer to that, don't we?

They get retrained and lined up for another UK Govt gig.

Pretty good hit on that Tank.

Was that just an RPG or something a bit more potent ?

It was an RPG allegedly. RPG-29 maybe?

Russki anyway....

I expect that was the bag charges for the main ammo cooking off. :uhoh:

The crewman who got out the back looked 'well done' to me.

Yes, I wouldn't have liked to have been inside.

Powder burns fast and furious once lit.

If the situation in Syria was that much of an issue it required active and aggressive intervention at the state level, then as it's their backyard, I would expect the neighbouring Middle Eastern states would have got invovled from the outset. As it is, they have sort of stumbled and bimbled into it by accident and even now are doing little more than tinkering on the edges. That says something about how much of an issue the rest of the Middle East viewed the Syrian situation, that is of course until western liberal values were imposed on CNN footage and there was outrage in Islington.

But for all their liberal values, I would just ask the politicians to answer one question: how did we, UK plc, feel when it transpired that the Libyans were arming the IRA? Because this is a carbon copy - we are seeking to arm a section of society in another country because we believe they are right, whilst the sitting government believes that very same section of society to be terrorists.

Dress it up however you like, but that is what is happening and it goes to demonstrate how two faced, cynical and fickle politicians can be when required.

Sunni and Shia jihad in Syria

Italian DM: Will Syria Boil Over Into Regional Conflict?

The Shi'ite crescent holds its ground

I wonder what would Cameron say if Assad invited Russian 'peace keeping' troops in. That would certainly put an end to any no flying zone. Never ever seen pp community mainly support the Russian stance against the 'good guys' :hmm:

Are we totally sure that we are backing the right side?

I have a number of Syrian friends, who are all Sunnis. Without exception they all support the govenment forces and are horrified about the atrocities being performed by the rebels in the name of Islam. One of the guys knew personally the conscript who was 'eaten' on camera.

They agree that Assad isnt the best example of leadership in many respects, but he kept Syria reasonably stable, multi-ethnic and allowed all forms of religion.

One of my mates has expressed his views on Facebook and has had several death threats if he ever goes back to Syria.

This is a horrendous war in every respect, but arming bands of extremist thugs doesnt feel the right solution to me. As has been said many times before, we have no real idea of the identity of the end users of the weaponry.

The rebels, in a step change of capability, are starting to use the 1,000 AT-5 Konkurs missiles supplied to them by Saudi Arabia. These have a range of 4Km and can take out a T72.



There are videos of the rebels using them to do precisely this.

Telegraph article: Syrian rebels get first heavy weapons on the front line of Aleppo - Telegraph



The continued use of ATGMs on this scale will gradually take armour out of the equation in the conflict.

Also Iraqi Shiite militias are now poring in on the side of the rebels. Making the conflict even more sectarian.

The Telegraph reckons that there are now 700 British Moslems in Syria fighting Jihad. With luck they will forget to return to our shores.

Or sent back!
 

The Telegraph reckons that there are now 700 British Moslems in Syria fighting Jihad. With luck they will forget to return to our shores.

Yes leave them there!

lot cheaper than sending the Army I guess... they even pay their own way there...........

And no requirement to repatriate them.

Regime air superiority not absolute.

^^ That's quite an old event....

Two from this morning:

Good shootin'! :ok: