http://www.smh.com.au/world/syrian-c...622-20rod.html

According to this report the pilot, a colonel in the Syrian defence forces, has been granted asylum in Jordan.

Well it looks like there will be a few pissed off Turkeys, all they will do is flap their wings run round in circles and then do bugger all about it.

http://imgcash2.imageshack.us/img265...yseasonzi5.gif

don't count on it.

the war chants are building up slowly.

If turkey wants this to be a non-story that is resolvable with a payment and an apology, then it will be.

But if not, then this will be escalated.

Many parties are interested in escalating the Syrian situation, and Assad's days are definitely numbered, but slowly, slowly is the watchword for this time around in the regime change game. And maybe it will even be Turkey and/or Saudi Arabia that pulls the trigger (but with the nod from Washington)

p.s. anyone know what the Syrian weapon system was that downed the Phantom?

Possibly an SA-5 Gammon.

http://theaviationist.com/2012/06/22/tuaf-f4-shot-down/

The Syrians also have the S-300 system.

Russia announced to deliver weapons to Assad. A ship with modernised Syrian attack helicopters has just been turned back by Britain, over some insurrance formalities. It will be re-flagged and then sent back to Syria under Russian flag.

The CIA is reported to check for those groups amongst the opposition that should get weapons payed and delivered by Saudi Arabia and some other Arab countries.

Erdoghan I. and Assad once were very close buddies, but now... well, never try to look behind oriental schemes. Erdoghan could use the opportunity to profile Turkey as the strong and dominating boss of the region that he wants it to be. Or not? Will Turkey risk military confrontations with Syria, maybe?

Maybe a Turkish aid flotilla to Syria?

One thing is clear only: there is no excuse anymore not to call this a civil war.

I do not want to see any Western soldier's life put at risk over this. The Syrian oppositons (plural!) may be Assad'S enemy. But that does not make them our friends automatically.

Not sure we can call it a civil war when there are IRGC troops on the ground.

May also of been an SA-11

http://www.debka.com/article/22112/N...rkish-warplane

It was an F-4...maybe the laws of physics finally caught up with it... :O:

The location and route of the down Phantom has been published. There are known SA-2 and SA-3 sites close to that location and a SA-5 site about 60 miles away.

If Syria gets the Hind, I don`t suppose that the CIA will smuggle in a lot of Stingers like in the 80s`.

Today smuggling MANPADS in to the Middle East would be like smuggling beer in to Scotland.

Actually, that was sarcasm. A joke about the CIA operation in Afghanistan in the 80s`.

and my response was sarcasm about there being lots of beer in Scotland. :O: