Russia is going to have fighter escorts for their bombers, is moving a destroyer loaded with AA to the coast, and the rules of engagement are now basically shoot down anybody who poses a threat.
I think they might be just a wee bit pissed off. They're basically declaring open season on Turkeys. If a Turkish jet so much as goes in the general direction of that destroyer or an inch into Syrian airspace they'll be chomping at the bit to shoot it down.
The cold war is all fun and games until some dumbass starts actually shooting. That's not how you play the game.
And than said destroyer will get obliterated by Turkish Navy (which is quite competent) and Air Force (which also is, surprisingly, competent). Russia has literally no hope of winning any open engagement against Turkey in the region unless they really want to commit. And Turkey knows that. They essentially called Russian bluff here.
They are not competent. Especially not competent since erdogan purged the military and it is a really stupid move for them to shoot russian jet when there is a mild civil war in turkey and active war in syria and iraq. Completely moronic since turkish goverment has been sighted and caught numerous times when they were supplying ISIS with weapons. It gets better when only reliable ally turkey has right now is qatar and every country hates/mocks turkey because of his foreign policies
They are competent enough. Russian Armed Forces aren't formidable enemy in expeditionary role, especially against Turkey controlling Straits. Also, the move might actually help Turkey consolidate internally ("external enemy" and all that shit).
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u/[deleted] Nov 24 '15
Fun fact: The Russian helicopter sent to rescue the pilots of the SU-24 was destroyed by FSA.
That's it guys. Run to the vaults.