30-60,000 Russians? Oh My!

I have been reading a number of stories about the Syrian situation and the Russian responses among the overall politics. However, this was the first time I saw this figure:

“However, this group is not sufficient enough to evacuate from 30,000 to 60,000 Russian citizens working and living in Syria," Golts said, "unless the marines will be ordered to gain control of a landing strip at Damascus airport and help establish an air-bridge to take all Russians out.”

“Whatever their task, it is clear that given the rapidly deteriorating situation in Syria the Kremlin wants to have some sort of military presence close to its shores,” Golts added.

Source

The overall story is about Russia sending a small group of ships with Marines and APC's. It's the number of Russian citizens that I caught my breath over. This sure isn't a place NATO can just go willy nilly bombing like has happened in other places and that's A LOT of Russians if something went badly wrong.

I wonder if this isn't helpful for understanding the ins and outs of what we're seeing? It was news to me.

Hmm citizens. If you work for a Private Military Contractor (merc) you are a civilian.

Wonder what they are all doing there. Given that russias main exports are natural resources and defense equipment.

hmm

Well, Syria has been a primary client state to the Soviet Union and then right on into the Russian Federation that followed. The ties are close and long term. I just hadn't appreciated how many there were. China ignored a missile into their Embassy during the Serbian bombing (ooooops)... Russia would NOT likely ignore a large number of their citizens being killed by being caught in the crossfire of NATO air strikes and Syrian forces Russia is really seriously asking everyone leave alone.

The plot thickens, it would seem. That task force coming into things isn't much for numbers but it adds for symbolism.

Mmmmm.... Citizenssss..... Mmmm.....

I doubt Russia would actually do anything, to be honest, unless Syria is worth fighting over for whatever reason. A very compelling reason, in fact.

I know several russians who live there with their families ... and no they dont work for pmc's ...
wouldnt want to be in the wests shoes if any russian citizens get hurt ... the russian government will go after whoever harms a russian - they did in georgia and in chechnya ... hope they get out safe before amerika and israel step up their mass murder for profit there ...

reply to post by Wrabbit2000


Good spot Wrabbit. That is a lot of Russians if the figures are correct.

China and Russia have a lot vested in the status quo remaining the same in Iran and Syria.

Don't forget too that China got burnt big time with the Libya invasion, so they won't be backing down again.

This has WW3 written all over it. Hope I'm wrong though and I wake up tomorrow to Unicorns grazing on my front paddock.

* Peace

reply to post by nimbinned


the United States and China have a lot invested in the status quo and dont want change either

reply to post by Wrabbit2000


Russia should simply glass Qatar,Saudi Arabia,Turkey and Israel.

keep in mind that most of russia.to .mid east traffic is jews going to israel. Putin just spent a few days schmoozing with bibi and wearing the black beanie.
So are the russians in syria also jews???????
could make a big difference in understanding putins approach to dealing with the US and Natos use of al quaeda surrogates to attack Assad.

In America there's roughly 3.13 Million Russians:

Russian Americans - wiki

The Russian American population is reported to be 3.13 million.Many Russian Americans do not speak Russian, having been born in the USA and brought up in English-speaking homes. In 2007, however, Russian was the primary spoken language of 851,174 Americans at home, according to the U.S. Census. According to the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard, 750,000 Russian Americans were ethnic Russians in 1990.

Lots of Russians all over the place.

An errant airstrike would NOT help the Obama and Putin relations. I'm not saying 10 dead russians at natos hands will cause WW3 but I wouldn't want to be nice to those who killed my people.

Syria is a big trading partner for Russia, one of the reasons that the Russians have been so against having any sort of UN activity or sanctions against Syria.

It doesn't surprise me as to the number of Russian citizens there.

After all, I wonder how many Americans are working inside Saudi Arabia, for instance. I bet 30-60,000 is a little on the low side.

I can't help but feel like something is on the brink here. Everything has been too quiet on that side of the earth lately

Nothing is on the brink here ... its just wishful thinking.

Originally posted by bjarneorn
Nothing is on the brink here ... its just wishful thinking.

I'd note that inside Syria, nothing is on the brink. It went right on over the brink, guns blazing, a month or two back. When the Capital city has fighting coming and going in the suburbs with heavy weapons, I doubt the distinction of civil war vs. World War III means much for those in it.

In peace time, sure... Nations have citizens spread everywhere. Good point about millions of Russian immigrants and ex-pats here. Although Washington doesn't have fighting with heavy weapons in Chevy Chase and Alexandria.

These Russians would seem to be on the wrong side of the battle lines and I can sure see it getting sticky if too many got killed when Obama, Clinton and others are daily leading the charge for more more more to bring Assad down.

reply to post by Wrabbit2000


Syria is holding up well.It is a good alternative to decimate Qatar and saudi Arabia.That will be an example to the wahabbis.

reply to post by mkgandhas


Why would Russia attack Qatar or Saudi Arabia? What would be the purpose?

Originally posted by Wrabbit2000
It's the number of Russian citizens that I caught my breath over.

The number of Russian citizens in Syria is no surprise. Many Russian women have married Syrians. It all goes back to Soviet days and Syrian-Russian links after the Baath Party came to power.

'Russians and Syrians, Allied by History and Related by Marriage'

www.nytimes.com...

The Russians are carefully downplaying any visit by some of the Task Force elements to Tartus. If necessary they will using the naval facility to re-supply before heading to the Black Sea for a port visit in Russia. The Amphibious Landing ships are due to enter the Black Sea during 11-12th August.

Russia Denies That Its Marines Are Bound For Syria

www.ibtimes.com...

www.bbc.co.uk...

Turkish authorities were informed through diplomatic channels that Russian warships would pass Black Sea straits in Aug 11-12. Passage of straits Dardanelles and Bosporus by Russian Navy's Northern Fleet (NF) task force comprising three landing ships – Alexander Otrakovsky, Georgy Pobedonosets, and Kondopoga – is fully complies with the Montreux Convention as of overall displacement of a task force passing through the Turkish straits. Visit of Novorossiysk Naval Base will be held in accordance with the cruise plan which main purpose is to perform interfleet trip. In Novorossiysk, NF ships will replenish water, food, and fuel supplies.

rusnavy.com...

reply to post by DestroyDestroyDestroy


because they are sponsoring the terrorist thugs FSA.

reply to post by Wrabbit2000

willy nilly

^^Really???

Nah seriously, I am sure there are Russian contractors working in Syria, just like the U.S. had trucking contractors to do the freight driving in Iraq...I dunno, just people trying to make a living...