America first –- or World War III

Pat Buchanan: GOP hawks shouldn’t assume President Putin is a coward

“If you’re in favor of World War III, you have your candidate.”

So said Rand Paul, looking directly at Gov. Chris Christie, who had just responded to a question from CNN’s Wolf Blitzer as to whether he would shoot down a Russian plane that violated his no-fly zone in Syria.

“Not only would I be prepared to do it, I would do it,” blurted Christie: “I would talk to Vladimir Putin … I’d say to him, ‘Listen, Mr. President, there’s a no-fly zone in Syria; you fly in, it applies to you.’

Analysis: The real danger in Syria is not ISIS, but a war between major powers

There are many unpredictable aspects of the Syrian conflict, but the downing of the Russian bomber by Turkish jets on Tuesday was not one of them. Indeed, given the simultaneous military campaigns taking place in a relatively small swath of territory by Russian, American, French, Syrian, Iranian, and other forces, it is surprising that such an incident did not happen earlier. Nevertheless, the downing of a Russian Sukhoi Su-24 by Turkish jets marked the first attack on a Russian fighter aircraft by a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member state since 1953. Although this incident is not by itself sufficient to provoke an armed conflict between Turkey and Russia, it illustrates the main danger confronting the world in Syria, namely a conflagration between regional powers, many of which are armed with nuclear weapons.

World leaders scramble to defuse ‘monstrous’ new crisis over Russia’s downed jet: Putin ratchets the tension by dispatching warship to Mediterranean as Moscow expert warns war is ‘likely’

• Russia warns of ‘serious consequences’ after Nato country downs Russian military jet for first time since 1953
• Two pilots were reportedly shot dead by Syrian rebels as they parachuted from burning Sukhoi Su-24 warplane
• Third Russian said to have died when rescue helicopter was hit with anti-tank missile by another rebel group
• Russia denied plane had been in Turkish airspace but Nato secretary-general says assessment showed it had
• A warship has been deployed to the Mediterranean Sea to destroy potential threats to Russian forces in Syria
• Britain has declared military back-up is on standby to support Turkey in any revenge attack by Putin’s forces

A ‘monstrous’ new crisis has begun after Turkey shot down a Russian military plane, sparking fears of a war.

Vladimir Putin  has accused the Turks of a ‘stab in the back’, branding them ‘accomplices of terrorists’.

Russians, Syrians and Iranians setting up military coordination cell in Baghdad

EXCLUSIVE: Russian, Syrian and Iranian military commanders have set up a coordination cell in Baghdad in recent days to try to begin working with Iranian-backed Shia militias fighting the Islamic State, Fox News has learned.

Western intelligence sources say the coordination cell includes low-level Russian generals. U.S. officials say it is not clear whether the Iraqi government is involved at the moment.

Describing the arrival of Russian military personnel in Baghdad, one senior U.S. official said, “They are popping up everywhere.” 

‘Falklands invasion guide’ containing GPS coordinates of facilities published on MoD website

The Ministry of Defence failed to encrypt a secret document on its website that describes the exact make-up of runways, ­thickness of concrete and gives GPS coordinates of facilities.

The information was freely available from the homepage and would be priceless to an enemy bomber planning a strike.

Putin’s Falklands threat: Britain to boost defences amid claims Russia is arming Argentinian army

Britain is set to boost ​its defences in the Falklands amid claims Russian president Vladimir Putin is helping Argentina re-arm.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon is due to tell MPs on Tuesday that the Government is beefing-up the UK’s presence on the islands.

EXCLUSIVE: China sells fighter jets to Argentina which are able to attack Falkland Islands

ARGENTINA is to purchase sophisticated Chinese fighter jets able to attack the Falkland Islands as part of a “strategic partnership” with Beijing.

The move, which further raised tensions in the South Atlantic last night, follows a three-day visit by President Kristina de Kirchner to Beijing last week, in which Argentina secured 15 economic agreements and significant financial investment to bolster its failing economy.

Turkey scrambled F-16s to stop Syrian air operations near border

ANKARA — Turkey has been preparing for an air war with Syria.

The Turkish military said four U.S.-origin F-16 multi-role fighters were sent to the Syrian border on Oct. 5.

Syrian Warplanes Test British Air Defenses in Cyprus

RAF Typhoon fighters won a mid-air showdown with two Syrian warplanes heading towards Britain’s main base in Cyprus, the Sunday People reports.

The dramatic confrontation came after President Bashar Al-Assad’s air chiefs sent two Russian-made Sukhoi Su-24s to probe British air defenses, the report said.