The next NATO war – Syria

Having finished their job in Afghanistan and Libya, NATO is about to embark on yet another war to support the peace efforts of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize winner.

The difference this time is Russia is saying Nyet.   Unlike Qaddafi in Libya who was turning away from Russia for his military supplies and economic development, Syria is still a reliable partner for Russia, buying up all the latest and greatest airplanes and weaponry.   Syria would likely be capable of doing a lot of damage to NATO.   A lot depends on whether Israel sits on their hands.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/syria/index.html

Let’s see what Syria has compared with Libya – Libya had a bunch of inoperable old Russian tanks, a few working airplanes, and an anti aircraft missile system they didn’t know how to operate…   perhaps 10,000 lightly trained troops and a few coast guard type boats.

Syria’s Army has 200,000 troops and 320,000 reservists.  It has 1,000 T72 tanks and 3,100 of the older types.    They have around 6,000 mobile artillary pieces, 500 MLRVs, 6800 anti-tank weapon systems, 10,000 armored fighting vehicles….

Syria’s Air Force has between 30 or 80 MiG-29s, and older MiG 25s, 23s and 21s and 20 Su-24 ground attack planes.   The have maybe 10 large air transport planes and perhaps 100 helicopters.

Syria’s Navy doesn’t have a lot of resources – a couple frigates, a handful of 1960s era missile boats, some boats to drop mines…

So looking at that big picture, they mostly are set up for a ground war.   They aren’t a serious threat in the Meditarrean against US battle groups (although they could always get lucky)…   a few $billion in Tomahawk missiles could wipe some of their ground assets.    Israel has proved in the past the Syrian Air Force is easy to shoot down. 

Let the Syrian Summer begin – Cease Fire or else!