Will the Russian military be allowed to shoot down American planes?
An unexpected statement was made by the head of the defense committee of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Shamanov. He proposed giving our military in Syria the right to shoot down American aircraft. Moreover, the respected general meant not only drones, but also combat aircraft.
According to Shamanov, Russians have a moral right to destroy US Air Force fighters if they threaten our military contingent. The general sees a threat in the aggravation of relations with the United States.
Another military expert, Andrei Koshkin of the Association of Military Political Scientists, fundamentally disagrees with this view of the issue. He believes that now, in the acute phase of Russian-American relations, none of the parties has the right to cross the line.
Once, after the crash of the Russian IL-20, representatives of the Russian Ministry of Defense spoke positively of interaction with the US military, comparing them with poorly established contacts between Moscow and Tel Aviv.
Koshkin believes that it is mutual contacts between the military of different countries, and not mutual threats, that help to avoid conflicts and accidental casualties.
There is such a principle in the criminal environment that if you take out a weapon, you must use it, otherwise you will lose respect. So it is here. If at the official level it is stated that under certain conditions our military can shoot down US planes, then one day it will have to be done, even if there is no special need for this. Just so as not to drop the authority of the country. And this is a direct path to an armed conflict.
According to Shamanov, Russians have a moral right to destroy US Air Force fighters if they threaten our military contingent. The general sees a threat in the aggravation of relations with the United States.
Another military expert, Andrei Koshkin of the Association of Military Political Scientists, fundamentally disagrees with this view of the issue. He believes that now, in the acute phase of Russian-American relations, none of the parties has the right to cross the line.
Once, after the crash of the Russian IL-20, representatives of the Russian Ministry of Defense spoke positively of interaction with the US military, comparing them with poorly established contacts between Moscow and Tel Aviv.
Koshkin believes that it is mutual contacts between the military of different countries, and not mutual threats, that help to avoid conflicts and accidental casualties.
There is such a principle in the criminal environment that if you take out a weapon, you must use it, otherwise you will lose respect. So it is here. If at the official level it is stated that under certain conditions our military can shoot down US planes, then one day it will have to be done, even if there is no special need for this. Just so as not to drop the authority of the country. And this is a direct path to an armed conflict.
Information