Afghanistan not withstanding, anyone who underestimates the Russian military has not assimilated the lessons of the past.

The west was bleeding Russia in Afghanistan just like they bled the US in Vietnam

Lets see now. US dead in Vietnam @58,000. Soviet Russian dead in Afganistan @14,500. Not very efficient of the west considering the Russians lost 9-10 Million dead in WWII and this was the point of my post. The current management would not turn a hair if they had to do it all over again. But the US who lost @400,000 dead in WWII could not even continue to fight after the relatively small loses in Vietnam due to public opinion, of which the Russians take very little note. MAD only works if the oppostion does not really care about losses. Anyway, it's getting a bit off post. I hope the Russians do get involved anyone who eliminates a few ISIS thugs is doing good work. However, no doubt the laws of unintended consequences will soon be having a laugh.

One more aspect of Russians getting involved in fight with ISIS.

The West counts every single soldier lost. They all are very sensitive in this dept.

Fighting or not Jihadists is not optional. They are simply forced into it. But using drones is not effective.

Fanatical Jihadists are a formidable enemy:

- not afraid to die

- not shunning from using local non-combat populace including women and children as shields

- having enormous money

- having advanced sophisticated arms

West can forget any idea of quick and easy victory. Moreover, - the only precondition of victory is ruthless extermination of all opposition.

Are Western forces ready for this? Politically? Morally?

Russians are. As to US warning Russians off intervening - I'm afraid Russians have more right to be there than Americans.

And there is yet another aspect. Nobody doubts that ISIS will one day turn onto Israel. The same problems will apply as with the West.

If West or Israel will be fighting under the present rules of engagement - sending SMS warnings to preserve non-combatants - this war will never end.

And it will be unwinnable. Sorry to be so insensitive.

One more aspect of Russians getting involved in fight with ISIS.

The West counts every single soldier lost. They all are very sensitive in this dept.

Fighting or not Jihadists is not optional. They are simply forced into it. But using drones is not effective.

Fanatical Jihadists are a formidable enemy:

- not afraid to die

- not shunning from using local non-combat populace including women and children as shields

- having enormous money

- having advanced sophisticated arms

West can forget any idea of quick and easy victory. Moreover, - the only precondition of victory is ruthless extermination of all opposition.

Are Western forces ready for this? Politically? Morally?

Russians are. As to US warning Russians off intervening - I'm afraid Russians have more right to be there than Americans.

And there is yet another aspect. Nobody doubts that ISIS will one day turn onto Israel. The same problems will apply as with the West.

If West or Israel will be fighting under the present rules of engagement - sending SMS warnings to preserve non-combatants - this war will never end.

And it will be unwinnable. Sorry to be so insensitive.

Well I think drones must be quite effective otherwise the people on the wrong end would not be whining so much. Anyway the Russians can just drag out a few battalions of Katyusha's and "colateral damage" what is that?