As chairman of the Human Rights Foundation, Garry Kasparov is no friend of Vladimir Putin, and as a world chess champion, he’s trained his mind to think several steps ahead of the competition. Therefore, it’s hardly bragging when he notes that it was almost two months ago when he predicted that a Turkish pilot might put spectator President Obama into an uncomfortable position.
As Twitchy reported this morning, Turkish pilots in F-16s shot down a Russian SU-24 bomber on the border of Turkey and Syria after reportedly warning several times that the bomber was over Turkish airspace.
Putin has more Russian blood on his hands. Jet incursion & downing due to his sense of impunity after receiving so many concessions.
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) November 24, 2015
Most dangerous factor has always been Putin's sense of invincibility. Keeps pushing, stakes higher each time. Georgia, Ukraine, Syria. Next?
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) November 24, 2015
It’s a shame the U.S. State Department’s #UnitedForUkraine signs and selfies just weren’t enough to convince Putin to live by the power of hashtag. Instead, he rolled his tanks right over several of President Obama’s red lines into Ukraine.
US, NATO, EU have all believed it's easier to let Putin do as he likes, as if he'd get bored with success. So stupid. Postponing calamity.
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) November 24, 2015
Putin & his commanders tell their pilots to ignore NATO warnings, to test their resolve again. Playing with their lives to look tough.
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) November 24, 2015
Russian generals haven’t been shy about telling American pilots to clear out of Syrian airspace either.
Syria barely exists now & Assad is a mass-murderer. He & Putin may deserve each other but the Syrian people don't. https://t.co/1u5cVqchzT
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) November 24, 2015
So what’s next for Putin and for Obama?
Time to tick another box on the long list of "Things Putin Would Never Do" that he has done. NATO breach now, maybe Saudis next.
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) November 24, 2015
If Obama is on the phone to Erdogan trying to get him to apologize to Putin I hope the interpreter is adept at Turkish profanities!
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) November 24, 2015
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