I believe Russia wanted to install its missiles in Cuba because, at the time, they had an extremely limited ability to strike from the USSR. So they would have retained control.
No disrespect to you, but I think we could end up playing ‘Blind Man’s Bluff’ – neither side want the other to know their operational capability – and they certainly don’t want us to know!
I believe that Syria was in control of its own air space at the time; and the Russian systems weren’t active as part of the deconfliction protocols. Why it might have suited the Russians to let this attack happen; is that they now control the airspace and their systems are now active: and will target Coalition incursion after the Su-22 incident. Next step, target the IDF; that have flown 5 terrorist air cover sorties in the last week or so, in the Golan region.

In the same way as the so-called UK nuclear deterrent is “independent” so too may be Assad’s missile systems.
By which I mean that just as the US in reality controls the UK’s nuclear deterrent missile system so too may Russia control Syria’s missile system so that they can only be launched with Russian approval.
While the Syrians might be tempted to fire off the missiles, there may be an over-riding control which the Russians exercise to ensure that no hasty actions by the Syrians triggers conflict between Russia and the US.
That – at least – is my guess.
When the former Soviet Union placed missiles on the island of Cuba in 1962, I believe they retained control over the launching of their missiles then too. Is that not the case?

Good point, well made. Assad claims 50% of his S-200s were knocked out at the beginning of the war: I presume in 2012/13? But he got the S-300 in 2013. It would appear Mr Assad adds to the mystery!
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201704211052843978-assad-air-defense-us-missiles/
https://sputniknews.com/voiceofrussia/news/2013_05_30/Syria-gets-first-batch-of-Russia-S-300-missiles-Assad-6642/

Hi again BigB.
Just realised you said Syria’s S-200’s. I thought Russia had brought in the S300 minimum as promised also to Iran. Really will have to pay more attention to my Syrian sites and Col. Cassad, if I’m going to keep up. Feel like I have lost the plot with regard the S300 delivery back in 2016, unless of course they are based elsewhere. Fiddlesticks!

BigB.
Came across another chat between Sey Hersh and Ken Klippenstein on Alexsandr Dugin’s The Fourth Rev. War site(by Zakira Entradi).
Sy seems to be evasive and non committal about various aspects(he is definitely dodging the issues of some of KK’s questions)which would seem to confirm your previous suspicions regarding exactly where Hersh stands – or should that be sits, as in “on the fence” when it comes to certain questions. After hearing your views and taking them on board, Sy is talking a lot but not saying too much, I ‘m hearing a lot better, thanks to you(and Norman and John). It’s worth noting what is NOT said and how what is said tells the listener nothing much.
Still find Sy an excellent source and if he has to be non committal with regard to some questions it is likely to keep favour with his informants, or so I like to believe.
https://4threvolutionarywar.wordpress.com/2017/06/30/seymour-hersh-dishes-on-trump-and-syrian-chemical-attacks/
There is also a tweet which may or may not be notable from a Londoner:Nizar Nayouf @nizarnayouf
Sirens of the #Syrian Shayrat airbase,bombed by #US 2 months ago,set off 30 minutes ago,while the near villages’people fleeing their homes!
1:46 AM – 30 Jun 2017 · Croydon, London
Have heard nothing more about al Shayrat so don’t know if it was a drill or false alarm.
🙂 Susan

Re: the attack on Ash Shai’rat – I think John just answered that: ratings. Simple as.
I speculated in comments on these two articles on this site:
“A multi-level analysis of the US cruise missile attack on Syria and its consequences”
“MIT Professor says White House claims of Syrian chemical attack “cannot be true””
Subsequent to these, I remember Assad saying that Syria basically had no air defence on the night; their S-200s had been taken out in the ‘civil uprising’ or terrorist takeover. The Russians have ‘superior’ electronic warfare capabilities: whether they used them is a moot point. There are two main scenarios – the Russians gave them “bluesky” – and the missiles really are that bad and no longer fit for purpose. Or the Russians disabled some of them electronically. Either way Raytheon gets the no bid contract to make the Block V Tomahawk! After the incident, the Russians took control of the Syrian airspace: which brings us bang up to date. If the Russian air defences weren’t so formidable – the Coalition would still be providing the terrorists with air cover – instead of getting the Israelis to do it for them!!

Does anyone seriously believe Trump ordered the missile attack on Syria as a result of his emotional response to alleged pictures of injured children?
Time to grow up, folks!
Why did he approve the dropping of a MOAB in Afghanistan?
In both cases, because his approval ratings were dipping to record lows, and he believed – rightly enough – that his gung-ho supporters would flock back to his standard if he threw some explosives at foreigners.
Trump does have a single principled bone in his body.
He’s the mafia’s man in the White House.
He’s just doing what it takes to keep his mafia bosses happy.
He has learned the lesson of what happens to anyone who crosses the mafia from the Kennedy boys.

Bush and his grandpappy certainly had their fingers in some very rotten pies and avoiding prosecution for his corruption would certainly have been in his best interests, so it is no stretch of the imagination where mutually benefiting interests overlapped, any and all CIA/Deep state assets would be given a get out of jail card.
I’m a firm believer in the deep state, not just in the US but in the UK and various other nation states. Wealth and power going back many years have always been the puppeteers, but I won’t speak further here since it is far reaching and off topic.
I also believe that not all “conspiracy theorists” are nut jobs – far from it in many instances.

You seem to have a very good handle on things, as does Norman, so now you have me wondering about Sy Hersh(I found an old article of his and it was of a very different slant)and also your previous mention:”You guys can call it factual: I’m calling it a limited hangout to whitewash the CIA/Pentagon – Hersh’s real employers. Those missiles didn’t get lost in smoke; no matter how thick.”
Although I wouldn’t put any faith in Raytheon, it does give me pause for thought on what the real intention of bombing Shayrat? air base was. Certain people have suggested that perhaps US intel was actually up to date (probably not the usual state of affairs)and the limited damage was intended. Don’t know where I stand on this, so if you find out anything, can you put it up on the site.
Going to try and find the military information exchange site I sometimes visit, although they are mostly hobbyist, their knowledge is excellent.
The Pentagon/CIA might have cash to burn on a military showing off stunt, but it happens to be an expensive one for US Tax payers.
Then there is this footnote:”For the record, I do not believe for one second that Trump ordered the attack unilaterally, against the better judgement of his peers. I don’t preclude that Trump is a violent and wilful sociopath – just that he is not alone.”
Now that I’m in listening mode, care to expand on your thinking, right now I’m groping in the dark not quite knowing which way to turn.
If I understood the direction of your thinking, Trump was “advised” of the terrible thing the aggressive(no irony)Assad has done and that it would be in his best interests to respond with a show of might (which as we all know is right……ahem) and he hoped to deflect the anti Trump brigade(as promised by said CIA “adviser”)to give him time to consolidate his position as POTUS and Sy helped out with an unrelated alternative article in a German publication putting the blame squarely back in Trump’s corner?
What a tangled web to deflect responsibility from the guilty “It wasn’t us” brigade.
Mind boggling! But entirely within the realm of possible.