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Title: US military surprised by speed, timing of Russia military action
Source:
AFP
URL Source: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gj_jyRnqBYekXz2MyszBj6k_ZMtw
Published: Aug 11, 2008
Author: afp
Post Date: 2008-08-11 20:01:08 by Rotara
Keywords: None
Views: 234
Comments: 18
1 hour ago WASHINGTON (AFP) — The US military was surprised by the timing and swiftness of the Russian military's move into South Ossetia and is still trying to sort out what happened, a US defense official said Monday. Russian forces surged into the breakaway region last week after weeks of clashes, threats and warnings between Tblisi and Moscow which culminated August 6 in a two-day Georgian offensive into South Ossetia. That the two countries were on a collision course was no surprise to anyone, but the devastating Russian response was not expected, officials said. "We were tracking it earlier in that week and we knew that things were escalating," said a military official, who asked not to be identified. "I can tell you it moved quicker than we anticipated that first day." But how it unfolded is still unclear, clouded by conflicting claims from both sides. "I think a lot of what you're asking needs to be ironed out," said the official. "Some of these little issues are definitely still big questions in this event -- What was the intent? Who started it? Why did they start it? And why weren't they prepared to defend what they started?" President George W. Bush, who urged Moscow to cease fire and return to pre-August 6 positions, charged in a televised statement that Russia's intention appeared to be depose Georgia's democratically elected president. But the extent of the Russian operation remained unclear to US officials on Monday. Georgian officials said Russian troops had moved out of South Ossetia into Georgia proper, occupying the city of Gori while Georgian troops were retreating to the capital. But US defense officials said they were unable to corroborate the Georgian claims. "We don't see anything that supports they are in Gori," said a defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "I don't know why the Georgians are saying that." "That assessment is ongoing," said Bryan Whitman, a Pentagon spokesman. The United States has among the most powerful tools for monitoring brewing conflicts, from spy satellites to reconnaissance aircraft and drones capable of scooping up radio signals or capture real-time images of forces on the ground. But the extent to which they were trained on this remote conflict before it turned violent is not known. The Russians, however, warned on August 3 of a growing threat of "large scale military conflict" between Georgia and South Ossetia. The State Department issued a mild statement on August 5 urging Moscow to refrain from provocative actions, but gave no hint that it was aware that military action either by Georgia or Russia was in the offing. Officials have suggested the fighting was not seen as an immediate threat, in part because there were only about 95 US troops and 35 civilian contractors in the country training Georgian troops for Iraq. And they were not near South Ossetia. Some 1,650 US troops conducted a joint exercise with the Georgian military in mid-July. But they were out of the country when the hostilities flared. At around the same time, the Russian military deployed 8,000 troops to the North Caucases for counter-terrorism exercises that Moscow said were unrelated to the tensions with its southern neighbor. The US defense official said about 8,000 to 10,000 Russian troops have moved into South Ossetia. They also have flown SU-25, SU-24, SU-27 and TU-22 fighters and bombers during the campaign. But the official said there was no obvious buildup of Russian forces along the border that signaled an intention to invade. "Once it did happen they were able to get the forces quickly and it was just a matter of taking the roads in. So it's not as though they were building up forces on the border, waiting," the official said. "What are their future intentions, I don't know. Obviously they could throw more troops at this if they wanted to," he said.
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#1. To: Rotara (#0)
Russia has always done very well against smaller countries. Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania etc etc. Somewhat like the US against Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran
True
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams
The Chechens put up a helluva fight compared to this. If I were a Georgian, I'd be pretty embarrassed. Russia apparently is no longer demoralized and also has learned a lot from the repeated ambushes it suffered in Grozny. I now think if the Zionazis go ahead with their illegal bombing campaign on Iran's quite legal nuclear program, there is a fair chance Russia will intervene in some unexpected way. Their forces are a lot closer to the theater already.
“I would give no thought of what the world might say of me, if I could only transmit to posterity the reputation of an honest man.” - Sam Houston
It is one thing to be able to look at a Chess Board and another to analyze the position. The Russians were able to set up in plain view and prepare their forces for a rapid and effective counter attack. When the Georgians struck the Shachsmeister in Moscow launched the prepared counter and coordinated deployed forces into one force which cut through the Georgians dispersing them and driving them into full scale retreat - and it was done in hours. That does not happen by accident. Whoregay, and Sadsackashvili, were completely outplayed. Russia now controls the center of the Chess Board.
"The difference between an honorable man and a moral man is that an honorable man regrets a discreditable act even when it has worked and he is in no danger of being caught." ~ H. L. Mencken
The Russians play Chess better than just about anyone and that certainly includes Zbignew Brzkissinski. The Israeli's seem to have been very heavily involved in this. That was no doubt a Rothschild inspired move. The Georgian Defense Minister is an "ex"-Israeli and seems to have been in a very cozy arrangement with Israel. That would seem to explain why the Georgian forces acted to slaughter civilians - that is an Israeli tactic.
"The difference between an honorable man and a moral man is that an honorable man regrets a discreditable act even when it has worked and he is in no danger of being caught." ~ H. L. Mencken
Russia is now just a short walk from Iran. Will Iran invite the Bear in???? I doubt it as they are aware once in the Russians never leave.
I view the timing of the large US naval armada heading for that region to be more than just a curious coincidence. We'll see how insane our "leaders" really are if they decide to defend "our ally", the dictator of Georgia.
I doubt it as they are aware once in the Russians never leave. The Iranians/Persians are an interesting puzzle. The Israelis fear them and want to destroy them rather than allow them to become a technologically sophisticated society. That scares them because as a bulwark against Israeli expansionism Iran is a long term stop for the realization of the megalomaniac dream of Eretz Y'srael (Greater Israel). The Iranians know this. Iran is also an impediment to the NWO's plans for the Middle East and control of the flow of oil. So, they may have no choice but to ally with the Russians to counter the Israeli/NWO intent to eliminate them as an independent power. The Chess Game is getting interesting - and a bit unnerving because these assholes in DC/London/Tel Aviv could well start the nuclear war we have so far avoided. The Iranians are savvy enough to coordinate with the Bear without being eaten, although they may end up tied to them more than they would want, but politics makes for strange bedfellows.
"The difference between an honorable man and a moral man is that an honorable man regrets a discreditable act even when it has worked and he is in no danger of being caught." ~ H. L. Mencken
Interesting point - and that may be one of the motivations that drove the Russians to move so quickly. The head cases running our government are stupid enough to light the fuse. Launching against Russian forces from those Carriers against Russia could set off the "Powder Keg". It would be interesting to know what the Russian Submarine Fleet is doing.
"The difference between an honorable man and a moral man is that an honorable man regrets a discreditable act even when it has worked and he is in no danger of being caught." ~ H. L. Mencken
True... The Ruskies tried to swallow Afghan and it proved to be a bitter meal. Myself, I would like to see Iran tell Bush, if anyone bombs, they will invite Russia in.
We'd be ducking nukes, for awhile at least until it doesn't matter anymore.
We'd be ducking nukes, for awhile at least until it doesn't matter anymore. On the positive side most targets are on the East Coast and in the Southwest. I live on the West Coast - in the Northwest.
"The difference between an honorable man and a moral man is that an honorable man regrets a discreditable act even when it has worked and he is in no danger of being caught." ~ H. L. Mencken
Lucky you. I don't know if it'd be better to survive the initial onslaught, or to have it end quickly.
Good question. Where there is life there is hope. If it comes to that someone has to try and pick up the pieces.
"The difference between an honorable man and a moral man is that an honorable man regrets a discreditable act even when it has worked and he is in no danger of being caught." ~ H. L. Mencken
I think it's more than a "fair chance" now. Before Friday's events, I think Russia was kind of so-so, wishy washy about how much Russia's interests were tied to Iran. What was there to gain for Russia in a confrontation with the DC/Tel Aviv juntas, if they attacked Iran. But after Friday's events, when Georgia invaded S. Osettia ( Georgia being goaded into doing this by the DC/Tel Aviv goon squad) and plugged 12 Russian peace keepers and pooped - figuratively speaking - on Russia's door step, the chances of Russia intervening and coming to Iran's aid, imo, have increased dramatically. Russia feels betrayed and personally threatened by the double talking neozio chickenhawks. So as of today, I'd say the chances of Russia intervening if Iran is attacked are now at about 80%. I say that because of the way in which Russia is responding to Georgia - it is not merely pushing Georgia back to the border between S. Osettia and Georgia. Nor is Russia merely lodging a complaint with the Security Council. Instead Russia is pulling out all the stops both militarily and diplomatically to send several messages. Russia is bringing massive force to bear on Georgia. Russia is quite literally crushing Georgia like a bug. Russia is pushing Georgian troops deep inside their own nation's borders. And even after the Georgian sock puppet President is waving the white flag and flapping his yap about a truce, Russia continues to demonstrate its rage and continues to flex its military muscle and to project its power. Medvedev and Putin are pointedly refusing to take telephone calls from the sock puppet Georgian President. Instead of talking about a truce, Medvedev and Putin are humiliating Georgia every which way imaginable. In response to the Georgian President's wails for "peace", Medvedev and Putin sent Russian war planes to make 51 selectively targeted bomb runs of the most visible symbol that connects Georgia to the other 2 players behind the curtain - oil pipeline. Notice that Russia does not destroy the pipeline but it is showing Israel and America that Russia could do so, if it wanted to. And Russian war plane shellings are also serving to scare the living sh*t out of Georgia - Russia is saying to Georgia "if you want to play in the sandbox with the big boys, then you better be damn sure your erstwhile 2 friends are going to come to your rescue, if you throw sand in Russia's face." Russia is providing a very important object lesson to Georgia by pointedly challenging DC/Tel Aviv to walk the walk if they are going to do the talk of "friendship" with Georgia. Now that Georgia sees that there is no doubt that it was set up/used and abused and cast aside by DC/Tel Aviv when it pleaded for help, I doubt Georgia will ever do the neozios bidding again. Frankly this should serve as a good object lesson to the Ukraine, Poland, and all the other small Eastern European nations who were lied to by the zioneos about so called "friendship.". The neozio's friendship is only skin deep and when the going gets rough, the neozios get going - in the opposite direction from the mischief they have orchestrated. Otoh, Russia is showing to its friends that it will come to their aid and especially in the case of those nations who share a border with Russia. Both S. Osettia and Iran share borders with The Bear. No pooping will be tolerated on Russia's door step. Mischief in Russia's neighborhood will be dealt with massive retaliation. That's the message Russia is projecting as it pummels DC/Tel Aviv's surrogate, Georgia, without mercy. Fyi, last I read, Medvedev is also talking about bringing war crimes/genocide charges against Georgia's sock puppet President. So this cluster fudge could get even more scary and more personally embaressing for what's his face, the US trained lawwwyer, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili.
Excellent analysis. I think therein lies one of Russia's motivations in effecting "regime change" in Georgia; to secure physical control of the territory through which that pipeline runs. Talk about a thumb in the eye. That means they can shut down the pipeline anytime they want, OR divert its output anywhere they want. I have not diagnosed Russia's "Endgame" here but I suspect that the removal of the current regime is foregone. What will be installed in its place is indeterminate at this point. I think Sadsackashveli is so done you can stick a fork in him. He is very obviously running scared because it would appear that the Russians do want to capture him and put him on trial, and then hang him. Talk about an object lesson to unruly leaders in border Republics.
"The difference between an honorable man and a moral man is that an honorable man regrets a discreditable act even when it has worked and he is in no danger of being caught." ~ H. L. Mencken
The Russians were able to set up in plain view and prepare their forces for a rapid and effective counter attack. When the Georgians struck the Shachsmeister in Moscow launched the prepared counter and coordinated deployed forces into one force which cut through the Georgians dispersing them and driving them into full scale retreat - and it was done in hours. That does not happen by accident. Whoregay, and Sadsackashvili, were completely outplayed. Russia now controls the center of the Chess Board. If I were the Russkies, I would have shot down any American transports that might be heading into Georgia. Russia knew what was coming, was prepared and maximized their position. Center of the board, yes. I wonder what Zbissinger has coming next. Soros colored revolution phase 3?
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams
Putin said as much hours ago. Sadsackvishwheely is either heading for exile (Israel? AmeriKa?), the gallows (ala Saddam) or against some wall in Tbilisi (ala Nicolae and wife).
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams
#2. To: Cynicom (#1)
#3. To: Cynicom (#1)
#4. To: Rotara (#0)
The United States has among the most powerful tools for monitoring brewing conflicts, from spy satellites to reconnaissance aircraft and drones capable of scooping up radio signals or capture real-time images of forces on the ground.
#5. To: Sam Houston, Cynicom, all (#3)
I now think if the Zionazis go ahead with their illegal bombing campaign on Iran's quite legal nuclear program, there is a fair chance Russia will intervene in some unexpected way.
#6. To: Original_Intent (#5)
I now think if the Zionazis go ahead with their illegal bombing campaign on Iran's quite legal nuclear program, there is a fair chance Russia will intervene in some unexpected way.
#7. To: Original_Intent (#5)
"The real deal is this: the ‘royalty’ controlling the court, the ones with the power, the ones with the ability to make a difference, with the ability to change our course, the ones who will live in infamy if we pass the tipping points, are the captains of industry, CEOs in fossil fuel companies such as EXXON/Mobil, automobile manufacturers, utilities, all of the leaders who have placed short-term profit above the fate of the planet and the well-being of our children." - James Hansen
#8. To: Cynicom (#6)
Russia is now just a short walk from Iran. Will Iran invite the Bear in????
#9. To: FormerLurker (#7)
I view the timing of the large US naval armada heading for that region to be more than just a curious coincidence. We'll see how insane our "leaders" really are if they decide to defend "our ally", the dictator of Georgia.
#10. To: Original_Intent (#8)
The Iranians are savvy enough to coordinate with the Bear without being eaten,
#11. To: Original_Intent (#9)
The head cases running our government are stupid enough to light the fuse. Launching against Russian forces from those Carriers against Russia could set off the "Powder Keg".
"The real deal is this: the ‘royalty’ controlling the court, the ones with the power, the ones with the ability to make a difference, with the ability to change our course, the ones who will live in infamy if we pass the tipping points, are the captains of industry, CEOs in fossil fuel companies such as EXXON/Mobil, automobile manufacturers, utilities, all of the leaders who have placed short-term profit above the fate of the planet and the well-being of our children." - James Hansen
#12. To: FormerLurker (#11)
The head cases running our government are stupid enough to light the fuse. Launching against Russian forces from those Carriers against Russia could set off the "Powder Keg".
#13. To: Original_Intent (#12)
On the positive side most targets are on the East Coast and in the Southwest. I live on the West Coast - in the Northwest.
"The real deal is this: the ‘royalty’ controlling the court, the ones with the power, the ones with the ability to make a difference, with the ability to change our course, the ones who will live in infamy if we pass the tipping points, are the captains of industry, CEOs in fossil fuel companies such as EXXON/Mobil, automobile manufacturers, utilities, all of the leaders who have placed short-term profit above the fate of the planet and the well-being of our children." - James Hansen
#14. To: FormerLurker (#13)
I don't know if it'd be better to survive the initial onslaught, or to have it end quickly.
#15. To: Sam Houston (#3)
I now think if the Zionazis go ahead with their illegal bombing campaign on Iran's quite legal nuclear program, there is a fair chance Russia will intervene in some unexpected way.
#16. To: scrapper2, HOUNDDAWG, Wudidiz, TwentyTwelve, Cynicom, christine, FormerLurker, all (#15)
Notice that Russia does not destroy the pipeline but it is showing Israel and America that Russia could do so, if it wanted to.
#17. To: Original_Intent (#4)
It is one thing to be able to look at a Chess Board and another to analyze the position.
#18. To: Original_Intent (#16)
He is very obviously running scared because it would appear that the Russians do want to capture him and put him on trial, and then hang him.
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