Russian troops gathering near Kabul: Moscow Weekly

Kyodo via COMTEX ^ | Oct 09, 2001

[Tai_Chung]

MOSCOW, Oct 09, 2001 (Kyodo via COMTEX) -- The Russian military has secretly positioned troops on the outskirts of Kabul for an assault on the Afghan capital together with the opposition Northern Alliance forces, the Russian weekly Moscow News said Tuesday.

The weekly said Russian troops are operating tanks that had been given to the Northern Alliance as part of Moscow's military aid and are awaiting orders for an offensive against Kabul.

The maneuver is aimed at beating American forces in entering Kabul not only for the sake of Russian honor, but also to secure a role for Russia in shaping the post-Taliban order in Afghanistan, the weekly said.

In addition to supplying vast amounts of weaponry to the forces fighting the Taliban government, Moscow has also sent "military experts, technicians and military advisers," the Moscow News report said.

A precedent to Russia taking this type of action was seen in June 1999 during the Yugoslavia war when Russian forces surprised the NATO-led international force and occupied the airport at the Kosovo capital.

[Menkenspiel]

great. :|

[Petronski]

The maneuver is aimed at beating American forces in entering Kabul not only for the sake of Russian honor, but also to secure a role for Russia in shaping the post-Taliban order in Afghanistan, the weekly said.

There is honor in getting to Kabul first? Have at it, Ivan. It's all yours.

As if this story is true...

[KillerWabbit]

A precedent to Russia taking this type of action was seen in June 1999 during the Yugoslavia war when Russian forces surprised the NATO-led international force and occupied the airport at the Kosovo capital.

I had forgotten about that.

[lavaroise]

The weekly said Russian troops are operating tanks that had been given to the Northern Alliance as part of Moscow's military aid and are awaiting orders for an offensive against Kabul.

guess what, let them have Kabul. Kabul is a city easy to take, hard to keep. I'd rather have US forces in the mountains than Russian forces there.

By the way, I think we will cave in to Russian demands however. Securing the heroin trade for the Russian mob.

[Lotabrain]

I think they want revenge

[bloodmeridian]

The Russian military has secretly positioned troops on the outskirts of Kabul

Ah, it's typically helpful if secets remain secret....

[Loopy]

Let 'em go. He|| we ought to be happy about it. We aren't going there to "Nation Build." If Russia wants to do so, have at it.

[Travis McGee]

I think it is more plausible that the Paraguayan Air Commandos are poised to invade Kabul in motorized hang gliders.

[John H K]

Hey Kids! It's time for another Free Republic round of "Unquestioningly believe EVERYTHING coming from obscure foreign news sources!"

[Timesink]

This is fine with me. The Russians will not hesitate to do the REALLY dirty work of pure revenge against these scumbags.

[Dan from Michigan]

I know Russia is still sore about the 80's, and I don't blame them.

I have no problem with them 'nationbuilding'. IMO, we should drop the Taliban, kill Bin Laden, kill his network, kill any other terrorist group there, and then GET OUT.

[John H K]

I heard that the Vatican Swiss Guards had Kabul surrounded in Landspeeders.

[aculeus]

My BS meter is making a veryloud noise.

[Born to Conserve]

Oh! Gee! I guess our KH-11 satallites with 2" resolution just missed those "massed" Russian forces!

[Ingtar]

The Northern Alliance accepting Russian help? Seems a bit farfetched.

[Dirk McQuickly]

This is NOT good news if the U.S. is intending to set up further military operations from somewhere like Kandahar or Jalalabad. Take reports out of Russia with a tremendous grain of salt -- just like the "Chinese are sending 15,000 troops to aid Taliban" drivel from Debka.

[Dog Gone]

As I recall, MOSCOW NEWS isn't a pro-Russian publication. They print all kinds of tripe.

I wouldn't put much credence in this.

[steve50]

I'm interested in just how far they will go on this money laundering trail. Be a lot of our own big shots in jail if they follow the drug money.

[malakhi]

Hey Kids! It's time for another Free Republic round of "Unquestioningly believe EVERYTHING coming from obscure foreign news sources!"

LOL!

Or domestic news sources, for that matter. I think we all need a healthy dose of skepticism.