The Elite's Feeling the Heat [commentary on Russian propaganda re the Iraq war]

The Moscow Times ^ | Thursday, Apr. 10, 2003 [Moscow time] | Pavel Felgenhauer

[jpthomas]

As the allies' push into Iraq seemed to falter, many hearts in Moscow and in Europe rejoiced.

Who's smiling now?

Message to Generals Achalov and Maltsev: your GPS jammers are crap, just like your grasp of modern military strategy.

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[Shermy]

Many Russian generals truly believe that a bombing campaign that leaves some buildings still standing is ineffective.

Yeah, just like Grozny. "Effective."

[Question_Assumptions]

I wouldn't feel so bad if I were the Russians. A key difference between Grozny and Baghdad is that the Iraqis wanted the Americans to win and didn't have as much fight in them.

[HarryCaul]

You know, maybe people will realize that the murder of 5000 of our civilians really did change the world.

That "sleeping giant" quote people throw around? It's not just rhetoric. Pay attention.

[BrooklynGOP]

A key difference between Grozny and Baghdad...

Another key difference is conscripts vs. professional soldiers.

[denydenydeny]

I've been waiting for this column for some time now.

[WillVoteForFood]

Very interesting this analysis by the Russians. I remember back before the war in Afghanistan kicked into gear an interview with a former Russian soldier who had a lot of experience in Afghanistan from the U.S.S.R.'s conflict there. They asked what would be the most effective means to work over the caves the Taliban was holed up in. His answer was napalm. Rather a revealing interview into the Russian mindset with regard to military tactics.

Our military must not rest on its laurels as a result of this war. Our goal should be to remain the best and to continue to prepare without relent for our upcoming conflicts. The continued modernization of our weaponry should be taken up in earnest and we should make certain our future soldiers will want for nothing when they hit the battlefield.

[McGavin999]

The Russians chose the wrong side. They don't understand that the advantage the US and UK hold is their soldiers are free, they are bringing liberation to the Iraqi people, and they long to go home ASAP. You can't beat that.

[Question_Assumptions]

Well, there are a lot of differences. But my point is that things could have been a little tougher if the Iraqis were fighting all-out like the Chechnyans did.

[jpthomas]

An excerpt from the 3/25/03 CENTCOM briefing transcript regarding the Russian GPS jammers:

Q (Off mike) -- from Associated Press. …You speak a lot about the precision of the weapons. I'm wondering if you have noticed any jamming efforts by the Iraqis to jam any of your satellite-guided missiles. The White House yesterday mentioned the sale of some GPS-jamming equipment. Have you experienced any of that so far?

GEN. RENUART: Let me go to your second question first, maybe, and then I'll come back to the first question.

We have noticed some attempts by the Iraqis to use a GPS-jamming system that they have procured from another nation. Actually, we've been able to identify the location of each of those jammers, and I'm happy to report that we have destroyed all six of those jammers in the last two nights' airstrikes.

As to have they had an effect on us, I'm also pleased to say they had no effect on us. In fact, we destroyed one of the GPS jammers with a GPS weapon. (Laughter.) Ironic.

The complete transcript of the briefing and questions is here:

Briefing transcript

[John H K]

The hilarious thing about the idiotic "should US have a draft?" debate from a couple months ago is that the Russians are trying to change to a volunteer rather than conscript army.

[alnitak]

The worst possible outcome of the war in Iraq for the Russian military is a swift allied victory with relatively low casualties. Already many in Russia are beginning to ask why our forces are so ineffective compared to the Brits and Americans; and why the two battles to take Grozny in 1995 and 2000 each took more than a month to complete, with more that 5,000 Russian soldiers killed and tens of thousands wounded in both engagements, given that Grozny is one tenth the size of Baghdad.

Yes, I can imagine that is causing some serious head-scratching, and not just in the Kremlin either.

Do you remember the pictures of the tanks shown on Fox in the first incursion (the one that went out to the airport)? Parked in the middle of an urban area, the buildings around still standing - though a little scorched - but the tanks totally destroyed. So what's your choice now if you're a third world dictator? Keep your armour out in the countryside where it gets destroyed, or bring it into the city - where it gets destroyed!

I can see military strategies being torn up all around the world.

[kpp_kpp]

no one can possibly believe that the military uses the same signals (or possibly even satelites) as commercial gps products???

[Savage Beast]

"It was believed that the Americans were afraid of close hand-to-hand encounters, they would not tolerate the inevitable casualties, and that in the final analysis they were cowards who relied on technical superiority."

Yes. And this is how the Clinton legacy has mislead the Russians. They made the mistake of believing that the "Liberal" enclaves were representative of America. They're not.

The American Heartland--Bush Country--is alive, strong, vibrant, and still in its ascendancy. Western Civilization florishes there. This is the heart of America--the real America.

If American "Liberals" were representative of the U.S., the assumptions of the Russians (vide supra) would be correct.

However, most Americans--Americans of the Heartland--are as fierce and courageous as they are gentle, they are not afraid of close hand-to-hand encounters or anything else; they will tolerate whatever is necessary, casualties included, to preserve liberty, justice, and representative government;

And never forget that the United States is the home of the brave as well as the land of the free!

"To mistake gentleness for weakness is to underestimate the severity of a Russian winter."

Leon Uris. Mila 18 (speaking of American gentleness)

[Redleg Duke]

You got that one right! They should have paid attention to Admiral Yamamoto!

[Bubba_Leroy]

As to have they had an effect on us, I'm also pleased to say they had no effect on us. In fact, we destroyed one of the GPS jammers with a GPS weapon.

ROFLOL!

[Paleo Conservative]

Message to Generals Achalov and Maltsev: your GPS jammers are crap, just like your grasp of modern military strategy.

All your GPS jammers are belong to us!

[Bubba_Leroy]

The hilarious thing about the idiotic "should US have a draft?" debate from a couple months ago is that the Russians are trying to change to a volunteer rather than conscript army.

That is because the Russians are trying to figure out how to make their military more effective and have correctly determined that the best way to do so is to emulate ours. In contrast, the dimocRATs that want to bring back the draft are desperately seeking a way to bring down our military.

[Savage Beast]

"As the allies' push into Iraq seemed to falter, many hearts in Moscow and in Europe rejoiced."

Yes. Americans will forgive--but will not forget--this treachery. Be forewarned!

"Russian generals and Ivanov assume it's the Americans that should be learning from them how to flatten cities."

The Americans could have "flattened" Baghdad--or any other city--with ONE BOMB! Be forewarned!

"To mistake gentleness for weakness is to underestimate the severity of a Russian winter."

Be forewarned, Fools!