‘A scorecard for the US “lukewarm war” on Russia – strategic and tactical levels‘ is an excellent synopsis by The Saker of the entire situation in Ukeland, Novorossiya and the World. When I first came in contact with Saker I realized within a nanosecond that he and most of the posters on this blog were intellectually far above my narrow view. I am a ‘nuts and bolts’ man and I mentioned in one of my first posts that while Saker and many others here had and have a vast overview of the world I could see not much beyond my weapon sights in days past and to an extent to this day.
However, having looked through weapons sights I can at least try to give you on this blog an idea of what has and is happening for those who are boots in the mud, or, today it being summer, boots in the dust, and somewhat of an idea of what to expect in the daily grind and semi chaos of small unit actions. I will as usual try not to give the Nats any idea at all of what they are doing right and what they are doing wrong. For our boys I do from time to time mention things to people I know.
In small unit tactics, small unit being fire team, squad and platoon sized ops plus Recon activities, you will have good days and you will have bad days. No army, no regiment, no rota (company), no section has ever enjoyed complete and unbroken success in any war since the beginning of time. Small units are tactical units, period. The combination of the activities of many tactical units creates strategy, but for a single small unit to have any real affect on strategy is quite rare and in reality are for the history books and studies at war colleges. Reality is small units are expendable in the grand strategic scenario.
A small unit will hold, for instance, a road block post, a bridge, a relatively important terrain feature or minor communications hub. A small unit can not and will not hold their position against an overwhelming enemy attack. Faced with massive superiority of an enemy force arrayed against it the unit will simply report in to Command, give a hasty sitrep, put up a short resistance to the enemy force and then withdraw, inflicting what casualties they can before and during the tactical withdrawal. If Command decides the terrain feature is worth holding then the small unit fights as hard as possible until help arrives from Command. The reality is the Army of Novorossiya can rarely contest in great numbers an action by the Nats when said Nats bring all their forces to bear, although this reality has in fact been changing in the last two weeks or so. Remember, a scant month or so ago the Army of Novorossiya didn’t have heavy weapons or even more than a precious few medium machine guns. Most of what they did have and have today was donated by the Nats army one way or another. A tactical withdrawal of a few hundred meters generally has precisely zero to do with overall Strategy in general. The fly in the ointment of that statement is a whole series of tactical withdrawals in a short period of time adds up to a strategic withdrawal and that can have a distressing affect on the overall strategy of your command structure.
Normal life for a small unit is day in day out grinding hours of boredom interspersed with seconds and minutes of hard fighting. The soldiers clean weapons and equipment always, first and foremost, improve their positions as much as possible with what is to hand, eat, clean themselves, some always on the firing steps so to speak and keeping a keen eye out for any untoward activity in the area and they will generally have LPOP’s (listening/observation posts) out in front to give early warning of anything untoward coming their way. This activity is 24 hours a day seven days a week. There is no holiday when you are in the line even if the ‘line’ is a 30 m wide position out in the middle of nowhere. You get to know your fellow soldiers in your unit very well as you wile away the endless hours talking about everything in the world. As with civilian life the soldiers will run the gamut from good to bad to average. The bad don’t last long, they tend to be attrited out of a combat unit either by enemy action or their sarjanti (sergeants). Bravery don’t mean squat when you’re facing half a dozen nats tanks or BMP’s and said nats are irritated to an extreme. What civilians call ‘bravery’ is almost always simply the unthinking actions of soldiers in protecting their comrades and holding their position as ordered. It is only after the fact that ‘bravery’ is adjudged.
A small unit is, as mentioned, expendable. This happens. Never underestimate the fighting abilities of your enemy and this includes the Nats army. The Nats do, indeed, have some units that will fight and fight hard plus at this time the enemy still has overwhelming numbers and vast equipment. There will be times, both in static defense or in patrols, where our boys will lose and have lost. Our casualties reflect this reality. We will lose positions, we will lose villages and towns, we will lose entire tactical units, no doubt. I also have no doubts that in the end we will prevail but our boys will pay and are paying a heavy price in blood.
Civilians. As I have aged I have mellowed and I remember every dead civilian face I’ve ever seen. I can not and do not dwell on them, but I remember. My old Sarjant’s philosophy was ‘civilians get in the way’. Neither he back then nor I today mean the poor civilians in Novorossiya who are mercilessly bombarded day and night by the thugs from Kiev. I mean that when taking or holding a position there will often be civilians in the area. Our task is to either take or hold a position. Civilians can be and often are foolish. Especially in today’s times they have all seen movies that in no way, shape or form reflect reality. I’ve seen civilians stand beside a tank that was actively fighting and firing at their enemy and I saw the civilians die when the tank was hit and brewed up. Nothing I or we could do. Every civilian death is a tragedy, but for God’s sake when civilians hear or see active combat, go and hide! Find a hole, a ditch, a thick wall, run away from the shooting, anything, but get the hell out of the way and take the children with you! Our boys will do what they can to protect you but reality is they are soldiers who are fighting and ever second you take them from or distract them from their task at hands risks not only them personally but the success of the operation they are involved in and if they fail in that operation it puts you, the civilians, in the tender mercies of the nats/right sector gentlemen.
Bottom line, we will lose men and units and positions just as we take positions and cause the enemy to lose men and units. This is the reality of War. One can not and must not dwell on the losses of men and small units, however cold and hard that may sound.
My friends, do not ever get discouraged. Remember our men, women and children who have fallen and those who will fall today, tomorrow, and every day until we achieve the victory I know is coming. Do not expect the Russian Army to cross the borders and help Novorossiya. This will not happen unless The West unleashes some horrendous attack on civilians that kills thousands of them. Can The West do this? Yes. Will The West do this? I don’t know. I pray The West doesn’t and I hope my, and our, prayers are answered.
Juan
“The Western partners sought to link the incident to the situation in Ukraine. But this has no relation to the attack on the Russian Embassy,” he said.
“Such actions must be condemned irrespective any other circumstances,” Gatilov said.
“We’re surprised at the Western partners’ position because in similar cases the U.N. Security Council reacted immediately and condemned them,” he said.
“We can say the Western partners demonstrated the policy of double standards in the U.N. Security Council,” Gatilov told ITAR-TASS.
“The Western partners refused to condemn what was rather evident. The international community denounced such facts in other cases,” he said.
=================================
America and NATO call openly
“Russia is our enemy”
Russia calls them “partners”.
When will Russia and the Russian public and media understand that the NATO, UKUSA, Anglo-Zionists, NATO/EU is the of Russia.
@Anonymous 15:30
Re: “The Russians call the West and NATO ‘partners’.
You ask why does Russia do this when the West calls Russia the enemy.
It’s called needling SARCASM!
And a pointed reminder by Russia to those in the West that have hijacked the foreign policy agenda that Russia will unrelentingly neutralize the real objective of their enemy (which is to give them the enemy they want).
Maybe it means something to know that many Europeans do NOT support and are completely against KIEV.
Here is another German example.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdDXA9RWpEs&feature=youtu.be
For those Russians who understand German. Many Germans are solid on the side of Russians realizing that it was the Russians who suffered most under the NAZIS
As a German I feel that it is especially the German people who are obligated to stand shoulder to shoulder with Russians to fight the extremist filth which is running its destruction from Kiev. With support I mean qualified and experienced boots in the mud facing Kievs troops
This is not an isolated opinion and Donbass , Luhansk & Novorussiya fighters should know there is a growing sizeable support base especially in Germany.
The problem with America—-it must win every, single, little, diplomatic or military tactical battle at the risk of losing mucking up its strategy.
America is a fat, greedy kid that has to eat everything at the table without regard for anyone else.
Vietnam (and Iraq and Afghanistan and Kossovo and Libya, etc) were all tactical successes but strategic failures. Looks like Ukraine is panning out the same way.
Juan
You got me smiling. Nuts and bolts does not write so eloquent English.
Your info is #1 in my book, no bs, terse and clear status on the ground, the best you can. IMHO, its the best feature of this site, for someone looking for information.
To All
If I may share my opinion, and somewhat experience, the moment country sends its army to kill its people, that country cease to exist. Ukraine is dead corpse. It will not resurrect in any known form.
EXYU Guy.
p.s. I found it strange that sending army against east Ukraine people is not against constitution of Ukraine. Can somebody confirm this?
Correction
=================================
America and NATO call openly
“Russia is our enemy”
Russia calls them “partners”.
When will Russia and the Russian public and media understand that the NATO, UKUSA, Anglo-Zionists, NATO/EU is the ENEMY of Russia.
Juan, you are remarkable — a person of action, but also brains. Here’s hoping that before long, Kiev decides that you and your comrades make holding on to Novorussiya too costly.
Thank you. This was very informative.
Mindfriedo
Saker,
Please take a look at this, proof that the pictures NATO published on their website claiming “Russian military forces buildup” were doctored!
http://el-murid.livejournal.com/1875424.html?bom
https://yadi.sk/d/lj8aRJoZTYA7S
Top picture is NATO published, bottom – actual sattelite photo
Saker,
Please take a look at this, proof that the pictures NATO published on their website claiming “Russian military forces buildup” were doctored!
http://el-murid.livejournal.com/1875424.html?bom
https://yadi.sk/d/lj8aRJoZTYA7S
Top picture is NATO published, bottom – actual sattelite photo
Putin’s use of the term, IMO, is a pointed and diplomatically astute dig at his “partners” with whom, in fact, Russia has many joint enterprises. The fact that Russia’s ‘partners’ are behaving very badly and belligerently doesn’t change that – at least until a state of war is declared. It is a way of both affirming the ongoing positive aspects of business and trade (and speaking to those on the other side who remain sympathetic to Russia’s position) while at the same time calling out the hypocritical and destructive rhetoric emanating from various capitals. It is a very ‘adult’ form of diplomatic language – something that is mostly absent from the pronouncements of Brussels and Washington.
Yes. so right about bravery. It appears that someone has excellent intelligence–the downed airplane with the 40 paratroopers and the downed helicopter with the nasty General who coordinated special forces with the National Guard were all high value targets. Was that “luck” of the shoot or a combination of factors? it appears that the communication as well as intelligence is good but perhaps the Kiev forces are just arrogant enough to use the air space for key personnel transport. They have a learning curve but it seems to me that the Ukrainian people in general just do not want to kill each other. The CIA playbook is stuck in the religious and ethnic sectarianism of the mid East. it appears that the hard line fascists types can garner 10% of the vote but it takes a larger minority than that to carry the day—more like 25-30% which is what the Nazis had at their peak to manipulate that situation. And, yes, this conflict will prove in historical retrospect to be a key one both in tactics, strategy and grand outcome. Lavrov rules! Tomes will be written about that man.
Juan
This will not happen unless The West unleashes some horrendous attack on civilians that kills thousands of them. Can The West do this? Yes. Will The West do this? I don’t know. I pray The West doesn’t and I hope my, and our, prayers are answered.
My dear friend
Who and since when is somebody the “West”?
What you are doing is pitting the whole world against Russia.
Are Sweden, Swiss, Greece, Hungary, Japan the West?
They are, but are they all united in fight against Russia with the same degree?
Who is the West?
Since when?
Was Germany the west during Hitler?
Is Portugal the West?
When America blames Russia for something she does not say “The East” she says simply “We blame Russia and Russia is our enemy”
Instead of saying an imaginary west which is a broad term, could you not call spade a spade i.e. say America or UKUSA countries or America and its vassals or Anglo-Zionists?
May God bless Novorosiya
Anonymous @ 16:31
In using the term “The West”, Juan is calling a Spade a Spade, why should he comply with your vision of the world? Trying to exonorate Germany and other EU miscreants is ignorant beyond words; the BND was heavily involved in destabilizing Ukraine (Kitchko) so were those moronic Baltic zrepublics and Poland. As were the fascist autocrats of the EU machinery in Brussels.
DEAL WITH IT!
The man’s got it hard enough doing what he’s doing without having to wordsmith his messages to comply with individual opinions and ‘sensitivities’.
Juan,
It is good to know that there are people like you involved. Hope Novorossiya has many nuts and bolts types for dealing with economic or criminal matters. What would be very good is a training system/institute in the Crimea or near the Donbass so that life in Novorossiya will not be so bad that Poroshenko looks good. Get trained folks in as soon as possible, or even have advisors or judges there. An example of some thinking is Maxim Kalashnikov’s article “Operation New Russia”.
Thank you Juan for this beautiful prose poem on the life of the grunt. As I have mentioned before, my civilian involvement in Viet Nam gave me a cat bird seat to watch both sides of the struggle by scrupulously maintaining a neutral, non combatant status. I just couldn’t talk about most of the resistance observations I made, and it sort of became a habit. I haven’t talked about this stuff since I returned in ’70.
I loathed the American officer corps, and did everything I could to avoid contact with them and their civilian clothed counterparts. I did have a lot of opportunity to mix with the grunts, including my Airborne private brother. I liked the low rankers on both sides and was starkly aware of the similarity of outlook of the enemies. Like you say, my observation was that war was an everyday, simplified to the absolute basics sort of thing in the various holes in the ground you all call “positions.” In my neighborhood most of the resistance “positions” were tunnels by day, and just about everywhere at night.
We civilians basically lived by our ears. To this day I can identify distance, type and in some cases, make of the weapons being used. To the entertainment of my family I will automatically seek cover if a helicopter is heard approaching with no apparent awareness of what I am doing. When I visit VN now there are so few survivors that remember the war, so few people my age, but we still talk about the craziness, especially about the insanely crazy things the Americans did, but the sharpness of the stench and horror fades as the content of our lives in that time is gradually erased andreplaced by myth.
Thank you agin, and Saker, for providing a sane mooring point as the World goes relentlessly mad around us.
herb
Juan
Prayers for you and the boys and men fighting for their religion, their homes, their honor as human beings.
Your article illuminates brilliantly the mortal dangers and dilemmas of warfare.
We thank you and we pray for the people of Novorossiya.
https://facebook.com/clyzhba/posts/574068306043247?fref=nf
ОБРАЩЕНИЕ К ОПОЛЧЕНЦАМ ЮГО-ВОСТОКА!
Доблесные воины, воюющие за независимость обращаю ваше внимание на проблему, не решив которую, нельзя прекратить войну, ее вам не прекратят. 5 областей Украины отданы компаниям Шелл и Шеврон на 50 лет с правом продления! Под вашими ногами земля продана, она уже не ваша с 24 января 2014 года и война идет с Америкой руhttps://m.facebook.com/clyzhba/posts/574068306043247?fref=nfhttps://m.facebook.com/clyzhba/posts/574068306043247?fref=nfками руками олигархов за выполнение договорных условий перед компаниями Свет на деятельность компании может пролиться очень и очень не скоро: соглашение подписано сроком на пятьдесят лет с возможностью продления. А согласно Статьи 33.3 «Срок конфиденциальности. Без ограничений, касающихся использования и раскрытия информации, входящих в любые
Russia should give Saker indirect money to run for a senate seat against a neocon who would otherwise win but not against a vet who stands for true conservatism. Juan: speak with your friends about that. There is a huge us electorate for conservatives who openly speak out vs neocons
Billionaire businessman and politician Poroshenko won the May 25 early presidential election in Ukraine set by the provisional Kiev authorities propelled to power amid riots when a coup occurred in the country in February. He was sworn in on June 7.
http://en.itar-tass.com/world/736300
===============================
Itar-Tass calls him “Billionaire businessman”
If he was Russian – Anglo-Zionist media would call him Oligarch
Does Itar-Tass work for The State Department and Anglo-Zionists?
Anonymous said…
Russia should give Saker indirect money ………….
The Russian government should fire those idiots in RIA Novosti who work for Anglo-Zionists and bring into Russia ex-pats like Saker and give them positions.
Anonymous at 16 June, 2014 16:31:
“The West” is the US, Canada, UK, EU, NATO. I think most of us know that, and it’s clearly understood if not stated every time. They all have good people, who still buy the propaganda and psychological conditioning. And when we allow this to happen, we are all, to some extent or the other, morally responsible.
Public lack informations polititions have so they judgments of any evants is based on humanitarian motives. In this view any explanations of Ruskis strategems is not for us. In any person understanding Putin had have betrayed his own people in Novorossiya and shows not abilities for a world leader. He wants bipolart world without a leadership. Forget his. He must go as Russian Federation. They must be reduced to teritory between Urals and Volga. That’s where they belong.
@anonynmous 15:30:
By referring to the groups overlaying the people as partners an important task is carried out. You touched upon it.
Right now a large minority of people in the EU and US do not support the actions of their leaders. They do not consider the Russians as enemies.
However, just as in Ukraine, once everybody in the eastern and southern oblasti are referred to as terrorists or enemies, for no more reason than living there then those residents start to consider the people on Kyiv, indeed the whole of Ukraine as enemies.
We have a tendency to group together under stress, even if we do not fully agree with the rest of the group. Not everyone in Germany was a Nazi, not everyone in Russia was a communist but in extremis everyone in Germany and everyone in Russia treated the other group as enemies.
So, Russia will NOT refer, in public, to the US as ‘enemy’. They will not call Germany ‘the enemy’ because once they do that the people in Germany and the US who right now support, in mind if not body, Russia and Russian goals will see Russia as a threat and will support their government against Russia.
Those of us who do not support the goals of the US and EU in this undeclared war are actually pretty important. We are evangelists, we are messengers and we are canaries who will sing when the ‘air’ is poisonous.
Right now though, can I make something clear, I do not see myself as having taken a ‘side’. I want to understand what is happening and I want to help others understand, whether they be Ukrainian, English, American or Russian, what is going on. I live a long way from the trouble and can not identify with the participants emotionally. I hate that we are being misled and I understand that without understanding of our environment none of us can make good choices.
Words are the programming of our minds so we need to use the right words. Mr Lavrov might want to rip the throat out of Mr Obama with his bare teeth, but his training and programming will ensure that he shows no outward verbal sign of his desire.
Respect to Juan. It’s people like him, the actual boots on the ground, who understands there is no easy answer to solving this. You fight to defend your home and people, every day until you prevail. Ordinary people, acting in extraordinary times.
Thank you for everything you do.
Best wishes to Juan, Saker and Novorossia.
Anonymous in Finland
Juan,
Thank you so much; you’ve made things clear for even a non-military type. ;~)
May God Bless you and keep you and yours safe, and may He guide your success smoothly.
Anonymous 15:49,
We sure are a fat, greedy kid but how exactly was Vietnam a tactical success? The only way I can think of any of the examples you cite being any kind of tactical success is if we measure success by degree of destruction.
Banderastan PM Yatsenuk went and did it. He used the term “subhuman”. It’s been scrubbed now (after many hours), but here’s a screenshot…
http://www.moonofalabama.org/images4/subhumans.jpg
Re: Yatsencrook calling Russians subhuman.
ROFL!!!! This coming from a cretinous inbred effeminate little man with a substandard malfunctioning brain (deluded and insane). That little weakling wouldn’t last a minute in fight a fight with a 14 year old girl! (Let alone a normal man) – He’s hardly an example of an ubermensch. And he certainly isnt the sharpest tack either.
This guy is a great example of a mediocre nobody being supported into his position because he belongs to the Neocon gang and is willing to whore himself.
What a pompous insecure moron.
Anonymous at 16 June, 2014 16:31:
“The West” is the US, Canada, UK, EU, NATO.
I prefer the term
Ali Baba and 40 thieves.
Btw
Since Albania and Turkey are in NATO – they are culturally the West and Russia not.
Is the Russian literature part of the western literature or not?
Black Flag Alert:
http://rt.com/news/166128-isis-jihadists-threaten-britain/
Five Eyes couldn’t spot or stop them??? Yeah, right.
Do be careful, UK readers!
Juan, good comments on camaraderie among unit teammates. You allude to fighting defensive actions but offense provides a distinct military advantage to the strong of heart. High risk high payoff. Use your imagination and select enemy high level cadre or infrastructure for removal from the war fighting effort. Success brings high morale for the troops and contributes to breaking the will of the enemy.
Thank you, Juan, for this very well-written report on the life of the grunt. You are Saker and Novorussia are in my prayers constantly. Onwards, friends
Whoops. I meant “and” not “are”
Latest report from Strelkov is very pessimistic!
(use Yandex translate on pasted text, Yandex cannot be given an HTTPS link, nor Google translate nor Bing BTW)
Thank you Jaun for all the information and the courage it must take in this war, and Saker for giving him a platform. This is hreatbreaking (although typical) all the media is talking about is Iraq! Of course where our Christen Brethren are dying NOTHING, only SILENCE! I pray the Lord will give you victory over the evil that is trying to destroy your country and people! I am sick over this, to the core of my soul! God help us all! Blessings!
Anonymous @ 17:55 asked:
Is the Russian literature part of the western literature or not?
Western Literature with Russian content exists and is designated as such.
Great Books of the Western World
first edition:
Volume 50
Karl Marx
Capital
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
Manifesto of the Communist Party
Volume 51
Count Leo Tolstoy
War and Peace
Volume 52
Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky
The Brothers Karamazov
Second edition added:
Anton Chekov
Uncle Vanya
Saker,
my old computer got very sick via twitter Have to take it to shop.
bought new one that is more like a damn cell phone than computer.
I don’t do cell phone
This is a translation of Streklov interview earlier today.
This is the only way I can get it to you as your email address is on other computer.
Urgent Appeal from Igor Strelkov, June 16, 2014
karin
Greetings to Juan and his buddies, some of the most heroic people that Russia has ever produced.
These guys fight by their own will and volition, are not pushed into the battle by NKVD henchmen, are not backed by any airpower, are not bestowed with medals, and are seemingly left alone against pretty uncomfortable odds – and thus, for me personally, they are even better than WWII soldiers. True men.
Juan, I don’t know if you will read any comments, but if you do, and if you communicate with Strelkov – please convey my utmost admiration. To me, he is an embodiment of Russian valor and nobility of days long gone. A Russian officer that today exists mostly in novels and movies, a stuff of legends.
I am a staunch anti-Communist, and I believe that nobody injured Russia more than Bolsheviks, so Novorossian hard-left tilt is somewhat of a turnoff for me. I am incredulous at times at the sight of banderistas demolishing Lenin’s monuments (when nobody benefited them more than him), while Russians keep worshipping this scumbag (when nobody did more to ruin Russia than Communists).
But I know heroes whan I see them. And you guys certainly fit the mold.
I am confident you will win.
Fight smart and be safe. You are a true Russian elite. One of you is worth a legion of cowards hiding in basements or under the skirts of their women.
All the best to you!
Thanks for taking your time to write.
In France, Marine Le Pen would like to pull France out of NATO. Like Charles de Gaulle, she seeks independence from the U.S. Like her counterparts, she believes that old U.S.-led institutions such as the World Trade Organization, World Bank and International Monetary Fund have “expired.”
Le Pen advocates a privileged partnership with Russia, which is necessitated by “obvious civilization and geostrategic factors” and “energy security interests.” She supports cooperation with Russia within a “Eurasian alliance.”
These ideas have unleashed great behind-the-facade concern in Washington, which had hoped to complete the EU-U.S. free-trade agreement (FTA) without further headaches.
What’s worse, severe sanctions scenario could push the new and fractious Brussels and its euroskeptics even closer to Putin and further from the White House.
F**** NATO/EU
Long live the West.
It is said that the self-defense has only 1-2 weeks left before they will be crushed. Today is the 16th that means by June 23- June 30.
This means that the entire uprising will be in vain. The Ukraine army has partly destroyed a power plant causing water shortages.
And the Ukrainian government is offering free land in the East to the soldiers.
http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/ukraines-land-agency-give-land-to-soldiers-in-the-east-for-free-352100.html
You will have an east with all the anti-Kiev and/or pro-Russians ethnically cleansed and resettled by neo-Nazi Ukrainians. Then there will come NATO troops up along the Ukrainian/Russia border and they will infiltrate and provoke.
People keep saying its not in Russia’s interest to help those in eastern Ukraine. But is it in Russia’s interest to have all of Ukraine go NATO?
Is it in Russia’s interest to have anti-Russian soldiers and their families in control of eastern Ukraine?
Is it any wonder that countries will join NATO when not doing so leaves one extra vulnerable to ethnic cleansing by western puppets?
Russia mostly sits there with empty words will country after country (many old allies of Russia) is destroyed and/or turned over to NATO.
Here is an English translation of the Strelkov appeal by Gleb Bazov
To hardcore and others – beware
Strelkov doesn’t use social networks to make public statements. If it is not video – it’s a disinformation
I think I may finally begin to see something of president Putins strategy here. The US/NATO/UK axis of evil must be really tearing their hair out in frustration by now that president Putin hasn’t taken the bait laid out for him. The last thing you should do is give your enemy what he wants. Their very frustration is made apparent by their increasingly provocative actions in recent days such as sending two Ukrainian APCs across the border into Russia against all conventions and international law and the recent attacks against the Russian embassy in Kiev and the Russian mission in Odessa, not to mention deliberately torpedoing the gas talks with clearly unreasonable and unrealistic demands from the slimeball weasel “yats”. I like many others have long wondered when Putin was going to say enough is enough and send the troops in until I was listening to cross talk with Peter Lavelle and he said something that made me pause and think. He said and I quote, “Russia doesn’t start wars it finishes them”. President Putin is playing the long game here. Like someone once said, Americans play poker and Russians play chess. President Putin is giving them enough rope to hang themselves with, and hang themselves they will. Their supreme arrogance and hubris practically guarantees it. The more president Putin fails to react the wilder and more reckless they will become. The time, place and form of confrontation will be at Russias time and choosing. I think president Putin realises by now that a confrontation with the axis of evil is now inevitable as you cannot peacefully coexist in the same world with lunatics in power that have the mind set of dick cheney, john McCain, et al. He is at the moment trying his very best to put off this inevitability as long as is humanly possible.
@ know the truth 20:06
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Well synthesized, well said.
Please do not taint honest ordinary people in the UK as having any support at all for the psychopathic banditry emanating from Kiev. The situation is being either misreported or non-reported by the UK MSM, and now as of never before we understand how mendacious our so-called rulers are. To think that this country fought Nazism for 6 years and now Cameron, Hague and the EU not only support the Nazi regime but actively encourage, by implication massacre and the use of WP on civilians and even worse children.I was always of the opinion that TPTB are dangerous psychopaths, my instincts were true. Putin and Lavrov are the only sane people in the asylum at this juncture, and have shown awesome restraint thus far in dealing with these criminal scum.I have a feeling we will be seeing a Saigon redux in Kiev ere soon as CIA/FBI/Blackwater/Akademi scuttle out of town. This will not end well for US or EU, Iraq is boiling over and the timing is all wrong….
karin,
omg. Are you absolutely certain that was Strelkov saying all that? Because if it is, wow.
I can’t even say more than that; it’s just so horrible beyond words.
Destruction, I guess, is what we do best.
But it doesn’t totally sound like him (or at least any of the translations I’ve read).
This clear-headed article goes well with Saker’s “A scorecard for the US “lukewarm war” on Russia – strategic and tactical levels” piece. With a better translation, it would make an excellent piece to post as a guest entry here. It speculates on the effect it would have on the Ukraine internally should Russian forces be introduced and if they are not introduced. The author fleshes out some points about the “Russian option” and its possible effect in the Ukraine I have not seen before. The translation is a bit tough to understand in some places, but not too bad.
Чего добиваются власти Украины? (Pursue the Ukrainian authorities?)
http://ruspravda.info/CHego-dobivayutsya-vlasti-Ukraini-5500.html (trans) http://translate.yandex.net/tr-url/ru-en.ru/ruspravda.info/CHego-dobivayutsya-vlasti-Ukraini-5500.html
In reply to Anonomous from Germany, Sahra Wagenacht gave a brilliant performance to the German Government, EU Crisis and Ukraine. Here is the link and well worth watching.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIi4a7ri-dc
http://vimeo.com/98184722
Also Ken Jebsen and ex-MSM is trying his best.
In reply to Anonomous from Germany, Sahra Wagenacht gave a brilliant performance to the German Government, EU Crisis and Ukraine. Here is the link and well worth watching.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIi4a7ri-dc
http://vimeo.com/98184722
Also Ken Jebsen and ex-MSM is trying his best.
“Summary from strelkov Igor Ivanovich
Information from Igor Ivanovich, his associates and the militia.
Emergency statement of the commander of the militia DND Igor strelkov.
Text version emergency video message:
Now you hear the breaks, the enemy is firing heavy howitzer artillery from multiple batteries surroundings Slavyansk and the town of Kramatorsk. The massed bombardment exclusively on city blocks and industrial enterprises. If Slavyansk already got used to the constant, continuous, daily, nightly attacks, in Kramatorsk now began to panic. For the first time there is a heavy shells covered with panel houses, private sector. There fires, explosions, lots of dead and wounded.
This is done in order to show to all the cities of Donbass, what will happen to them next. They smashed Slavyansk. Here in Russia ran over half the population. Now they break Kramatorsk, it is more Slavyansk. We get tens of thousands of refugees, most of which are in Russia. Russia to receive tens, hundreds of thousands and then millions of refugees, as far as I know, absolutely not ready. For Kramatorsk go Druzhkovka, Konstantinovka, Gorlovka, Makeyevka, Donetsk, Lugansk, further – everywhere. How does the Ukrainian army, we see. It beats not on positions of the militia, and for infrastructure. Promise to let crews and fire them. Say that we hit on their own schools, wastewater treatment plants. This is all we do, terrorists, they are not to blame.
Short forecast. The main force of infantry enemy moved to the North of Lugansk region and to the South of Donetsk. Every day they are moving forward on 10-15 kilometers, methodically cutting off the “rebellious” regions from the border with Russia. Cutting aid to all. Ranging from weapons and ammunition, which hypothetically ever can be delivered to the food and drugs. I can assure you that if Russia does not take urgent measures, they will succeed.
Even several thousand militia who focus now along the border, with several tanks, multiple instruments, may with a large number of machine guns and grenade launchers still cannot long survive aviation, artillery, mass tanks. The ratio of tanks can be measured 1 to 500, BMP – 1 to 300, 1 800 artillery, about the aviation I am silent. A week has passed, two, three, maybe a month, the most combat-ready part of the militia will be exhausted sooner or later broken and destroyed. How the enemy acts that we have seen in Mariupol. They surrounded the city, blocked by checkpoints, using the technique, cuts from being able to help. Then there came the punitive detachments. This special unit, the so-called volunteers, but in fact – mercenaries – “Azov”, “Donbass” and other. After that, they smooth out the city from the few militias and go to the next city. And in this city you enter the garrison, which completely takes the key points, clears all unhappy, puts them in a filtration camp, paragraphs… that’s what awaits us.
Now about the disputes of the public, offered an alternative between a full-scale war and non-interference in the Affairs of Novorossia. What is laissez – introduction in Russian society hope that local Russians themselves, without the help of Russia will be able to protect Novorossia, repulsing the attack of the enemy and stay as long as necessary. To give Russia the time for making a decision. The second is the belief that the war is not beneficial for Russia, will lead to severe economic consequences. I can say that the war, which now goes, would end for Russia in economic terms, it is extremely difficult – it is inevitable after the fact. She will suffer economically from this war because it did not interfere, do not introduced peacekeeping troops. When you fill Donetsk and Lugansk regions, rebelled against the enemy. This could easily be done immediately after the referendum. She did not enter, and from this point we started to suffer defeat.
Well, it was probably inevitable – Ukraine goes into full-blown Lebensraum mode:
http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/ukraines-land-agency-give-land-to-soldiers-in-the-east-for-free-352100.html
I was tepidly calling them neo-nazis before; I think I can just drop the “neo” part now.
Part Two:
Now enter peacekeepers simply impossible without large-scale war, no strikes, no artillery fire, without invading tanks, without the partial mobilization of the Russian army. To be honest, we’re pulling the time, is the mobilization of both people and scarce resources. But we are for the enemy no time. Some think that the Ukrainian army – spit on it, it would disintegrate. Will scatter only able to meet even a little to resist it. And here I have the battle of David against Goliath, and an elephant with ant. Ant can be very bite of an elephant. But even a sick old elephant it will crush. Even if the legs will soften, he will be crushed by its weight. We should not forget that the enemy gets financial, economic, and military assistance from all over Europe and the USA. The hryvnia after two months of the war lasts, not because it’s hard currency. This is simply ridiculous. Does anyone think that with such massive support, we will be able here to stand. Yes, we can keep Slavyansk and a month and a half, but sooner or later we are still going to destroy. We can’t throw our garrison to another city, leaving this territory. We can arrange five slavjanskom, which will be surrounded and destroyed along with the entire population. The alternative to war or full Deposit of Novorossia only one is the immediate recognition of de facto Novorossia, Lugansk and Donetsk national republics and provide them with real, large-scale and urgent military aid. I look to Russia as a militia commander of the Donetsk national Republic and as a patriot of Russia and the Russian people. This can be seen as an appeal on behalf of the Donetsk militia.
On the operational environment. Now under the Slavic concentrated five howitzer battery of the enemy. This twenty-full of heavy guns of calibre from 122 and above. Four or five mortar batteries calibre 120 and 80 mm Opponent is well entrenched in their positions, it infantry number exceeds ours. In addition, each blocking the enemy’s strength is equal to the forces of our militia in Slavyansk and Kramatorsk. All forces. About the serviceability of equipment I do not say. There is not a single tank. The enemy they are each the checkpoint. At the roadblock on the turn to Krasniy Liman are six tanks. If I send militias to attack this roadblock, they first served in an open field with mortar fire. Then from a great height on them will Trombetta aviation, then they lay the howitzers, tanks and then crush them. And get us the second Donetsk airport, only with even greater losses. When the militia bloodless will roll back to the original position, they will be unable not only to attack, but to defend. And this situation on all fronts. We can bite enemy can attack from the flanks, can act a sabotage groups and destroy a day for one to two units of armored vehicles. Due to the heroism of the fighters who are able to penetrate deep into the rear of the enemy and to beat him at point blank range. But to change the situation one heroism, one small arms, grenade launchers and several mortars we will fail. We can only defend.
Part Three:
Unfortunately, the enemy everywhere exceeds us on every front. There are rumors about the presence of us armored vehicles, tanks… No lie, as in war and fishing. I know, that Alexey Brain had a good operation, something seized, something destroyed. But this is very little. The opponent may fill out endless Soviet reserves any number of wounded or captured equipment. We have not even back for repair of armored vehicles, no parts, no supplies. One of the BMP will not be able to resist 20-30. And even three tanks, old legend that hardly restored in Gorlovka, even these three tanks will not be able to resist thirty. Sixty, ninety tanks. The Ukrainian army is the expense of hundreds of tanks. Not to mention the fact that the top fly So that though sometimes confusing, but they keep full control of the air.”
There is nothing to say — just nothing. I feel like all the air got sucked out of everything.
Genocide. Paid for by my tax dollars. And not a damned thing we can do about it.
Nora until we see video of Strelkov’s report then i have consider it disinfo.
Looking at the Chaos in the Ukraine and the whold collapse of the USSR I think Stalin’s nationalities programme had a lot
to answer for. His predecessor Lenin had advocated the right of nations to self determination
and did that because he thought that denying that right led to war and national oppression.
Lenins argument self determination was about the right to form a separate independent state.
If the republics of the USSR were not going to secede this did not arise.
Stalin then goes and bodges the Bauer idea of national autonomy within an empire onto the Leninist programme because he thinks that ‘nations’ really exist independent of the state structures for which they are ideologies. By creating state structures focussed around nations he ended up strengthening nationalist ideology. I remember travelling round the Caucusus whilst it was the USSR and each local government was using the state machine to further nationalist ideology and claims on one another. You went to Armenia and saw museums showhing the whole Caucusus are properly Armenian territory, then in Georgia, they had similar ones in Tsiblisi showing that it was all really Georgian etc.
Stalins nationalities programme was in the end the downfall of the USSR.
Instead of setting up nationally based republics No they should have had provinces straight line boundaries like Canadian provunces chosen to give equal population sizes.
So called nationity should have had nothing to do with it.
What nationality policy should the USSR have had? essentially a Jacobin one, strong central democratic state, provincial govts for rectangular Departments like US midwest or West Canada, with areas chosen to roughly equalise population. Russia in consequence broken up into multiple states. No dominant state as in USA.
Anonymous 16 June, 2014 17:55
Of course Russian literature is part of the Western Canon, so is the Magna Carta. The point is, how far has “Western” civilization fallen?
America, born of English Puritanism and capitalism, is a nation made by war.
No modern political system has engaged in so many.
But, great irony, Americans can’t fight.
They can bomb and slaughter, but against real men they inevitably run away.
Their great contribution to WWII was the mass murder of 700,000 German women and children, courtesy of their Army Air Force. They couldn’t beat the Vietnamese in black pajamas. They thought they were another Rome when they invaded tiny Grenada.
They never behave with honor, they never respect their enemy, they prefer inflicting pain on the innocent rather than standing up to those who can defend themselves.
Without Pizza Hut and Burger King in the rear and their unchallenged air superiority, they could never maintain their Gurkhas in the field.
Americans are the irrefutable proof that their liberal modern experiment in counter-civilization has been a categorical disaster. Without Russian resistance, the entire Western world will come to resemble this historical monstrosity.
I’m curious to hear Juan and Saker’s thoughts on Strelkov’s appeal June 16. He claims NAF are outnumbered 15:1 and defeat is inevitable IF there is no military aid. (NAF seem to ‘find’ some very useful anti-aircraft weapons lying in fields.) Is Strelkov’s appeal just rope-a-dope to throw off Kiev while the NAF prepares a counter offensive? Lugansk has seen a tremendous growth in NAF over the past month including control of half the border.
@Paul Cockshott
Eliminating nations is exacting what the NWO seeks.
It wasn’t Stalin’s recognition of the right of national self-determination that brought down the USSR. It was the fifth column of Western-oriented anti-Communists around Gorbachev that brought it down.
A world without nation-states and the political conflicts that accompany them, as Carl Schmitt saw, would be a world of mass entertainment and consumption a la America.
The “West” is a weasel word euphemism for the American Empire and its Coalition of the Killing stooges like the EU, Japan, etc.
America likes to hide behind various euphemisms like the so-called West, International Community, United Nations, or the “Free World” to deflect attention and blame from itself.
America is a cunning and Machiavellian empire that hides behind the skirts of others.
That’s why it’s important to explicitly call out America as the menace that it is.
To everyone, Nora et al, who are depressed over the report from the commander.
Putin and the RF Military Staff and Intel, the FSB and all the others of rank are aware of every Ukraine position, movement and fire fight.
They are tracking every change in the order of battle.
They know where the CIA advisors are, where the contractors are, where the snipers are.
This is happening right next door.
This is not a large scale combat scene.
It is deadly. It is maniacal.
But the Russians are waiting. Timing is everything.
If Crazy Horse and Gall attacked too soon, Custer might have escaped. Sitting Bull called the shots.
I can’t believe there will be a rout, or a cleansing of the East.
If Putin didn’t want to take the area whole, undamaged because of economics (Russia can’t absorb 11 million people who would need so much help), he certainly does not want the East battered and destroyed and its citizens scattered to the winds.
Russia must wait and absorb this horror.
Villages will be destroyed. Hundreds more will die.
Milita men will die.
But Kiev will fall. It will collapse. It will break apart.
Putin has his men running the organizations there in Donbass. Putin has his nation behind him.
Putin will unleash enough assistance in time.
Merkel is in Brazil and when she returns, Putin will have Hollande from France and Angela nod for action by Russia if this is what it takes.
The French and the German leaders have to be loyal to their nation’s business interests, not neo-con and neo-nazi machinations. A very surgical effort will destroy the Ukrainian effort.
If the “Donbass battalion” of murderers was wiped out, if men by the hundreds are trying to surrender and switch sides, and if planes, drones and helos are shot down every day, things are not all bad.
What is happening is artillery is sapping a positive outlook. That is its purpose.
I believe an equalizer is on the way.
Strelkov is a manic-depressive. And why shouldn’t he?
But everyone needs to stay calm.
Russia, Putin and the powers in the Kremlin are threatened by the Hegemon and need to act with a clear plan that wins without starting a real war.
What is going on is a rebellion. The intensity is low. It is fought as defensive war. It makes it no less deadly, but it is a proxy war.
As Juan detailed in his excellent piece, men will die. Ground will be lost.
This is the horror. Not Strelkov’s SitRep.
George Washington was getting his ass kicked until he won the Revolution (a rebellion, by the way). He did a lot of retreating until he wore out the King’s men.
@Larchmonter
Well said!
Stalin did not recognise the right to self determination in practice – if you tried agitation for seperatism in Stalins day you did not last long. What he did was set up ‘National’ republics like the Ukraine etc whose political elite then set about manufacturng national consciousness. It was the collusion between the republican leaders of Russia, Ukraine etc led by Yeltsin that caused the union to break up. If you are to have a working federation you need constituent states within it that do not have the added factor of nationalist ideology. If you set them up with the explicit aim of supporting national cultural autonomy – Stalins policy, you are asking for trouble in the long run.
I don’t get it. Just a few days ago Strelkov’s reports were optimistic. Now he’s in the depths of despair.
Obviously I’ve missed something in his reports that would explain this shift in attitude – what is it?
Oh. Never mind. Just saw the new post by Saker.
The reason for this operation against Russia is basically to preserve the dollar as the world’s reserve currency. If Putin can hold out long enough, the dollar will collapse and so will the U.S. economy; but it’s probably going to happen anyway, and so the longer that Putin remains “weak” against the U.S. assault, the sooner will come that likely U.S. collapse. This will thus be a war of nerves between Obama and Putin: Obama, to hold off the U.S. collapse; and Putin, to prevent a Russian collapse.
These sorts of wars don’t do anybody any good except some bankers and war-profiteers, but Obama is smart enough to have known at the start that he was rolling very big dice here, and he seems to have thought that the bigger the stakes are, the likelier it would be for the U.S. aristocracy to emerge on top. Future historians will likely have a field day trying to figure out how he came to these bold conclu¬ions; but, if Obama wins, then probably everybody will know how and why, and we historians will have other work to do.
If Obama loses, then Putin might remain quiet – simply because of the difficulty he’ll have explaining to the Russian people why he had held back for so long while the Russian-speaking Ukrainians next door were being slaughtered. Even if Putin wins, he’ll probably lose in public esteem. Like I had said: this isn’t a war he wanted.
Why Ukraine’s Civil War Is of Global Historical Importance
By Eric Zuesse – Global Research, June 07, 2014
@Slicer: I mistakenly deleted your latest comment, but here it is anyway, with my sincere apologies.
The Saker
——-
Slicer has left a new comment on your post “Message to the readers of this blog from Juan”:
@Anonymous 21:54
The EU and the UK are even more weasely than the psychos in Washington.
Dont try to absolve the disgusting duplicity of Western Europe in their crimes against most of humanity. It was the Western Europeans that created the fake history of Ukraine and the monstrousity of racial hatred of Russians based on made up propaganda of racial purity. IT WASN’T AMERICA. Hitler, Bismark, Churchill, Disraeli, etc were not Americans, they were Western Europeans.
The disgusting and arrogant way Putin and his staff were treated prior to the Ukraine crisis did not happen at the hands of the Americans, it happened at the hands of those pompous snot-nosed inbred know-nothings that make up the leadership of Holland, Britain, France, Denmark, Sweden, Germany and others that Putin described as rude snobs at his discussion at the SPIEF. There is a condescending sense of superiority against Russian that emanates from Western European societies (not jus their govts) thats unmistakeable.
Revisionist history is the retreat of the coward.
It’s really pathetic and weak of those shameless apologists in the EU who dont have the balls to accept that their governments and tax money have been used for depraved sneak attacks on other people’s land and theft of those peoples hard-earned bitterly accumulated wealth.
Trying to shove all the blame on the Americans for European venal complicity reminds me of the pathetic attempts concentration camp officers to blame Berlin for the unlawful and evil killings they themselves personally carried out.
It’s pathetic.
Anon 22:38:
the dollar will collapse and so will the U.S. economy
People keep stating this, as if the very incantation will make it so. That is the ipse dixit fallacy.
What, pray tell, is the evidence of this imminent collapse? Please don’t tell me debt. Debt is money, and the dollar was created by monetarizing and gauranteeing the Revolutionary War debt. Paying off sovereign debt is that same as detroying money.
Do you know what the world’s reserve currency was before the US Dollar? It was the British Pound. If you wish to claim that the Pound “collapased” (when? 1914? 1920? 1931? 1945?) and lost its status, you may, but please, note that the Pound is probably the second most desired currency in the world today.
Dearest Nora, I’ve just returned from the mountains and having made my way through Saker and Juan read your post with Strelcov’s report. It surprises me not at all. The situation may not be as ‘desperate’ as I suggested (posted) a few days ago but it is clearly unsustainable. Nor is it a surprise that people in Kramatorsk, grasping what they are in for, are “panicking and the footage by VICE in Donetsk city is far from reassuring.
On the other hand Lugansk seems on on firmer ground. I notice the Snizhne, where the Ukies to Lugansk is a fair distance from the city. In the meantime there are two (I guess) battalions, one Western. one East, glowering at each other in the small airport south of town. The militia say they are in touch with 24th Airborne, who want out,offering to help them if asked, or if matters reach a lethal stage.
Defection by the 24th could be a game changer. But it can hardly happen unless the Ukie relief column is kept at bay. Can they?
The material odds are against them but inspired leadership can emerge in crisis(think Jan Zizka).
n my view (granted more time is needed to develop guerilla/partisans in an early stage of their evolutiomustn rely on mines and traps for about 80% of enemy casualties.In an region dotted with mines there can hardly be a shortage of explosives and working expertise.
From centuries (think Bannockburn) foot traps have decided battle. The Vietnam tribals had a bewildering variety of them. In China(maybe Shangxi province) an ingenious peasany known as “King of the Iron Mellon” inflicted hundreds of casualties nationalist forces. Many Thousand French and American soldiers were killed and maimed by mines and traps. Bernard Fall, who wrote ‘Street Without Joy’ was killed by a booby trap. Famed war photgrapher Robert Capa died similarly.
US special forces quit using so called “Claymore mines” because it gave the locals ‘ideas’. But any person with tools and working skills can make them.
I’m dead set against contact mines because of they are indiscriminate, hence immoral, and waste explosive. But remotely detonated weapons allow teams of people make supply routes joyless indeed.
Remember too, a single sniper, known as “White Death” over 500 Soviet soldiers with a standard MN rifle during Finland’s winter war. An entire battalion sent after him failed. A very small man, he was on the train to Kuusamo where he fought when we toured winter war battlefields.
Napoleon said: “In war, the moral is to the material as three to one.” It can be far greater.. Remember that Nana the Apache, age 81, left the reservation with 12 braves, tied down General Miles with 2000 men for two years, killed nearly 100 people, depopulated great tracts of the rural southwest and surrendered with 7 of his original band still alive.
Well Nora, I’ll let it go at that. I must leave at first light.
Tom
No country will do a thing unless the US gives its thumbs up (or down!) so by “West” it obviously means the US. So instead of calling the Kiev thugs “Kiev government troops” or “Pro-Kiev forces” we should simply call them “Pro-US forces” or “Pro-US invaders “or even better “Pro-US Neo-Nazi Forces” I mean, the MSM keeps referring to the NDF as “Pro-Russian Militia” or even worse “Pro-Russian terrorists”.
Hail to Juan for giving us armchair-strategist a look into reality! Thanks!
/Hagen
Tom Garrett,
I think I’m more impressed with you than the material you provided! Which is truly impressive, though now I’ve got to look up so much (I thought a Claymore was a huge Highlander sword that was no match for Cumberland’s guns at Culloden, but you’re clearly not talking about swords…)
More important, I get your point. What just popped into my mind, oddly enough, is a line from The Wizard Of Oz: we’ve all got to “wait calmly and see what the future will bring”. It’s just so damned frustrating to see it all unfolding and not be able to do anything!
Dear Tom,
Who are these Vietnamese tribals? You don’t mean the several thousand year old culture that has been successively defended itself from nearly countless invasions, do you? I am suspecting that you have racist feelings and do not understand that these are the people who defeated, in detail, a huge US army in a struggle that lasted thirty years. Try to become aware and reform your consciousness. You will be glad you did. Our ready addiction to feelings of superiority is the key weakness we face in ourselves in our struggles with the depraved. It is the only obstacle we have to deal with, essentially, because without it, without the resulting nationalisms, racisms and classisms, we would be free to be the beautiful animals we evolved to be.
herb
herb,
I’m wanting to defend Tom here — he also spoke quite highly of Apaches and I do not get *any* sense of racism from him at all. Besides, the word “tribal” is descriptive, not pejorative: I sure don’t mind hearing it and I’ve got a whole lot of tribal blood in my veins. ;~) Also, I really do believe there’s a lot more wisdom in tribal wisdom just about anywhere than you’ll find in the average American suburbanite. And, not wanting to put words in his mouth, I nevertheless tend to think that Tom would quite agree with me on that.
Good for you, very sweet, but defending Tom implies that there was some sort of attack. Believe me, please, never use that terminology with Vietnamese people (the Westernized ones will be clueless) but such a phrase, if understood correctly, is an equivalent of using the “N” word here, or perhaps “Beaner” or that new one I witness being flung at my Nepali shop keeper neighbor, “Sand N***er.” Wish I understood Ukrainian, but the more credible translations have very demeaning phrases, as in “sub human” to describe ethnic Russians. Just a problem that arises out of unfamiliarity of people with each other’s cultures in a compressing, globalized World.
Anyway, Tom might want to associate with Vietnamese some day, and he should know this. I am still in favor of doing a KickStarter to hire the Vietnamese to clean out the mass murdering Nazis in Ukraine. Remember how they tidy they were at cleaning out the USA backed Khmer Rouge from Cambodia and then just going home from that very Just War.
herb
Hi Nora,I’m back from an early meeting but couldn’t go on to mts without scanning this blog once more. You are right, of course, about about the highlander sword. The Claymore mine was invented by Colonel Claymore in the last months of WW2. It consisted of a frame mounting multiple shotgun size barrels designed to fire ball bearings.It stood upright and reminded some of a bee hive. Remotely activated via electric impulse these mines, set along jungle trails, proved devastating in the first stage of the Viet Nam war. But the Viet Cong soon caught onto them and came up with their own versions. The FMLN (El Salvador) used them very skillfully as did the Tamil Tigers (Sri Lanka.)
Nothing new about the idea.The British were decimated at New Orleans by the Pirate LaFite’s cannon loaded with canister shot.Many a sailing ship was de-rigged with grape. Given pipe, a decent shop and modest expertise a crew could turn out hundreds of crude, time on target cannon every week.
It’s always wonderful to hear from you. Tom
herb,
I can’t speak to the terminology bc I’ve only known Westernized Vietnamese people — from all over, including Hmong. Sand N****r, btw, is what our troops (and not-wannabee-but-let’s-pretend troops) call Arabs or, by ignorant extension, Muslims. Lovely, huh.
And I’m not being sweet — although thank you for the compliment — but I do think that his use of the word triggered a response in you from your experience there (and here, too: I remember the derogatory phrases used about Vietnamese that sure make the word “tribal” look good and I’m sure you do too). Everything you said *minus that one phrase* really was educational, informative and helpful but, yeah, accusing someone of having racist feelings = accusing them of being a racist. And even real racists consider that an attack.
namaste
Tom Garrett,
Okay, this is my total lack of military knowledge but how do you remotely activate via electric impulse in a jungle, especially fifty years ago? Maybe it’s just my lack of knowledge in general but how do you do that? Also, to change the subject to something more pleasant, how are your critters? Those calves must be growing — did you keep them or sell them? And your dog? It’s nice hearing from you, too. :~)