The Russians also took with them four Humvees that were at the port awaiting shipment back to the United States after taking part in earlier US-Georgian military exercises.
Posted on 08/19/2008 7:14:09 AM PDT by edpc
lol!
Create some bogus story how they were acting aggressively, hiding weapons, or some such nonsense.....keep them as trade bait for the future.....propaganda tools. Shades of the Iranian/British incident in the Gulf.
I know we have them at least in Tyndall and Langley. How many total are in service and where are they stationed....?
“Because we’ve had ongoing exercises with the Georgian military for the last 2 years, and we had over 1000 boots on the ground in Tbilisi when the war started.
Colonel, USAFR”
Where are they now??
You're right, though for all intents and purposes they've shut down the pipeline and cut Georgia in half. And as you note seem to have no intention of withdrawing.
Just a few with awacs/F-22 combos swould make the russian airforce over georgia cry like babies. They would have zero chance.Thats the only reason they rolled over georgia was airpower. All their equipment looks like rubbishes as well as their airforce anyhow.They just had sheer numbers over georgia. F-22’s > suikoi or migs. No contest its like clubbing babies seals especially with awacs.
Already posted : http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2064173/posts
I’ve had enough of this little testing game. Just kill them.
The Russians also took with them four Humvees that were at the port awaiting shipment back to the United States after taking part in earlier US-Georgian military exercises.
It just isn’t going to happen. The risk of escalation in that scenario is simply not acceptable. There are F-16s and tactical nuclear weapons sitting at a base in Turkey and even that doesn’t deter the Russians from moving into Georgia. Flying CAPs is simply not going to intimidate or even impress the Russians. They know themselves that the risk of escalation is simply far too great.
Even pushing U.S. troops up further into the country next to Russian forces is simply asking for trouble. The chances of escalation over misunderstandings through unchecked Russian militia and irregulars is far too great a risk. Let the Pentagon and the advisors to President Bush sort it out.
I believe that they are currently located as follows:
1st Fighter Wing, Langley, Virginia
- 27th Fighter Squardon
- 94th Fighter Squardon
49th Fighter Wing, Holloman, New Mexico
- 7th Fighter Squardon
3rd Fighter Wing, Elmendorf, Alaska
- 90th Fighter Squardon
- 525th Fighter Squardon
325th Fighter Wing, (Education & Training) Tyndall, Florida
- 43rd Fighter Squardon
They can be called up for operations from any of those locations. The 27th Fighter Squadron, for example, was called up as a part of Operation Noble Eagle in 2006.
If we have a CAP (backed up by ground pounders if necessary out of Turkey) the only way trouble starts is if Russian aircraft violate the restrictions we establish.
The CAP would also allow us to begin moving more material and equipment into Georgia with less immediate threat to that material and equipment.
We are going to have to take some risks here if we expect to thwart the Russians and preserve our ally.
The reason is that they never wanted to re-take the whole of Georgia. Russia knows that they can get away with their version of humiliating the Georgian President and the Georgian armed forces. The occupation and complete control of Georgia is something completely different. The Pentagon know the disposition of Russian forces and this was never about a complete and old style Soviet occupation of a country.
If it was simply the case of the old Evil Soviet Empire back with total occupation then Russia would pay a heavy price in Georgia. Russia couldn’t control all the civil unrest and armed uprising that Georgia could inflict. A total occupation would stir up a hornets nest that Russia knows that it doesn’t want. Think of how many Russian forces it would take to secure Georgia as a prize and to secure all the borders? It would be a complete and utter disaster for Russia.
This picture of a U. S. humvee getting jacked by vlad’s horde is going to be iconic. Hopefully it will result in some concrete action from the EU and Washington.
They haven't.
Again it is armchair generalisms. Let the professionals in the Pentagon deal with it! There is no threat to the U.S. forces in Tiblisi. The Russians are simply not going to risk that type of escalation with any U.S. forces by pushing their troops anywhere near U.S. forces.
Far too many people still thinking that it was total Soviet style occupation that the Russians wanted. Do you not think that President Bush had that intel on the disposition of Russian forces? Do you not think that President Bush asked the question - Is this a total invasion and occupation of Georgia?
Remember that the U.S. pre-announce the humanitarian aid flights into Tiblisi. All the Russians had to do to prevent that was to disable the runways. A simple airstrike would have prevented any C-17s landing. One airstrike would have thwarted any assistance full stop. If the Russians wanted total and complete control over Georgia then the runways would have been denied to the Pentagon.
Sorry.
Colonel, USAFR
I suppose Russia can claim with a straight face that this, on the other hand, is not an utter disaster.
They may think it to their advantage to "show `em who is boss" but they have actually set themselves back 15 years. They could have just let us continue to snooze.
Dogs are barking now...
HMMWVs are sold to numerous countries. These vehicles could have been Georgian military vehicles being sent to the United States for rebuild/updating at the AMGEN factory in Michigan.
All U.S. military equipment transiting between Iraq and the United States by sea go in and out via Kuwait.
Based on the picture, they are U.S. vehicles. The Russians are now illegally in possession of U.S. government property.
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