Article

2004-11-09 Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Russia Envious of Israel's Military Abilities

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Posted by Old Fogey 2004-11-09 9:43:10 AM|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 An interesting piece. The writer dropped a few tidbits, too, like "During the Cold War, when Russian officers were directly engaged in combat with the Israelis as jet fighter pilots and military advisers to the Egyptian and Syrian military and antiaircraft missile battery crews, they sometimes got killed or wounded in action."

The conclusion is a bit odd, though, "Although the Israelis already have it all, they are actually further away from victory or an end to the conflict than we are in Chechnya." Obligatory antisemitic remark, or is there a deeper meaning that I am missing?

Posted by trailing wife 2004-11-09 10:14:39 AM|| 2004-11-09 10:14:39 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Russian chauvanism.

Posted by Mrs. Davis 2004-11-09 10:42:54 AM|| 2004-11-09 10:42:54 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 I think what it means is that the russians don't have the international PR problem in Chechnya that the Israelis have: No UN votes to get out of Chechnya, no EU demanding that Russia give concessions to Chechens to prove good faith, No world pressure to submit to a Roadmap, No ISM/Rachel Corries protesting Russian actions, no delicate and careful handling of Nobel Peace Prize winning terrorists, No BBC or other liberal papers hollering and screaming at the elimination of every terrorist, etc..

Compared to Israel's situation, Russia is indeed in a much better position to eliminate their problem than Israel is. Heck, if they had Israel's military capabilities, they'd have solved their problem many moons ago.

Then again, if the Communists DID have Israel's military capabilities, we in the west would have been toast...

Posted by Ptah 2004-11-09 10:58:23 AM|| [http://www.crusaderwarcollege.org] 2004-11-09 10:58:23 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 they are actually further away from victory or an end to the conflict than we are in Chechnya.

Maybe they are thinking of their Iranian connection whose nuclear facility they have helped build?

Posted by Cynic 2004-11-09 11:06:59 AM|| 2004-11-09 11:06:59 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 Then again, if we are to believe that the Israelis are God's 'Chosen' people, who can stand before Jehovah, 'the Lord Of Hosts' to add petition? Neither Nimrod, Alexander The Great, or Hitler!

Posted by smn 2004-11-09 11:11:11 AM|| 2004-11-09 11:11:11 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 According to Jewish lore, Great Alex was one of the good guys, who respected our religion and our people. Lots of Jewish boys are still named Alexander in his memory.

I was always taught that being Jewish is not a requirement to stand before the Lord -- I think it was Amos who wrote, "God requires of us that we do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God" (I'm afraid I'm still struggling with that humble bit, myself). My mother-in-law says that Jesus came to give non-Jews a way to join the Covenant, but that's not something I'm qualified to have an opinion on. Ptah, among others, could better address that.

At any rate, I come from the "God helps those who help themselves," school of thought, and prefer to arrange things so that God doesn't have to take a hand in earthly affairs on our behalf.

Posted by trailing wife 2004-11-09 12:17:19 PM|| 2004-11-09 12:17:19 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 Thats true, trailing wife, but remember the reason Alexander The Great was 'cut down' by the LORD, was because of his ambition to rebuild in splender, Babylon! God had decreed 200 years earlier (through the prophet Daniel) that Babylon would never be rebuilt!

Posted by smn 2004-11-09 1:27:35 PM|| 2004-11-09 1:27:35 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 Obligatory antisemitic remark, or is there a deeper meaning that I am missing?

Um, I'd bet my last ruble that Pavel Felgenhauer is jewish. Which is, in the eyes of most Russians, distinct from being "Russian."

His point is probably that if the Russian army were even one-tenth as well-organized, trained, led and motivated as the IDF, they would cruch the Chechens within a matter of weeks. Westerners have no idea how deep the rot is within the Russian military. It is an incompetent, corrupt, throughly demoralized and degraded parody of a fighting force. Note the Russian general's comment: After the Beslan school attack, Vasilyev visited Israel with a Russian security delegation and publicly heaped praise on Israel for having what we do not: "A sober society with a clear national idea."

Russia is a failing state propped up by high oil prices. Pakistan north.

Posted by lex 2004-11-09 3:12:32 PM|| 2004-11-09 3:12:32 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 Thanks, Trailing Wife. However, I won't go into the spiel here to spare Fred's bandwidth, but your MIL is correct. Salvation has always been via the Jews, either by being one, becoming one, or believing the one who was also the Son of God.

My take, personally, is that God helps those who ask through the proper channels, are ready to receive the help, and who will give Him the credit when it all works out.

Of course, it DOES get scary at times. God, in my experience, is never late.

But He's hardly ever early either...

Posted by Ptah 2004-11-09 6:28:09 PM|| [http://www.crusaderwarcollege.org] 2004-11-09 6:28:09 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 i do pray that this god thing have a huge ass sense of hourmor, else itn all over

Posted by half 2004-11-09 7:50:30 PM|| 2004-11-09 7:50:30 PM|| Front Page Top

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