Article

2018-02-19 Syria-Lebanon-Iran

A Russian version of the private army in the movie Kelly's Heroes?

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by 3dc 2018-02-19 23:37|| || Front Page|| [11 views ] Top
File under: Pirates

#1 No one seems to be telling the whole truth about an encounter in which the US military seemingly knowingly planned and executed an attack on proxy Russian troops, while the Russian military command deliberately turned a blind eye.

Seems as though I read somewhere that "truth is always the first casualty of war."

"Planning and executing" one's defense is a fairly common doctrine among most army's of the world.

Perhaps it was intended as an embarrassment to the US Gov't. A bit of that going around lately. A few US personnel killed, a few more wounded and captured. A prisoner snatch? Thankfully a failed effort, but potentially not the last. The embarrassment now appears to be on the other foot.

Posted by Besoeker 2018-02-19 06:34|| 2018-02-19 06:34|| Front Page Top

#2 Hold my horses. Is Putin's Chef named by Muller the same Putin's Chef that owns the PMC we blew away when it attacked in Syria?

Posted by 3dc 2018-02-19 15:25|| 2018-02-19 15:25|| Front Page Top

#3 Yep. Prigozhin owns the St. Pete based Internet Research Agency. Putin's little (Ok, so he's taller than Putin. Who isn't?) Goebbels.

Posted by Winky the Ruthless3340 2018-02-19 18:33|| 2018-02-19 18:33|| Front Page Top

#4 I'd start with the facts first given by Centcom. 500+ attack for with heavy armor/artillery. Originally listed as pro-Assad militia and mercenaries providing the heavy firepower. 100+ dead, up to 200 wounded. Majority, if not vast majority, of the dead and wounded likely Vagner mercs since the Air Force will first go after the armor.

As for the B-52, there is a heavy bomber most of the time over Iraq/Syria and Afghanistan to provide a deep magazine of precision bombs, not to mention constant patrols of dozens of Reapers and fighter bombers daily. The battle was long enough (3+ hours mentioned), that fighter-bombers could have been scrambled Al Udeid. Is the Air Force still flying A-10s and Reapers from out of Incirlik or only tankers since Erdogan's Reichstag fire moment?

Posted by Winky the Ruthless3340 2018-02-19 18:58|| 2018-02-19 18:58|| Front Page Top

#5 The Russian ministry of foreign affairs continues to insist the total Russian dead is at five. The Russian business news outlet, Kommersant said the total Russian dead is at 15.

I noticed Centcom did not mention tanks. No reporting anywhere I can find about tank losses. You'd think if Centcom can claim 100+ dead, they can surely claim tanks as well.

Russians ain't stupid, as I said. If they knew they were about to become dogmeat, they'd get the hell out of Dodge.

Posted by badanov 2018-02-19 20:40|| http://www.chriscovert.net 2018-02-19 20:40|| Front Page Top

#6 The Russian Attack Against America You Didn’t Hear About | World Affairs Journal

Posted by newc 2018-02-19 22:33|| 2018-02-19 22:33|| Front Page Top

23:56 JohnQC
23:19 Richard Aubrey
22:33 newc
22:26 Sock Puppet of Doom
21:37 ClemKadiddlehopper9000
21:18 NoMoreBS
20:45 magpie
20:40 badanov
20:34 Woodrow
20:19 Raj
19:54 Winky the Ruthless3340
19:54 E. Borgia4718
19:49 E. Borgia4718
19:36 swksvolFF
19:32 Sock Puppet of Doom
19:10 Sock Puppet of Doom
19:05 Skidmark
19:00 Skidmark
18:58 Winky the Ruthless3340
18:57 Skidmark
18:56 Skidmark
18:39 Alaska Paul
18:37 Alaska Paul
18:33 Winky the Ruthless3340