Russians III. [Conclusion]

This is coolbert:

Here is a whole series of extracts from the blog Cuban Colada concerning the proposed and suggested renewed use of Cuban soil for Russian military adventures. Primarily refueling of long-range aviation assets of the Russian Air Force. Bomber aircraft of the "Bear" and "Blackjack persuasion.

"Izvestia (sort of) recants tale of bombers"

"The Russian newspaper Izvestia reluctantly conceded it had been misled when it published a report that Russian bombers might use Cuba as a refueling stop."

"Another call for a renewed 'presence'"

"Col. Gen. Leonid Ivashov, a former Russian Defense Ministry official and currently the president of the Academy of Geopolitical Affairs, on Monday said a renewed Russian military presence in Cuba would be a suitable response to pressure from the United States"

"Castros will nix Russian arms, paper says"

"The Russian newspaper Kommersant on Monday poured cold water on calls for a Russian military presence in Cuba, saying that 'the Castro brothers are displeased over Russian politicians discussing a deployment of military facilities in Cuba without asking Havana.'"

"Ex-envoy: 'Renewed presence' is bluff"

"Recent reports that Russia wants to reestablish a military presence in Cuba are bluff leaked by Moscow, believes Wayne Smith, chief of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana from 1979 to 1982."

"How the Cuba bomber flap evolved"

"Lost in the unfolding controversy about the possible deployment of nuclear-capable strategic bombers in Cuba is an explanation of how the flap began."

"Col. Gen. Leonid Ivashov, pointed out Cuba could be used as 'an auxiliary airport for refueling,' the same way Russia now uses the Cape Verde islands."

"Russia calls pit-stop reports 'a hoax'"

"Reports that Russian bombers might use Cuba as a refueling base are 'disinformation,' a spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry said Thursday."

"Fidel urges prudence in bomber flap"

"Stay cool, seemed to say Fidel Castro in his latest 'reflection', published Thursday in the official daily Granma under the title Machiavellian strategy . . . in connection with the eventual installation of bases for Russian strategic bombers"

"White House: Russia is no threat"

"Following is an exchange Tuesday between reporters and White House spokesperson Dana Perino on the subject of the Izvestia report:
Q.: Dana, did you look into the report about the Russian bombers in Cuba?
A.: Yes, it appears to be just speculation and hypotheticals right now."

"General cautions Moscow on Cuba flights"

"Air Force Gen. Norton Schwartz warned that Russia would cross 'a red line' if it used Cuba as a refueling stop for strategic nuclear bombers . . . 'I certainly would offer best military advice that we should engage the Russians not to pursue that approach.'"

"Fears of a Cuba crisis emerge"

"Now that rumors are circulating that Russia may be planning to base or re-fuel long-range strategic bombers in Cuba or Venezuela, experts are beginning to sound the alarm about a possible future crisis over Cuba."

"Izvestia: Russia sees Cuba as landing strip"

"Russia is considering sending long-range bombers to Cuba in response to Washington's intentions to deploy an antimissile shield in eastern Europe, the Russian newspaper Izvestia reported Monday"

"Recants" - - "been misled" - - "will nix" - - "bluff" - - "a hoax" - - "disinformation" - - "stay cool" - - "no threat"!

A lot of hot air is being bandied about? For no real purpose but creating a lot of concern where none is warranted. And all because the decision has been made to place an anti-ballistic system in eastern Europe, within NATO territory! An anti-ballistic system to be used solely against a so far imaginary Iranian missile threat, yet to materialize!

coolbert.

Russians II.

This is coolbert:

From a Chicago Tribune op-ed piece dated this last Friday.

"Another Russian thrust"

"Fifteen years after a breakup that ended with both parties reeling, Cuba and Russia are rediscovering that old magic - - the heady satisfaction that comes from keeping American's defense warriors up at night."

The Russian military is contemplating a return to the bad-old-days? A resurgent and awash-with-petro-dollars Russia will once again station military units in Cuba? Or at least use Cuban facilities as staging areas or refueling sites?

The Russian military is considering:

* "reopen a radar listening center in Cuba that was used to intercept U.S. communications until 2001"
* "Cuba's harbors could be a convenient place to park Russian combat ships."
* "nuclear capable bombers could be based or at least refueled at Cuban airfields."

This "radar listening center" was the Lourdes complex. Twenty five square miles of electronics, antenna farms, etc., specifically targetiting American communications, civilian, governmental, and military.

Nuclear capable bombers presumbably would include those of the "Bear" and "Blackjack" variety.

All of this is, according to the Russians:

"a suitable response to U.S. plans to install a missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic."

Missiles in Poland, radars in the Czech Republic. TO COUNTER AN IRANIAN THREAT, NOT A RUSSIAN THREAT!!

Once again, further indications that a new "Cold War" is already afoot!

coolbert.

Russians I.

This is coolbert:

Here are excerpts from an Israeli source - - a quick and dirty analysis of the conflict currently taking place between Russia and Georgia.

"The Russian-Georgian War: Implications for the Middle East"

By Ariel Cohen.

"Ariel Cohen, Ph.D., is Senior Research Fellow in Russian and Eurasian Studies and International Energy Security at The Heritage Foundation."

Thanks to the Institute for Contemporary Affairs.

15 August 2008.

Russian has now confirmed itself as a resurgent world-power to be reckoned with? This conflict between Russian Georgia has much wider ramifications? NOT confined to the dispute over Abkhazia and South Ossetia? Russia is now engaging in machinations, geo-political intrigue, schemes, and plots worthy of the Czarist era as practiced ever since the time of Ivan the Terrible?

"Moscow formulated far-reaching goals when it carefully prepared - over a period of at least two and a half years - for a land invasion of Georgia."

"U.S. intelligence-gathering and analysis on the Russian threat to Georgia failed. So did U.S. military assistance to Georgia, worth around $2 billion over the last 15 years"

"Tbilisi was stunned by the ferocity of the Russian response. It shouldn't have been, nor should Americans be surprised. The writing was on the wall, but Washington failed to read it, despite repeated warning from allied intelligence services and a massive presence of diplomats and military trainers on the ground."

Russia's Goals.

* "Expelling Georgian troops and effectively terminating Georgian sovereignty in South Ossetia and Abkhazia."
* "Regime change" - bringing down President Mikheil Saakashvili and installing a more pro-Russian leadership in Tbilisi."
* "Preventing Georgia from joining NATO and sending a strong message to Ukraine that its insistence on NATO membership may lead to war and/or its dismemberment."

"Kill the Chicken to Scare the Monkey"

"Aggression against Georgia also sends a strong signal to Ukraine and to Europe"

Lessons from the War:

* "Watch Out for the Bear - and Other Beasts!" Russia is resurgent and very serious and very deadly. This current war is just the start. NOT a trifling matter confined to the Caucasus region but in addition a signal to the region and for that matter the rest of the world!

* "Strategic Self-Reliance." Israeli self-reliance that is. DO NOT depend upon promises from Washington. Depend upon yourself and your own "arms". DO NOT rely upon anyone else.

* "Intelligence Failure." Another severe intelligence failure for the U.S.?

* "Air Power Is Not Sufficient." Combined arms is a MUST - - using all assets as part of a coordinated plan.

* "Surprise and Speed of Operations Still Matter"

* "Do Not Cringe." - Be willing to inflict casualties and accept casualties on your own side as well.

* "Information and Psychological Warfare Is Paramount." There was a denial of service [DoS] cyber-warfare attack on Georgia just prior to and during combat operations. Similar as to what occurred to the Estonians last year?

A message is being sent to the United States, Europe, and the rest of the world. Russia is once again a player on the world stage and not to be taken for granted? A variety of means [to include on occasion the use of force!] are to be employed by the Russian in furtherance of "aims" on the international stage! A new "Cold War" has begun and the players are not even really sure that the curtain has lifted! Better wake up fast!

coolbert.

The Russians are coming?

This is coolbert:

Thanks here to Newsmax.

"Russian Warships to Patrol Arctic Again "

Monday, July 14, 2008 12:30 PM

"MOSCOW -- Russia announced Monday that it is sending warships to patrol Arctic waters for the first time since the breakup of the Soviet Union - - the latest move to increase the country's global military presence."

"Patrols by the Northern Fleet's Severomorsk submarine destroyer [an anti-submarine warfare vessel?] and Marshal Ustinov missile cruiser will begin Thursday"

"Russia began sending aircraft carriers to the Mediterranean Sea in December and resumed long-range bomber patrols in August."

"Moscow-based military analyst Pavel Felgenhauer said security was not Russia's primary motivation in sending the Navy ships to the Arctic."

"'This is flag-waving and that's basically it,' Felgenhauer said. 'Sending a couple of patrol boats to the Arctic won't change anything.'"

NO, but read this and ponder - - "MacKay mocks Russia's '15th century' Arctic claim"

"'This isn't the 15th century. You can't go around the world and just plant flags and say 'We're claiming this territory', said Canadian Foreign Minister Peter MacKay."

The Canadians deploy the Canadian Rangers for sovereignty patrols [SOV PATS], and the Russians deploy warships. How much different from the 15th century is it? Maybe not so different after all?

coolbert.

Katyn.

This is coolbert:

Another sign that all is not well in Russia. The "bear" is resurgent in a manner that does not bode well?

I like to think the Russians will not assume the previous hostile attitude toward the rest of the world that existed in communist times!

Indicators seem to suggest the Russians are contemplating a return to the bad-old-days? Such as:

"In denial"
Feb 7th 2008
From Economist.com [through the Institute for Historical Review]

"Russia revives a vicious lie"

That vicious lie - - is that - - the German Nazi - - perpetrated the Katyn Massacre. The slaughter, from World War Two [WW2], of Polish prisoners by the Soviet secret police [NKVD]. Military officers, intellectuals, priests. The very elite of pre-WW2 Polish society executed on the order of Stalin. A cold, callous, unfeeling, vicious, sadistic act of a barbarian [Stalin] that hurt post-war Poland for decades afterwards!

Acknowledged by Yeltsin as a despicable act with the fall of the Soviet communist regime.

NOW, denied by Putin and his cronies!!?? Yes, that would be troubling!!

[a word concerning the Institute for Historical Review [IHR]. On his radio talk show, the host Michael Medved has described IHR as a neo-Nazi, anti-Semitic organization. I present the material free of judgement or qualification. Actually I have used links from IHR previously. Such as with the blog entry for General Sir Percy Cleghorn Hobart! You the devoted reader to my blog judge accordingly with an open mind, please!!]

coolbert.

Cold War?

This is coolbert:

Recent good program on National Public Radio. Interview with the British correspondent Edward Lucas. Listen to it all.

"Edward Lucas on 'The New Cold War' with Russia"

"Lucas calls 'a new Cold War' that's being fought with cash, natural resources, diplomacy and propaganda — but, he says, the West is unwilling to admit what's happening."

In this regard, Lucas confirms what the Russian FIS defector "Comrade J" has also said.

A war fought NOT primarily by military threats or bluster [bullying and intimidating allowed however!].

Fought with:

* Cash from oil revenues.

* Resources primarily of natural gas sold to western European countries.

* Sales of advanced weaponry to traditionally 3rd world countries.

* Development in some instances of advanced weaponry with select nations.

Soviet conventional military forces are STILL [and will be for some time to come?] at a low level of capability! Army reform has not progressed, the Air Force flies antique planes on recon missions, the Navy has only twenty surface combat vessels seaworthy. So says Lucas.

"WAR" can still continue, by other means. Hostility. Think of the polar opposite peace-war sliding scale continuum! NO nation is EVER at total peace with other nations. SOME degree of hostility or tension exists at all times.

Topol missiles, hypersonic maneuverable re-entry vehicles, genetically modified bioweapons, BrahMos supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles, etc. Military advances have NOT been neglected.

Before you fight the war, you must realized the war exists?

coolbert.

Oleg!

This is coolbert:
Here is a smattering of web sites for those who are further interested in the Soviet KGB man Oleg Nechiporenko. THE ace KGB man for Latin America:

"Slender and darkly handsome . . . with his wavy black hair and olive complexion looked utterly Latin. Indeed, Mexican authorities theorized that he was either the child of Spanish communists who had fled to Russia after the Spanish civil War or perhaps the son of a Russian father and a Spanish mother . . . His Spanish was flawless, he spoke the idioms of laborers, diplomats, and students"

Oleg, in his old age, still hale and hearty, retired now from the KGB, is public now, but continues to be active in the intelligence game. NOW a general director of the National Foundation against Crime and Terrorism.

"The spy who knew Oswald"

"Oleg Nechiporenko: The Snake, which tempted Eve, was the first intelligence officer"

"Oleg M. Nechiporenko is the general director of the National anti-criminal and anti-terrorist fund, KGB colonel in retirement."

"Oleg Nechiporenko"

"Oleg Nechiporenko of Russia's National Foundation against Crime and Terrorism shared his view about the UK-Russian relations as the dispute between the countries makes a new twist."

Oleg - - could pass - - for an elder distinguished Spanish gentleman - - any time!!??

YES??!!

coolbert.

Comrade J.

This is coolbert:

Outstanding program this afternoon on National Public Radio.

From the "All Things Considered, January 28, 2008."

An interview with Sergei Tretyakov and author Pete Earley.

The former THE HIGHEST RANKING SOVIET/RUSSIAN INTELLIGENCE OFFICER EVER TO DEFECT TO THE U.S.

The latter is, "Pete Earley, the author of books about several Americans who had spied for Russia." [Earley has written a book concerning the defection of Sergei - - called "Comrade J"]

Sergei was right at the top of Russian FIS [formerly the Soviet KGB] intelligence apparatus, working out of the United Nations in NYC.

This man I had not heard of before. Defections are not even covered any more?




"Sergei Tretyakov was an operative of the KGB, the former Soviet intelligence service. When the Soviet Union dissolved, the agency changed its name [now FIS], but its mission remained the same."

"Tretyakov was nominally a press officer at the Russian mission to the United Nations in New York. In reality, he was running a number of intelligence agents who, in turn, were trying to get information out of Americans and others at the U.N. In 2000, Tretyakov became one of the highest-ranking [NO, THE HIGHEST RANKING?? ] Russian spies ever to defect to the United States."

According to Sergei:

"In speaking out, I hope to expose how naive [the attitude of the United States toward Russia] this is. During the Cold War, in the Soviet military doctrine there was the definition of the MAIN ENEMY, which was also used by intelligence as a basic guiding principle. It was the United States, followed by NATO and China. What is the official guiding line for the modern SVR [FIS] today? The terms have changed. It is now called the MAIN TARGET. But it is exactly the same: the United States, followed by NATO and China. Nothing has changed. Russia is doing everything it can today to embarrass the U.S. Let me repeat this. Russia is doing everything it can today to undermine and embarrass the U.S. The SVR [FIS] rezidenturas in the U.S. are not less, but in some aspects even more active."

Russian, emboldened NOW by wealth from oil and gas revenues, feels it can once again embark upon an expansionist and confrontation foreign policy toward the "west". NOT willing to become a partner in the global community of democratic nations. Back to the old ways of deception, guileful behavior, expansion?

The pattern of:

* Long-range bomber flights.

* Testing of advanced and mobile intercontinental missiles [equipped with advanced hypersonic delivery vehicles].

* Continued research into bioweaponry of genetically modified designs.

* Development of more potent and deadly submarines.

Are all part of a forbodding and troubling future. The COLD BEAR is back with a vengeance?

I hope not!

coolbert.

“Legion of Death”

This is coolbert:

Sounds like something from a video game. Teenage X-Box warriors fighting it out on a video monitor!

NO!

Russian Women's Legion of Death.

Actually did exist. AN ALL-WOMAN COMBAT ARMS RUSSIAN ARMY BATTALION. Originally organized under the regime of the Czar [?], deployed to the Eastern Front during World War One [WW1] and seeing COMBAT against good German troops!!

Some comments required:

* Was NOT a battalion as normally understood. WAS a company [plus] sized unit, 300 troops total, not counting the men who manned the machine guns!

* "issued cavalry carbine variants of the Mosin rifle". A cut-down version of the larger size rifle. A carbine smaller in weight than the rifle the men carried, but firing the same cartridge. Must have had a good wallop to it!

* Shaved heads for all the women and train 14 hours a day. Sounds like American Army basic training to me.

I can recall previously reading something about this matter before. Thought it was ONLY a bodyguard unit for the Czar. Did see action during the Winter Palace Uprising!! But not as a combat line unit vis-à-vis the Germans! I must have been wrong.

Kerensky asked for three platoons (about 140 soldiers) to remain as part of the Winter Palace's garrison. It was these women soldiers who defended the palace . . . during the October Revolution [Soviet Red rebellion] . . . the women largely [left] alone as the last protectors of the government.

Russian women bricklayers hoisting heavy packs and doing duty for GOD, the Czar, and the motherland??!!

Dig this stuff too:

"Some sources state that the colors of the unit were saved from capture by an attached male officer who wore them wrapped around his body under his uniform and promised to protect them."




[traditionally, the highest act of heroism on the battlefield was protecting and saving from capture the unit colors.]

And also:

"Sworn to never surrender (hence the term "Legion of Death) it was published in the press that each woman soldier carried a ration of potassium cyanide to be used to commit suicide in the event of capture."

[JUST EXACTLY - - AS IS DONE - - BY THE EELAM TAMIL REBELS TODAY!!!]

Colonel "Yashka" Bochkareva, putative commander of the battalion, met a bad end after the October Revolution:

"at the end of 1919 Bochkareva was captured by the Reds and executed. She has often been referred to as the Russian Joan D’Arc and was declared to be “Martyr Maria the Soldier” by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1994."

[in the photograph of the two women "Yashka" is on the left, Emmeline Pankhurst, the foremost British suffragette, on the right!]

This Suite 101 Military History web site is pretty good. I recommend it highly.

coolbert.

Bombers!

This is coolbert:

Here is the dope on the various Russian long-range bomber aircraft [with refueling tanker participation], that only yesterday, completed a training exercise the purpose of which was to simulate a nuclear attack with cruise missiles on the continental United States.

"Tu-160, Tu-95 and Tu-22M3, and Il-78"

* Tu-160 "Blackjack"



"16 [Tu-160] currently in service with the Russian Air Force. Its pilots call the Tu-160 the “White Swan”, due to the surprising maneuverability and antiflash white finish of the aircraft."

"Anti-flash white is a brilliant white colour commonly seen on United States and British nuclear bombers in the 1950s and 1960s, as well as the Tupolev Tu-160. The purpose of the colour was to reflect some of the thermal radiation from a nuclear explosion, protecting the aircraft and its occupants."

* Tupolev_Tu-22M



"Current strength is 162 aircraft, plus 93 in reserve."

* Tu-95 "Bear"



The venerable but still potent Russian "Bear". Like the B-52, first designed decades ago now. But still serviceable and if using cruise missiles as the primary weaponry, does NOT have to penetrate U.S. airspace to deliver atomic weapons to U.S. cities. Can stand-off and fire a barrage with impunity??

* Raduga_Kh-55 [AS-15 Kent cruise missile]

This would be the weapon of choice for a manned bomber atomic attack on the U.S. Bomber aircraft can "stand-off" at a distance from their intended targets, each aircraft firing a barrage of such cruise missiles, overwhelming the defenses, to what extent defenses EVEN EXIST!

The Raduga Kh-55 Granat (Russian: Х-55 Гранат (Granat) NATO reporting name AS-15 'Kent') is a Soviet/ Russian subsonic long-range cruise missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead. . . . Designed to be launched either from bomber aircraft or from submarines, it was built to carry a conventional or nuclear warhead of up to a 200 kiloton yield over a range of up to 3,000 km (1,860 miles).

* Ilyushin_Il-78.



"The Ilyushin Il-78 (NATO reporting name Midas) is a four-engined aerial refueling tanker based on the Il-76"

coolbert.

Exercise!

This is coolbert:

"From Russia With Love" - - Again.

Remember that recent blog entry about the Tu-95 flight? Missions from Russian territory toward Guam?

Here is more about Russian military aviation activity of an alarming nature.

From the web site http://www.homelandsecurityus.com/

"as you are reading this, Russian strategic bombers are conducting a series of long-range training flights, complete with aerial refueling, simulating a full-fledged nuclear cruise missile strike on the Continental United States."

"Russian strategic bombers Tu-160, Tu-95 and Tu-22M3, and Il-78 aerial tankers are engaged in this exercise"

"In September 2006 Russian strategic aviation conducted simulated nuclear strikes within the contiguous territory of the Russian Federation. That exercise reportedly involved 60 long-range bombers of the same variants seen airborne in the exercise currently in progress. The difference is that in the exercise of 3 and 4 September, as well as the current 18-21 September exercise, the targets of the nuclear cruise missiles are not within Russian territory but are in fact once again real-world locations within the continental United States."

"an updated analysis of the current Russian strategic long-range aviation nuclear exercise is scheduled to conclude on Friday, 21 September"

"The recent landing of a U.S. B-52H with live nuclear warheads at Barksdale AFB in Louisiana is a prime indicator that the United States is pro-actively countering the Russian exercises with our own strategic aviation deterrent, known in days gone by as 'oil burner' runs."

Those live warheads on the cruise missiles! A terrible mistake and a gross violation of protocol? For which persons have been dismissed from their duties and others having had their certification taken away, is all part of a "demonstration" directed at the Russians? Under the pretext of a "mistake" having been committed, a MESSAGE is being sent??!!

Consider, if you are a conspiracy advocate, where the "nuclear mistake" was first reported??

"In a story first reported by Military Times newspapers, at ArmyTimes.com"

coolbert.

Guam I.

This is coolbert: "Guam - - Where America's Day Begins."

What is one to make of this headline??

"Russia sparks Cold War scramble"

Russian TU-95 aircraft "buzz" the island of Guam!!

"The Tu-95 pilots exchanged smiles with their US counterparts
Russian bombers have flown to the US Pacific island of Guam in a manoeuvre reminiscent of the Cold War era."

However, consider this:

"Update: A US General, on the other hand, says that the Russian planes didn’t even get within 500 kilometers (300 miles) of Guam: 'U.S. planes went to an orbit point in preparation for an intercept that never occurred because the Bears didn’t get close enough'."

This is like something from the Cold War. An ancient but still potent-with-the-right-missile-aboard Russian TU-95 aircraft attempts to do a surveillance of American military assets somewhere in the world. Testing defenses and conducting reconnaissance.

The TU-95 "Bear" was once active all over the oceans of the world. Is primarily [?] a naval aviation reconnaissance aircraft. Flew on this occasion from Russian bases far to the north of Guam. Flying 3,000 miles one-way from some base in the Russian Far East to pay a visit to where "America's Day Begins"?

"Bear" at one time would sortie from Cuba, Guinea-Bissau, Angola, Somalia, Vietnam, on missions to locate and intercept U.S. aircraft carriers. I worked with a man who at one time in the 1970's was stationed on the U.S.S Midway. Having a "Bear" perform a fly-by of the Midway at close range was not a common occurrence but not that uncommon either.

What is this all about? Awash in petro-dollars, Russian is once again beginning to flex military muscles and reassert itself on the world-stage? Has intentions that go far beyond the borders of Russia itself?

During the last two years, "Bears" have been surprisingly active:

* "On September 29, 2006 NORAD scrambled Canadian CF-18s from CFB Cold Lake in Central Alberta and American F-15s out of an airbase in Alaska to intercept 'a number of the Russian Tu-95 Bear heavy bombers participating in an annual Russian air force exercise near the coast of Alaska and Canada.' This launch was a result of the bombers penetrating the North America's Air Defense Identification Zone."

* "In May 2007, the Royal Air Force scrambled two Tornado F3 fighters from RAF Leuchars in Scotland to intercept a Tu-95 observing the Royal Navy exercise Neptune Warrior."

* "In July 2007, two Royal Norwegian Air Force F-16's (from Bodo, Norway) and subsequently two RAF Tornados F3's (from RAF Leeming, England) intercepted two Tu-95s as they allegedly made their way down the Norwegian coast towards Scotland."

And, of course, the latest incident.

* "In August 2007, two Tu-95s flew towards the US base on Guam, where they were intercepted by US fighter planes."

Everyone will say that the "Bear" is so antiquated an aircraft that these flights are of no significance ["The Tu-95 is still in service, as of 2007, and expected to remain so with the Russian Air Force until at least 2040"]. What if, however, the Russians were able to build a hypersonic, nuclear-capable, in-mid-course-maneuverable missile, air-launchable from a "Bear". Operate in a stand-off mode as does a Short Range Attack Missile [SRAM] from a B-52. New and formidable capability for an old fashioned aircraft ["Bear"].

I wonder what Ion Pacepa has to say about this? 6,000 former KGB agents occupy governmental positions in Russia? Including right now, the Russian Presidency!

"A leopard does not change it's spots??!!"

coolbert.

Stunt?

This is coolbert:

Here is a big surprise?

"Russia claims North Pole with Arctic flag stunt"

"Russia will fire the starting gun on the world’s last colonial scramble today when a submarine plants a flag under the North Pole to symbolize the Kremlin’s claim to the Arctic and its vast energy resources."



THE WORLD'S LAST COLONIAL SCRAMBLE???

The Russians already have their hands full with they possess now. NOT an adequate number of healthy young men to man the Russian military at THIS TIME! Will be worse in the decades to come. Claiming all that sea and the land underneath without the wherewithal to back up their claim is folly??

"In an unprecedented and potentially perilous mission, veteran Arctic explorer Artur Chilingarov will descend 14,000 feet in a deep sea submersible and drop a Russian tricolor cast in titanium onto the seabed."



"Global warming has given renewed impetus to the race for control of the Arctic."

"Melting ice sheets could open up the fabled North East passage, the quest for which claimed countless sailors’ lives, for the first time."

"The route, which could dramatically cut the length of a journey from Europe to Asia, could become navigable to commercial traffic within eight years."

I do recall from the early 1970's, when the North Slope oil of Alaska was first discovered. The oil tanker Manhattan made the voyage through the Northwest Passage just to see if it could be done. Was deemed not totally feasible or something like that!

"The more clement conditions make for an equally tantalizing prospect."

OH, yes, a boon to global warming after all. See, it all evens out. I could have told you so from the start.

[actually, I am skeptical of all this!!]

"According to some estimates, the Arctic is home to a quarter of the world’s untapped energy reserves - now more accessible than they ever have been"

Perhaps there are reserves of energy!!?? They said the same thing about the Gran Chaco and the Falklands too!!

"there is still doubt about the technical feasibility of extracting oil and gas from the Arctic."

Right!! Even if the stuff is there, it will next to impossible to even explore, much less to GET OUT of the ground and send to market. NEXT to IMPOSSIBLE!!

From time over the many decades, you would hear that the Arctic region was a potential battleground. American nuclear submarine versus Soviet nuclear submarine dueling in out under the Arctic ice pack.

Quite a stir WAS made when the U.S.S. Nautilus made the first transit of the Arctic Ocean, passing UNDER the North Pole!! Captain Anderson, commanding the Nautilus, became a national hero and was considered for high political office at the time.

It is known that the Soviets and perhaps the Americans and Canadians too have utilized floating islands of ice in the Arctic as bases for "research" and intelligence gathering. Islands of ice that maintain their cohesiveness and wander through the ocean, following the prevailing currents. The Soviets pioneered these islands for "military bases" [these are still used??].

My own perception is that the Arctic is now and will be for some time to come just is too harsh an area of the world to conduct military operations.

Whatever energy reserves are present will not be worth the value of confrontation and possible military action. It IS NOT going to be!

[let us not forget riverine warfare in the northern regions either. Global warming will mean that rivers currently flowing into the Arctic and choked with ice for at least six months of the year will become navigable. Rivers in Russian such as the Lena, Ob, Yenesei! The Mackenzie and Yukon of North America the same! This is pure speculation on my part of course!]

coolbert.

Mortars II. [Conclusion]

This is coolbert:

In my previous blog entry, I mentioned how the trend is for developing precision-guided-munition [PGM] mortar rounds. Being developed, manufactured, and deployed by militaries the world over.

Even by the Russians.

This is contrary to what the prior Soviet [Russian] approach to the mortar has been.

According to Suvorov, mortars were a particular "favorite weapon" of Soviet [Russian] military commanders.

[Inside the book by Suvorov "Inside the Soviet Army" is a chapter titled "The Favourite Weapon" [British spelling]].

The Soviet [Russian] approach was to employ masses of mortars, cast iron and smooth bore, crudely made by western standards. And firing a cast iron mortar bomb, probably also crudely made by western standards.

[again, in the U.S., the projectile fired from a mortar is called a round. In the rest of the world that same projectile is called a BOMB!]

Prodigious numbers of mortars were manufactured in the Soviet Union during World War Two [WW2].

"In three and a half years of war, the Soviet Union produced 348,000 mortars. In the same period, Germany produced 68,000. All the remaining countries put together considerably less than Germany."

Quantity, not quality, was the approach adopted by the Soviet, accuracy was not even a consideration??

Using a cast iron mortar, smooth bore, firing a cast iron mortar bomb, has some singular advantages:

* Simplicity and cheapness.

* A cast iron mortar bomb is more deadly than one made of steel.

"when a cast iron bomb [mortar] bursts it shatters into very small splinters, which form a dense fragment pattern."

And, as for the accuracy issue, the Soviet did decide that quantity rather than quality was the way to go. This is somewhat intuitive. More mortars in abundance firing larger mortar bombs that create more splinters negates the lack of accuracy. More noise and dust and explosions also have a marked psychological effect on the target.

Accuracy - - "It is of no significance."

"Quantity is the better way to exert pressure."

"The more noise you produce, the higher the morale of your troops and the lower that of the enemy."

Of course, this was all before the time when technology allowed for PGM to even be contemplated. "Things" can now be done that sixty years ago were not even dreamt of.

Now, the Russian does develop PGM rounds for mortars. Russian military technology has not slackened. Doctrine as how to employ the mortars changes as does technological advancement.

coolbert.

Trophy.

This is coolbert:

Here is a system effective [95 %??] against the RPG [rocket propelled grenade].

Developed by Rafael, an Israeli weapons system design company.

Called Trophy. Designed to defeat the HEAT round fired by the RPG.

That HEAT round so deadly when used against armored vehicles. The weapon that allows the common infantryman to become a tank killer.

This Trophy system is able to detect the incoming warhead and take counter-measures that explode the warhead before it detonates on the armor of the tank. Defeats the normal HEAT round, the tandem-warhead HEAT round, all HEAT rounds from the RPG.

NOT exactly sure how it works. Sends a spew of ball-bearings at the round to impact with and detonate the warhead in mid-flight? The U.S. Army has also designed such a system. But the Israeli unit is ready to go now? More effective too?

"Resistance from the US Army"

"MSNBC has reported that there is resistance against incorporating TROPHY in the US Army. The US has contracted Raytheon to develop an equivalent system, which will not be ready before 2011 at the earliest, whereas TROPHY could be deployed much sooner. According to MSNBC's sources, the reason for not adopting TROPHY for now is that it would remove the need for the Raytheon program, causing it to be canceled."

"Trophy is design [ed] to form a 'beam' of fragments, which will intercept any incoming HEAT threat, including RPG rockets at a range of 10-30 meters from the protected platform."

The Russians FOR SOME TIME NOW have had a system at least SOMEWHAT analogous to Trophy. This is the Shtora system.

Shtora detects when a Russian tank [T-90 version] is being "illuminated" [that is the word the military likes to use!] by a laser. A laser that is guiding an anti-tank guided missile [ATGM] on to the target [the tank]. Shtora detects the laser and automatically [?] takes active measures to counter the guidance system of the enemy laser guided ATGM.

Measures including:

* An aerosol spray and smoke dispensed and enveloping the tank with a "cloud" to defeat the ATGM. The smoke and aerosol mist dissipating that laser beam and making it impossible for the ATGM to be guided to the target. A COUNTERMEASURE.

* Misdirects the ATGM by using an infra-red source. JAMMING.

"an IR source that mimics the flare on the back of missiles"

"'hijacks' the missile's command link by feeding the tracker with modulated signals that cause the missile to deviate from its course, and away from its intended target."

This Trophy system is more active than Shtora in that it "destroys" in mid-flight the RPG round! Can do so to an ATGM too!? Shtora deceives and "blinds" at the same time. Trophy wants to eliminate!

coolbert.

Alibekov.

This is coolbert:

Here is an interesting interview with Dr. Ken Alibek.

Dr. Ken was once known as Dr. Kanatjan Alibekov. A Colonel in the Soviet Army responsible [directed] for biological warfare [BW] development. Has lived for some time in the U.S. and has been intereviewd many times on TV and radio. If anyone knows about BW it is this man.

Keep in mind that this intereview was done in 1999, two years before 9/11. What Dr. Ken says now is even more pertinent and germane.

Extracts from the interview, with my comments in BOLD!

"We were also told that there was reliable intelligence that the United States was continuing to develop biological weapons"

After 1969 there was NO programs to develop an offensive capability with biological weapons in the U.S. All stockpiles were destroyed. Research into defensive mechanisms could continue, however, did - - and do to this day.

"The Soviet Union had the most efficient, sophisticated,and powerful offensive BW program in the world. It developed a completely new class of weapons based on genetically modified agents."

Genetically modified weaponry.

"Did the Soviet Union ever develop mycotoxins, the
so-called “yellow rain” weapons?" [asked here by the interviewer.]

"No, I have been asked this question many times, and I don’t believe [the allegations]."

More on "yellow rain" later.

"It was quite a well-developed concept. Some supplies of smallpox, plague, and anthrax were already manu-factured, stored, and stockpiled."

Stockpiled. Smallpox was only supposed to exist in a depository for safekeeping. Stockpiling was a gross violation of the treaty regarding the eradication of smallpox and the keeping of the germs period!!!

"Because the American offensive BW program endedin 1969, you had a different concept and different deliv-ery systems. The Soviet Union was able to develop a completely new approach to delivery of biological weap-ons. We developed small melon-shaped bomblets, which were packed into warheads and aerial bombs."

Cluster bombs for delivery.

"Was the testing done with experimental animals?" [interviewer here.]

"With monkeys."

I wonder if condemned convicts were used for experiments???

"The MOD contin-ued developing its own weapons in addition to these other functions. They worked on some of the same agents and weapons and sometimes on different ones. For ex-ample, we didn’t develop Lassa fever biological weapon, but the MOD did."

There were other programs afoot in the Soviet Union besides the ones supervised by Dr. Ken. MOD=Ministry of Defense.

"Even now, we don’t know the real number of dead people. According to some sources the number was 68, another group of people says 260, someone claims thousands. In 1983, one of my scientists who had been working at the Sverdlovsk facility in 1979 told me that the real numberof dead people was 105."

This was the accidental release of anthrax. See how the numbers of dead vary from source to source.

"It is certain that Gorbachev was briefed when he came to power [in 1985]."

Gorby fever. Gorby knew about this violation of the treaty and DID NOTHING!! Even perpetuated the whole scam.

"Ten days af-ter receiving the order to redirect production, I would
have to ship the first lot of bombs and warheads filled with anthrax."

The stuff can be made and put in warheads quickly. The apparatus for doing so was in place.

"I’ve heard about this institute’s existence. This facil-ity was under
the Ministry of Agriculture and was re-sponsible for doing some work in the area of anti-crop biological weapons development."

[this is the Institute of Genetics in Tashkent.]

Again, other institutes and research facilities were doing work on bio-weapons.

"I was told that the Soviet Union had employed a glanders biological weapon
against the mujahaddin in remote locations in Afghani-stan in 1982."

This was reported in the media. Used also in Laos?

"Biopreparat had about 30,000 scientists, engineers, and technicians working on biological weapons. The 15th Directorate of the Ministry of Defense had about 15,000. The Ministry of Agriculture had about 10,000 people working on development and production of anti-crop and anti-livestock weapons. Several institutes of the Soviet Academy of Sciences employed hundreds of BW scientists. Others worked for the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Industry, and other institutions. If you addup the total, there were about 60,000 to 70,000 people working in this area."

Many agencies with a lot of folks working independently on bio-weapons.

"In many cases I don’t think it is necessary to smuggle out agents. You can find these microorganisms in a lot of other places."

These agents exist in nature all over the place. If you are resourceful, you can find.

"In 1995, the Russian government entered into nego-tiations with Iraq to
sell some 5,000-liter fermentors . . . The person in charge of this
negotiation from the Rus-sian government was a former colonel and deputy
chief of Biopreparat named Matveyev, who had been respon-sible for many
Soviet BW facilities . . . In contrast, the 5,000-liter fermentor was
developed by one of my institutes for a new pro-duction facility in Siberia—fortunately never built—for manufacturing plague biological weapons."

This is the type of intelligence that would have scared the Bush administration into going to war in Iraq. Remember, this would have been info from the horses mouth when received from Dr. Ken.

"Do you believe that all of Russia’s biological weap-ons were destroyed in the 1980s?"

[interviewer above]

"Let me say this. I’ve got no idea what was happening in Russia from 1994 to the present. But I believe all stocks of these weapons were destroyed."

Stocks that he would have known about in his time from his agency. What about others?

"I held [attended] an intelligence briefing in the Kremlin and in-vited
high-ranking intelligence officers from the KGB and the GRU
[the main intelligence directorate of the Soviet Army] to provide
a description of the US offen-sive BW program, including what types
of facilities they had, what kind of weapons they had developed,
who was in charge, and so forth. They couldn’t give me an imme-diate
answer. Two weeks later we met again and they told me they didn’t have
any information that could be considered reliable regarding the US
offensive program. That was the second wake-up call."

From both the KGB and the GRU, he got nothing. Well, there was nothing to find!!

"Before we came to the United States, the Soviet Union’s intelligence
services had organized a special briefing. They showed us satellite pictures
of Pine Bluff and gave us information on each building. We were told that
the Arkansas facility was very active in manufac-turing biological weapons.
When I asked for evidence,they pointed to a location resembling a set of
large con-tainers that changed color several times during the day.
In the morning they were blue, in the daytime red, andby the end of the
day, yellow. The intelligence analyst sconcluded that Pine Bluff had
such a huge and intensive production activity that they were changing
containers three or four times a day."

Based solely upon satellite photos. This is the sort of stuff that got the U.S. in trouble in Iraq.

"What did you actually find when you got there?" [interviewer here]

"When we arrived at Pine Bluff, one of our inspectors decided to
investigate the colored containers. In reality, it was an array of
solar collectors. When the panels moved during the day, they changed
colors."

"What evidence do you have that offensive BW work is continuing in Russia today?

[interviewer above]

"I’ve discussed this issue with a lot of US scientists. I tell them,
“Guys, read what’s published.” Some scien-tific publications coming
out of Russia have a clear con-nection to offensive work, including
efforts to develop so-called “chimeric” strains of
viruses that could have completely novel effects. For example, Russian
scien-tists published an article that said they were capable of inserting
some genes of Ebola virus into vaccinia virus, which is a close cousin of
the smallpox virus. One of the most prominent virologists in the
United States claimed that what I was saying was sheer fantasy and
technically impossible. But after I prepared a classified report
for the US government describing what kind of biological weapons could
be developed using the smallpox virus, this particular scientist
stopped making his criticisms."

Can't be done. Can't be done. Can't be done. IT IS BEING DONE!!!

Main Entry: chi·me·ra - - noun - - an imaginary monster compounded of incongruous parts

NOT an imaginary monster. REAL, REAL, REAL!!

"Perhaps with global warming the permafrost will melt and the bodies could come to the surface?" [interviewer here]

"Theoretically it’s possible, but I don’t believe that you would find any corpse containing live virus after 100 years. It’s true that if the smallpox virus is frozen under constant temperature, it can survive indefinitely. But in the Arctic, the temperature fluctuates so there are cycles of freezing and thawing. For this reason, the viral DNA would be very unlikely to survive for such a long pe-riod."

The thought is that smallpox, no longer found in humans, may become prevalent again when bodies of persons who have died from smallpox and are buried in the permafrost of northern latitudes may heave to the surface with global warming and expose someone to the disease. Never thought about it that way!!

"So these weapons can be considered highly effective for certain types of
low-intensity or high-intensity conflict. Especially, in my opinion, for
a country that is losing its conventional mili-tary potential and becoming
weaker practically every single day."

Russia, as I have said, in the future, will not have a source of young men in sufficient numbers to defend it. It will find itself beset from all sides without a military capable of acting and winning. Declining population is a sign of a decaying society. Normal means of defense will not work. Bio-weapons are a possible way to go, as terrible as that may be.

"What can be done to protect the US population against biological attack?"

[interviewer above.]

"The problem is that dozens of natural disease agents could be used
as biological weapons, and if we add ge-netically engineered agents, hundreds. Many different means of delivery could also
be employed. President Clinton has approved a program to develop several
new vaccines for defensive purposes. But if there are 100 different
possible agents, how would we determine what kind of weapon would be
used by a terrorist? For this reason, the attempt to develop and
stockpile new vac-cines won’t provide a significant advantage
in biodefense."

If the diseases can be genetically modified, as has been done, according to Dr. Ken, then the current vaccines will not work, or only marginally so.

"It might seem that the situation is hopeless, but in fact it’s not.
What we need to do in the area of medical biodefense is to develop
substances that boost the hu-man body’s immune system
and provide broad-spec-trum protection against all possible BW agents.
It might take three to five years, but if we start developing this type
of non-specific biological defense, I believe it will eventually be
possible to say that, for this country at least, biological weapons
are no longer a threat."

A problem with stimulating the immune system. If you stimulate it too much, the body begins to destroy itself. The cure might become worse than the disease itself!!

coolbert.

Topol.

This is coolbert:

A number of web sites have recently carried news of a most alarmist nature.

This alarmist news concerned the successful test of an advanced version of the Russian SS-27 "Topol" intercontinental ballistic missile [ICBM].

This test in particular seems to have had the specific mission of verifying the operation of a hypersonic reentry vehicle.

And evidently the test WAS successful.

Whether this mission was launched from launch sites at Kasputin Yar or Plesetsk is not clear. Touchdown WAS near Lake Balkash and was deemed a success.

[keep in mind that in the old Soviet Union, all missile test were successes. Trains did not run off the tracks, cars did not collide, ships did not sink, and planes did not fall out of the sky in the time of communism. Tests, whatever the nature, WERE ALWAYS SUCCESSFUL!!]

Of particular concern is the hypersonic reentry vehicle. Evidently this is the latest and most potent flying machine on the planet. Similar to the recently tested NASA X-43, but operational rather than experimental, as is the American hypersonic craft.



[NASA's X-43 in the above photo.]

This combination of "Topol" and the hypersonic reentry vehicle seem to create an ICBM weapon that is impervious to all KNOWN ANTI-BALLISTIC MISSILE [ABM] systems.

It is clear that the "Topol" itself was designed with the intention of defeating known ABM systems.

The "Topol" DOES have built-in features that DO allow it to defeat KNOWN ABM systems.

Among these features are:

* Designed to be launched from a much hardened missile silo OR a Transporter-Erector-Launcher [TEL]. Allows for a MOBILE missile that is next to impossible to find, much less destroy.

* Rapid boost during initial stages of flight. Much faster than previous or existing ICBM's.

* On-board jets that allow for mid-trajectory maneuvers.

* Protection against hi-power lasers. [What this protection consists of is not clear. Perhaps rotation in flight plus a surface that scatters the laser beam!!??]

* Hardening to prevent electro-magnetic interference from destroying the on-board nuclear warhead. By this I assume protection against the electro-magnetic pulse created by a nuclear detonation.

And NOW, the addition of a hypersonic reentry vehicle for the warhead. This is a big plus. The warhead will not only NOT travel on a predictable coasting ballistic path during reentry, it will speed up markedly and also have the ability to once again, make mid-course trajectory maneuvers to defeat existing ABM systems.



[the above photo is of the "Ajax" Russian hypersonic vehicle. It is stated that such vehicles, if designed properly, have the capability to generate their own plasma field, rendering them even MORE impervious to electro-magnetic detection [radar].]

According to Russian "experts", the "Topol" will be the way to go with their current Strategic Rocket Forces [SRF].

By the year 2015 the "Topol" is expected to replace existing Russian ICBM's.

The "Topol" is expected to provide a nuclear missile strike capability for the Russians that is impervious to ABM systems until the year 2060!!!

Whoa boy!!

There is a problem here with all this, however. A problem all those other web sites spreading alarmist news seem to overlook.

The key phrase here in this blog entry is KNOWN EXISTING ABM SYSTEMS.

Of all the worlds powers, at current, ONLY THE RUSSIANS HAVE AN EXISTING ABM SYSTEM. NO ONE ELSE IN THE WORLD, THE U.S. INCLUDED, HAS AN ABM SYSTEM!!

It was decided by treaty that in the mid-1970's, both the old Soviet Union and the U.S. would be allowed to have an ABM system, but only of limited scale for both parties.

The Soviets had and still have [Russians now] an ABM system guarding Moscow.

The U.S. had for a short time, several years at the most, an ABM system guarding the Minuteman missile silos of North Dakota, this system being dismantled as being too costly and ineffective.

FOR A PERIOD OF AT LEAST THIRTY YEARS, ONLY THE SOVIETS AND NOW THE RUSSIANS HAVE A WORKING, EXISTING ABM SYSTEM!!

You have question the wisdom of the advanced version "Topol" utilizing a hypersonic reentry vehicle. The Russians HAVE built a superior system with the intent of overcoming any ABM defense. A defense however, THAT DOES NOT EXIST!!??

WHAT IS THE POINT??!!

The U.S. military has committed itself to an ABM system. But NOT WITH THE INTENTION OF STOPPING A MASSIVE ICBM ATTACK ON THE U.S. A U.S. ABM system is being installed with the pronounced intention of intercepting a very limited number of missiles from "rogue nations". Nations that would NOT have the capability for a MASSIVE attack on the U.S.

And, the Russians and the Americans are on GOOD terms with one another. A return to the Cold War mentality and confrontation between the two nations is not even conceivable to me at this time or at any time in the future. As simple as that!!

It may be that the "Topol" with hypersonic reentry vehicle is the result of momentum on the part of the Russians. A project started during the time of the Soviet Union was not discontinued and has proceeded without hindrance. Demonstrates that the Russians can design, build, and deploy advanced technology, of a variety that NASA has only in the experimental stage!!

coolbert.

Bear.

This is coolbert:

Oleg Taktarov.

The "Russian Bear" [a big fuzzy, friendly bear I hope!]. A formidable martial artist, skilled in jiu-jitsu, wrestling, and Russian sambo. A winner of the Ultimate Fighting Challenge [UFC] competition. In terms of hand to hand combat, one of the most dangerous men on earth, period!!

From the bio of Oleg:

"During his service in the Russian military, Oleg trained his fellow soldiers in hand-to-hand combat and worked with the Russian Special Forces unit Spetsnaz on military Sambo. He also trained members of Russian law enforcement agencies including the tax police and the federal security service. After developing his skills in Russia, he first came to the States in 1994."

[Oleg was a trainer of Spetsnaz in military sambo.]

With regard to the UFC competition that Oleg won:

"With iron intensity, Oleg rushed Mad Dog and imposed an inescapable choke. In just 21 seconds, Macias was beating the canvas in a tap-out submission to Oleg's powerful lock. "Nobody in America knows this stuff" said a triumphant "Bear" after the match was dominated by his unique style of decisive holds."

"'Nobody in America knows this stuff'"

"his unique style of decisive holds"

NOBODY in American DID know that stuff!! Meaning the submission holds. Decisive holds? NO, death dealing holds known only to practitioners of military sambo, more specifically, the members of "professional" Spetsnaz units.

According to Suvorov:

"There is evidence that many of the holds in battle sambo are not so much secret as of limited applications. Only in special teaching institutions, like the Dinamo Army and Zenit clubs, are these holds taught. They are needed only by those directly involved in actions connected with the defense and consolidation of the regime."

[what is being described here are specialized holds and chokes developed for battle sambo but taught to ONLY certain specific troops, those of more than likely "professional" units. I.E., killer elites whose mission would be to eliminate the highest command echelon of a foreign power.]

coolbert.

Smokejumpers.

This is coolbert:

The National Geographic magazine recently had an article about Russian smokejumpers.

Men that fight forest fires in the extreme Siberian wilderness.

Russian fire fighting smokejumpers that seem to be closely linked to the Soviet and now Russian VDV, Spetsnaz, and the "parachute psychosis" as mentioned by Suvorov.

The Russians now, and the Soviets before them, DID and DO have an enormous problem with Siberian forest fires. Fires that can only be fought by either smokejumpers [forest fire fighting paratroopers] or forest fire fighters rappelling out of helicopters [as the Russians in the Geographic article do].

It seems the Soviets were the world pioneers to use aircraft and smoke jumpers to fight forest fires. Did this long before anyone else was doing.

"When the Soviets pioneered smokejumping under Stalin’s communist regime, they were establishing an organization that would be copied in other countries around the world, including the United States. However, the Russian program grew from a unique team: of the 17 jumpers in 1937, one was a woman."

The modern generation does not so much jump as a paratrooper would but rather uses helicopters for insertion and extraction. Much as a modern military air assault unit would do.

[of course, in the days BEFORE the wide spread use of helicopters, parachuting would be the ONLY way to reach these fires in such remote places. As for getting back to civilization, I guess the only way would be to walk to raft down a river!!??]

[one of the Russian smoke jumpers is pictured wearing the striped blue and white undershirt of the Russian paratrooper corps, the VDV.]




In the Geographic article, it was stated that some of the Russians had participated in forest fire fighting training and operations in the U.S. Surprisingly, the Russians did not approve of American methods. Too much equipment and too much emphasis on safety!

[I have chosen the photo of VDV troopers below as an example of HOW the Russians seem to disregard safety. I cannot even think for a moment that American paratroopers would ever be allowed to climb out of the landing gear of an aircraft and pose for photos prior to doing a free-fall jump. The Soviet and Russian concept of "safety" was and is not the same as ours.]



And it is true what these Russians say. American forest fire fighters are equipped with a standard kit. Uniform, helmet, backpack, mattock, etc. NOT SO the Russians, who carry a bare minimum of equipment with them. Fires are fought with whatever is available, wet rags, branches with leaves still on them, etc.

[equipment does not even include a whole shovel. Just the head of the shovel is carried, a handle being manufactured out of a tree branch on the spot.]

Russian smoke jumpers, like a VDV trooper, wear the camouflage uniform that is designed for rugged conditions as is found in the remote areas of the Siberian taiga. These Russians must fend for themselves for days on end, are experts in survival tactics, and can live without resupply for their stay in the bush, which may be for weeks on end, if necessary!!

[keep in mind too that these fires do not appear to be the same as say a fire that would be fought in the Los Angeles area. Fires in the Siberian taiga are slow moving, not as intense, and do not endanger populated areas!]

My guess would be that the Russian smoke jumpers are veterans of the VDV, as they are already trained parachutists and aerial assaultists as well, and like all Russian soldiers, can survive and operate on the bare minimum, using whatever is at hand to accomplish the task. NOT ONLY surviving on the bare minimum and making do, but are expected to DO SO!

If you want to see more, go to the Russian and the English versions of the Russian Smoke Jumper web sites. Good stuff.

These guys impress me!!

coolbert.

Desantura.

This is coolbert:

Well, I was right about the Russian web site http://desantura.ru/ . This site IS active. A web site devoted to the ex-Soviet and now Russian airborne forces. The VDV. Aerial descent forces [parachutists].

The site is in Russian. It would be interesting to do a BabelFish translation of this site, just out of curiosity.

During the Cold War [World War Three [WW3]], the Soviets were justifiably proud of their parachute contingents.

Suvorov actually refers to "parachute psychosis".

"To give some idea of the scale of the VDV, on maneuvers in 1934, 900 men were dropped simultaneously by parachute . . . In Belorussia in 1936 there was an air drop of 1800 troops and a landing of 5700 men with heavy weapons . . . By 1938 the Soviet Union had six airborne brigades with a total of 18,000 men . . . In 1934 these clubs had 400 parachute towers from which members made up to a half a million jumps, adding to their experience by jumps from planes and balloons. Many Western experts reckon that the Soviet Union entered the Second World War [WW2] with a million trained oparachutists. . . . The parachute is not just a weapon and a form of transport. It also acts as a filter through which courageous soldiers will pass through, but weak and cowardly men will not. The Soviet government spends enormous sums on the development of parachute jumping as a sport. This is the main base from which the airborne troops and spetsnaz are built up . . . The parachute psychosis continues."

NO LESS than seven airborne divisions existed at one time in the Soviet military. All in a special category and under the direct command of the General Staff [Stavka].

Were considered to be a force that could be deployed, with rapidity, to ANY part of the world, to perform "socialist duties".

Several blog entries have referred to apocrypha regarding the Soviet parachute corps. Such as:

* A quantity of Soviet weaponry, pre-positioned, was found by the Israeli in Lebanon that would be sufficient to equip two such Soviet airborne divisions.

* That no less than FIVE Soviet airborne divisions, in an enormous "show of force" flew from the Soviet Union to Ethiopia, disembarked their equipment, and then returned home, all JUST TO DEMONSTRATE TO THE WHOLE WORLD THAT THE SOVIET UNION HAD AN INTERNATIONAL REACH WITH ITS MILITARY FORCES!!

Look at the photo that accompanies this blog entry. This photo is taken from the desantura.ru web site. Shows a parachutist holding a weapon that is unfamiliar to me. Appears to be a silenced sniper rifle!!?? At least that is what I make it out to be. A weapon I am not familiar with, but a weapon mentioned as being in the inventory of the Spetsnaz troops.

There are a whole series of gallery photos that accompany the desantura web site. And they are all good. This is the sort of thing I think during the Soviet era that would be strictly forbidden. The VDV seems to have had and probably does have a very high esprit de corps.

coolbert.