| Topic: |
Science > Prophecies-Of-Nostradamus |
| User: |
"Arnold Holbrook" |
| Date: |
28 Nov 2003 07:16:24 AM |
| Object: |
Strategy Page reports: Russian nostalgia for old Imperial State, comparison between Chechnya and Iraq pacifications |
Really wouldn't say there is "progress" in the Iraqi pacification
situation.
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November 21, 2003: A recent opinion survey revealed that 44 percent of
Russians sympathized with the Iraqis fighting the coalition forces
that had just tossed out Saddam's government. Only 14 percent backed
the liberators of Iraq. Some 83 percent of Russians believe that
al Qaeda will make attacks on American cities (although since late
2001, there have been no more attacks in American cities, but several
in Russian cities). Russians are still very nationalistic. While they
don't miss the Soviet Union, they do miss the Soviet Union's empire
(which actually predates the Soviet Union) and Russias status as a
superpower. Losing the Cold War did not go down well in Russia, and
backing Saddam (in order to make money on oil deals and arms sales)
was seen as another defeat to those insufferable Americans. It's not
that Russians don't like America, what they really dislike is losing
again and again.
Russia's continuing travails in Chechnya, compared to American
progress in pacifying Iraq does not go down well in Russia either.
Chechnya is far more chaotic and violent than Iraq, and American
troops are obviously operating more professionally and effectively
than their Russian counterparts in Chechnya. This causes Russians to
call for their army to be transformed into a volunteer, professional
force like what the Americans have.
November 12, 2003: A stalemate has settled on Chechnya, with Russian
and pro-Russian Chechen forces in control over most of the province,
but several hundred rebels (and several thousand supporters)
maintaining a low level of terror attacks. The rebels are split into
many factions, some of whom would be fighting each other if it were
not for the Russian presence. Russia has been using Chechnya to test a
lot of its high tech equipment and elite combat units. But most of the
Russian manpower is poorly trained and disciplined Interior Ministry
para-military police. Still, the Russians are obtaining valuable
information on what works and what doesn't against the wily and
determined rebels.
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