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The oil field carnage that Moscow doesn't want to talk about - CNN

jmotivator

jmotivator

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https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/18/midd...d-dozens-of-russians-in-syria-intl/index.html

"The mission of that night's operation remains unclear, but the forces were advancing towards a valuable oil and gas field, Coneco, controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a US-backed militia that has been fighting ISIS in Syria.
When the pro-regime forces began shelling a base held by the SDF, the US responded with heavy airstrikes and artillery fire, which continued for about three hours.

US commanders tried to reach their Russian counterparts through what are known as deconfliction channels, to warn of their response. But by the time communications were established, the counterattack was underway.

The results were devastating. The accounts of several of the Wagner contingent, as relayed to friends and family, speak of carnage as US commanders deployed AC-130 attack aircraft, helicopters and artillery in response to the attack."

Other sources:

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/13/dozens-of-russian-mercenaries-killed-in-us-airstrike-in-syria.html

U.S. Coalition Kills Russians in Airstrikes Against Assad Supporters in Syria, Reports Say

Here is a supposed audio of Russian officers discussing the carnage that ensued. 200-300 dead according to their accounts. Again, assuming this is actual Russian officers:



You have to wonder what the Russians were thinking when they started shelling U.S. backed militias. I guess they won't try that again...
 
Looks like Russians stepped on their dicks during that operation.
 
If the audio IS genuine, it's doubtful it came via radio, more than likely VoIP phone.
It doesn't sound like radio at all.
Also another interesting tidbit, Harris is a US corporation, and two way radio is a new business for them.
Their main business since the 1980's has been television production equipment.
I used to own half a dozen Harris digital time base correctors back in the days of videotape editing.
(before it all became computerized)

Harris Front x 2-130474199231420294.jpg
 
apdst said:
Looks like Russians stepped on their dicks during that operation.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it is a huge miscalculation on several fronts for Russia.

1) They failed to note the clearly stated changes to US ROE
2) The oil field was known to be controlled by US backed forces
3) They gain nothing by deploying private armies staffed with Russian citizens... the French Foreign Legion is FOREIGN for a reason.

This could have rather far reaching impact on the Putin regime. 200-300 dead Russians doesn't just go away. It will be fuel for his opposition, and hit him hard in his loyalists... he has seemed all but bullet proof until now.
 
trblmkr said:
Yea, dead people!
Click to expand...

Nobody here is cheering this. Either the Russians made a grievous miscalculation, or a grievous error.

I would tend to assume the former, being that it's Russia. They appear to have been late responding to the Deescalation call from the US command, and likely they were hoping to get some shots in on the anti-Assad forces before answering the phone and pleading ignorance. They just didn't know they'd get a full response from US forces and lose 60% of their soldiers in the stunt.
 
jmotivator said:
Nobody here is cheering this. Either the Russians made a grievous miscalculation, or a grievous error.

I would tend to assume the former, being that it's Russia. They appear to have been late responding to the Deescalation call from the US command, and likely they were hoping to get some shots in on the anti-Assad forces before answering the phone and pleading ignorance. They just didn't know they'd get a full response from US forces and lose 60% of their soldiers in the stunt.
Click to expand...

One person is.
 
jmotivator said:
Yeah, it is a huge miscalculation on several fronts for Russia.

1) They failed to note the clearly stated changes to US ROE
2) The oil field was known to be controlled by US backed forces
3) They gain nothing by deploying private armies staffed with Russian citizens... the French Foreign Legion is FOREIGN for a reason.

This could have rather far reaching impact on the Putin regime. 200-300 dead Russians doesn't just go away. It will be fuel for his opposition, and hit him hard in his loyalists... he has seemed all but bullet proof until now.
Click to expand...

They totally failed to intel prep the battlefield and didn't recon the objective.
 
apdst said:
They totally failed to intel prep the battlefield and didn't recon the objective.
Click to expand...

I don't think that is the problem. I think they were looking at punching the anti-Assad forces in the mouth and then jumping on the deescalation call to avoid return fire. I think they guessed from experience that the US forces would be suffering analysis paralysis with their ROE, and planned to take advantage. They guessed wrong.
 
Just as long as it doesn't escalate any further than this. The theater appears to already be on a knife's edge.

And some think that Putin is going to give Trump a stern talking down to over this. :lamo

Yeah, there's no love lost between the admin and Russia, going nose to nose and not backing down in this theater pretty much proves it.
 
jmotivator said:
https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/18/midd...d-dozens-of-russians-in-syria-intl/index.html

"The mission of that night's operation remains unclear, but the forces were advancing towards a valuable oil and gas field, Coneco, controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a US-backed militia that has been fighting ISIS in Syria.
When the pro-regime forces began shelling a base held by the SDF, the US responded with heavy airstrikes and artillery fire, which continued for about three hours.

US commanders tried to reach their Russian counterparts through what are known as deconfliction channels, to warn of their response. But by the time communications were established, the counterattack was underway.

The results were devastating. The accounts of several of the Wagner contingent, as relayed to friends and family, speak of carnage as US commanders deployed AC-130 attack aircraft, helicopters and artillery in response to the attack."

Other sources:

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/13/dozens-of-russian-mercenaries-killed-in-us-airstrike-in-syria.html

U.S. Coalition Kills Russians in Airstrikes Against Assad Supporters in Syria, Reports Say

Here is a supposed audio of Russian officers discussing the carnage that ensued. 200-300 dead according to their accounts. Again, assuming this is actual Russian officers:



You have to wonder what the Russians were thinking when they started shelling U.S. backed militias. I guess they won't try that again...
Click to expand...


They brought machine guns to an artillery fight. Kinda hard to fight Apaches, AC-130s and artillery with AK-47s.
 
NonoBadDog said:
They brought machine guns to an artillery fight. Kinda hard to fight Apaches, AC-130s and artillery with AK-47s.
Click to expand...

just curious, but, what is an AC-130?
 
Winston said:
just curious, but, what is an AC-130?
Click to expand...

I watched them live fire several times. Really impressive.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_AC-130
The Lockheed AC-130 gunship is a heavily armed, long-endurance ground-attack variant of the C-130 Hercules transport fixed-wing aircraft. It carries a wide array of anti-ground oriented weapons that are integrated with sophisticated sensors, navigation, and fire-control systems. Unlike other military fixed-wing aircraft, the AC-130 relies on visual targeting. Because its large profile and low operating altitudes (around 7,000 ft) make it an easy target, it usually flies close air support missions at night.[5]
Click to expand...

 
jmotivator said:
Nobody here is cheering this. Either the Russians made a grievous miscalculation, or a grievous error.

I would tend to assume the former, being that it's Russia. They appear to have been late responding to the Deescalation call from the US command, and likely they were hoping to get some shots in on the anti-Assad forces before answering the phone and pleading ignorance. They just didn't know they'd get a full response from US forces and lose 60% of their soldiers in the stunt.
Click to expand...
Assuming this is true, you think the Russians will just let this go? They'll get even.

US forces shouldnt even be there and if anything, this will just escalate and people will soon cry in outrage when Americans start dying for oil and corporations.
 
Winston said:
just curious, but, what is an AC-130?
Click to expand...

You can see them @ Hurlburt Field, US Air Force Special Operations Command, Mary Esther, Florida.
Lots of AC-130s & Talons flying in & out there every time I've been there.
They have an older AC-130 sitting at the main gate on static display. They also have an older Spooky (AC-47) on static display.
The AC-130 replaced the AC-47 during the Vietnam era.
The AC-130 will ruin your day ............... permanently ..........
 
PoS said:
Assuming this is true, you think the Russians will just let this go? They'll get even.

US forces shouldnt even be there and if anything, this will just escalate and people will soon cry in outrage when Americans start dying for oil and corporations.
Click to expand...


this is just a continuation of the decades old 'war for oil' that has been perpetrated by the US ad infinitum

since 9/11 we just do it under the guise of fighting terrorism; how convenient ........
 
PoS said:
Assuming this is true, you think the Russians will just let this go? They'll get even.
Click to expand...

I'm not expecting much of a Russian response when they are desperate to make this incident disappear as it is.

US forces shouldnt even be there and if anything, this will just escalate and people will soon cry in outrage when Americans start dying for oil and corporations.
Click to expand...

That is the dictionary definition of a self fulfilling prophecy.
 
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