Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK
---------------------------------------------
It looks like the "democracies" will try to use commandos. But while those
that they are up against are not the best-equipped troops in the world,
commandos and special forces are not well designed for fighting that lasts
longer than a couple of days. They cannot carry much in the way of heavy
weapons or tonnes of ammunition, otherwise, they stop being "airmobile".
Especially if the fighting is vicious, it doesn't take long for the
ammunition and other supplies to run out... and circumstances in Afghanistan
could make resupply difficult.
There have been many examples of commandos and paratroops etc. taking heavy
losses and even being defeated when the mission turned out to not be short
and sharp. The British experience in Arnhem in 1944 is one, the less
publicised Lofoten raid on a German base in Norway was another, (1941, I
think) and of course there was Dieppe in 1942. The German paratroops won in
Crete in the end in 1941, but only after taking heavy losses from both
British and New Zealand ground troops and armed Greek civilians. Special
forces did OK in Korea and Vietnam as long as the mission could be kept
short and simple but there is no guarantee of that here. I think this German
is right to be cautious. Incidentally, the British SAS did not do well in
the Gulf war.
Steve Kaczynski
________________________________________________
>From: Rick Rozoff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Subject: German General Fears A Bloodbath [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK]
>Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2001 00:51:59 -0700 (PDT)
>
>Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK
>---------------------------------------------
>
>The Daily Telegraph
>September 24, 2001
>
>German general fears a bloodbath
>By Toby Helm in Berlin
>
>
>THE head of the German equivalent of the SAS has
>angered senior Nato officers by predicting a
>"bloodbath" if special forces from allied nations move
>into Afghanistan to try to hunt down Osama bin Laden.
>
>In a deliberate call for caution, Brig Gen Reinhard
>Gunzel, who commands the elite Kommando Spezialkrafte
>(KSK), said success would be "almost impossible"
>without severe and unacceptable losses to his special
>troops and those of other allied nations.
>
>Even if such a combined force did find bin Laden, this
>would not mean victory, he said. "Behind him stand so
>many fanatic followers that another one would
>immediately replace him."
>
>The 57-year-old brigadier general added: "Special
>forces would come lightly armed and unprotected. There
>would be a bloodbath. No special unit in the western
>world could agree to such an action."
>
>The Brig Gen insisted that troops with a "western
>philosophy" and a will not to die would have "little
>chance against men who are willing to give their lives
>in a fight".
>
>His remarks were first published, with his full
>consent, on the internet by Spiegel Online news
>service on Friday as rumours spread through Germany
>that some KSK troops were about to be dispatched to
>within striking distance of Afghanistan.
>
>Last night, a spokesman for the German ministry of
>defence confirmed that Brig Gen Gunzel had authorised
>the interview, but declined to comment further.
>Officials inside the ministry made clear, however,
>that the comments had shocked and angered fellow
>defence chiefs.
>
>
>
__________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
>Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo!
>Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com
>
>-------------------------------------------------
>This Discussion List is the follow-up for the old stopnato @listbot.com
>that has been shut down
>
==================================================
>EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9ENx5
>Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>This email was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail!
>http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register
==================================================
>
__________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
-------------------------------------------------
This Discussion List is the follow-up for the old stopnato @listbot.com that has been
shut down
==^================================================================
EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9spWA
Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
This email was sent to: [email protected]
T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail!
http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register
==^================================================================
1001341668445.gif
1001341668445.gif