Relevant program/did you see it?

[John Kettler]

History Channel (U.S.) last night ran a most informative episode of Heroes Under Fire about the CIA covert logistics and combat support effort to train and arm the muj in Afghanistan. Apparently, things were much closer to disaster than I ever knew, with the deciding element being the introduction of the Stinger (my sources indicate Redeye and Blowpipe also used) into battle. The combat footage and interviews were first rate, with the Milan engagements being highly pertinent to CM:SF tactical discussions. They, sabotage, and GPS

equipped 120mm mortar teams (last demolished a battalion of SPETSNAZ in barracks) made the Soviets bleed, but Stingers broke their back by killing or driving off the airpower and helo borne

strike and insertion units necessary to prevent large scale cross-border weapon supply. Prior to this, the Soviets were sleeting the supply columns, in some cases crossing the Pakistani frontier, circling around, then waylaying the mule, camel, and truck columns from behind with

Mi-24s and fighter bombers. Seems to me that if it worked against the Soviets, we might easily find our low flyers in the same boat. OTOH, we have lots of standoff toys the Soviets didn't back then.

Regards,

John Kettler

[Peter Cairns]

John,

I think you might well be right, but I think UAV's have changed things quite a bit.

Anyone who has a platform with high "Persistance" that can operate at above 5,000m can evade most ManPads and track down the kind of supply column that the insurgents use.

Wouldn't be a problem for a Global Hawk, but Iam not sure about the summer "Hot and High" performance of the Predator, it might struggle.

Peter.

[John Kettler]

Peter Cairns,

Good point about the UAVs, but what I was trying to highlight was the potential similarity between what we helped create/did to the Soviets in Afghanistan and what could happen in Syria. The RPGs, Kornet Es, small arms, HMGs and the like are already there, as is, I believe a significant MANPADS capability, not to mention large quantities of heavy artillery, MRLs, tanks and the like.

In essence, I believe that we're talking about deliberately inserting our forces into what was

for the Soviets the high end of the Afghanistan threat environment--with us playing the Soviets.

Considering their experience, it gives me pause.

Granted, our RSTA means are much better than what the Soviets had, as are our weapons, and the terrain is much more favorable to us than what they were dealing with, but it does make one think. The major plus is that we wouldn't be fighting Afghanis!

Regards,

John Kettler

[cassh]

John Kettler - have a read of Jihad!: The Secret War in Afghanistan - Tom Carew It is very informative and entertaining with a good sense of humour. He was an SAS operative seconded to MI6 to help gather intel, setup training camps, recover and test weapon systems. It is amusing to see how improvised and disorganised the western support for the insurgency initially was.

[John Kettler]

cassh,

No. I haven't, but I'll keep an eye out for it, especially after watching the episode I described.

Appreciate the tip!

Regards,

John Kettler

[Mister Magoo]

Hi John,

A book that takes you through the politics and CIA involvement and is also a hoot is "Charlie Wilson's War". We need a few more funlovin, off the reservation politicians like him.

MM

[John Kettler]

Mister Magoo,

Appreciate the referral! That one I believe I've actually heard of before, methinks because the author was interviewed on TLC or Discovery Channel concerning Afghanistan.

Regards,

John Kettler