Bush Orders Military to Deliver Aid to Georgia

[Guest ktn4eg]

Tanks are routinely transported with the C-130.....

You are kidding, right? The Hercules can't lift a tank. It can move a single M113 APC, which is obsolete and useless on the modern battlefield, but that's it. There's no aircraft in the world can airlift main battle tanks.

So you're saying that the C-5 Galaxy cannot airlift a main battle tank, right?

Edited August 15, 2008 by ktn4eg

[David of Derby]

So you're saying that the C-5 Galaxy cannot airlift a main battle tank, right?

Looks like it might actually manage to airlift a single MBT, looking at the specs for the plane. If that's the case, your entire in-service complement of Galaxies would be needed to move a single armoured division, making several trips each. I expect the Russkies would notice that, and start shooting them down, tanks and all, before you got half a division over there...

[O'Dannyboy]

I guess the question is how good are U.S. relations with Turkey? I suppose they could land armor in the Ukraine if they really wanted to. Another question would be whether or not their is any access to the Black Sea that would afford the Navy access to Georgia. There are so many variables and I have little doubt they are all being, or have been, considered and/or implemented. It would be interesting to know what kind of activity the European bases were seeing. Many times they will rotate fighter squadrons from base to base and I would like to know if they had moved any additional squadrons into or around Europe as precautions/preparations.

[David of Derby]

Come on you lot, the US isn't going to war with Russia over this. How much goodwill has your government got left for another foreign war? Over what, Georgia? The only Georgia 90% of your population cares about is the one inside your own borders. What do they care if Ivan is killing Georgians over some scrap of dirt on the other side of the world?

[O'Dannyboy]

Come on you lot, the US isn't going to war with Russia over this. How much goodwill has your government got left for another foreign war? Over what, Georgia? The only Georgia 90% of your population cares about is the one inside your own borders. What do they care if Ivan is killing Georgians over some scrap of dirt on the other side of the world?

I don't think the U.S. government considers it simply a "scrap of dirt". U.S. allies in Europe depend greatly on the new pipeline to help manage heating oil prices. Another thing to consider that Georgia is a fledgling democracy and the U.S. is duty bound to support and encourage it. Just look at how much money taxpayer money our "leaders" have been spending in this "scrap of dirt". I suppose this is another reason Russia is taking this so personally. They must feel like the U.S. is trying to box them in. Seems like they were just looking for an excuse to make a statement and Georgia's attempt to reign in Separatists militarily was just what the doctor ordered.

I believe the U.S. is going to avoid being pulled into another conflict considering how thinly spread our military is at the moment. Once calm is achieved they will surely do what they can to "rebuild" Georgia's Army and more specifically provide it with the means to defend it's own capitol and infrastructure. I don't expect they intend to confront Russia militarily unless absolutely necessary. It's likely that they consider the government of Georgia, much as they consider themselves, the most important people in the country. They, as you say, probably wouldn't even attempt to stand in Russia's way. The government of Georgia would go into safe hiding abroad until diplomatic solutions allowed for their return.

Consider this. Russia has twice the land that the U.S. has yet is has half the population. This is more than likely NOT about land and more about forcing their will on others. Like the murderer or rapist who seeks power or control the same must be said of the Russian government not willing to live along side those who don't have a healthy dose of fear or respect for them. It's like the school bully who is not satisfied unless he has a gaggle of cronies in the background giggling and sneering at his victims. Russia is not satisfied unless it is the star of the party and where everyone is beholden to them.

[David of Derby]

Much of what you just said about Russia could be said of the US as well.

[O'Dannyboy]

Much of what you just said about Russia could be said of the US as well.

I really hate to point fingers at the people. It's the governments, theirs and ours, that are corrupt and power hungry. Perhaps you can point out a single instance that the U.S. has taken military action against a neighbor state for having relations with one of it's enemies. Russia and Cuba have been discussing similar military coops but do you see the U.S. invading? It's hardly fair to compare them when you consider all the good the U.S. has done, yes even for Russia. Europe would not be the same place had the U.S. dicided to focus it's energy on Japan and ignored what was going on in Europe. South Korea would be part of a communist regime now. If there is ANY country in the world that deserves the benfit of the doubt, it's the U.S. Consider the advantage we have over Mexico and Canada, Do you believe the U.S. is manipulating them and intimidating them? How about Cuba and Venezuela? Are they somehow beholden to the U.S.? You don't see separatists from the U.S. trying to claim parts of Canada do you? Lets try not to generalise. The U.S. is still a democracy and the people still have a degree of power without having to use force. The Russian citizens do not.

[nebula]

David -

Does Russia having control of Georgia's pipeline good for Europe?

Why isn't Europe standing up for Georgia's defense, either?

[MorningGlory]

Tanks are routinely transported with the C-130.....

You are kidding, right? The Hercules can't lift a tank. It can move a single M113 APC, which is obsolete and useless on the modern battlefield, but that's it. There's no aircraft in the world can airlift main battle tanks.

Nope, not kidding. But I had the wrong aircraft; it's actually a C-5 Galaxy that can carry the Abrams tank; SEE BELOW. You're correct that the lighter tanks would not be effective against anything Russian. Not sure how many the C-5 can carry at a time though. But, if the U.S. wanted tanks in Georgia, they could move them fairly quickly from other points in Europe. They are already there and ready to go.

"The behemoth C-5 is the Air Force’s principal system for carrying oversized cargo, such as the Abrams tank"

http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/iss...pite_Leaner.htm

[MorningGlory]

Much of what you just said about Russia could be said of the US as well.

Are you calling the United States a bully??