Tag Archives: troops

Operation Barbarossa – Germany defeated in Russia!

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{mosimage}Operation Barbarossa was a strategic move by the Nazis in order to end shortages of man power as well as oil and other requirements like cultivable land for the Germans. The policy of the Nazis in this war was to kill, enslave or to deport Russians from their space which would give the Nazis more living space.

This war was started by leaving the war with Great Britian half way and suddenly attacking the Russians. This war was planned by Hitler himself; this was the reason why the British were not further attacked. Hitler, according to his nature, was willing to take risks in this war too, therefore he disregarded the military top brass’s suggestion that they should finish of their fight with Britain first and later move on to Russia.

In order to start a war against Russia, Hitler created propaganda that the Germans now required living space. Most importantly what readied everyone for this war was the propaganda that the Russians were preparing to attack Germany. So this war would not be German attack but a pre emptive war for protecting themselves.

Operation Barbarossa began in June 1941 and lasted till December 1941, however on the Eastern front the war started in June 1941 to May 1945, this was when Nazis surrendered. Operation Barbarossa was one of the most deadliest and brutal war fought between any two countries.

Total number of soldiers involved in this war from the German side was more than four million including the German and the Axis armies, whereas the number of soldiers from the Soviet side was only 2.6 million. It is now a known fact that the Soviets were better at mobilizing their ground forces, than the Germans, this was the main reason for German defeat.

There were also factor which worked against the Soviets, one of them was due to Stalin’s rule several senior Army officials were serving terms in Siberia and Stalin had now kept Army chiefs who were more politically stable than were able for the job, this resulted in a general loss of direction for the troops. Since Stalin wanted to hear only what he wanted to hear he was misinformed about the strength of his troops. He also ignored repeated warnings from his own intelligence agencies that the Germans were preparing for war against the Soviets. This was the reason, though Soviets had time to prepare for the war, they were not ready when German actually attacked them. They were only able to carry out partial mobilization of troops.

Also the Russians were supposed to be on peace postings during the time they should have been preparing for the war. When the Axis and Germans carried out air attacks, they found all the air planes parked in clusters instead of being separated from each other, thus these made ready targets to the Germans and there was heavy duty loss of air support for the Russians.

The size of the German army along with the Axis forces and the Hungarian, Slovakian, Italian and Romanian troops joined them and formed additional five million troops against the mere 2.6 millions Russians. Russians therefore hugely outnumbered during this war.

The Most Expensive War in History

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Although fighting currently continues in Iraq, there is increasing debate over how to end the conflict together with demands from political factions in the United States and Great Britain to Phase the war out and allow the troops to return to civilian life. It is getting more difficult to justify the costs of continued hostilities in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Just what are the cost totals? Current figures are ever changing, and of course since the conflicts are ongoing, there are no totals. However, as of January 2005, it was estimated that $166 billion had been allocated for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan by the United States alone, yet it was immediately deemed estimated that this was at least 4 billion too low. The military identified specific unmet needs for funding of equipment and weapons for the troops in Iraq. The U.S. Army made just under $6 billion in requests in addition to the defense budget for 2005. These requests included expenditures for equipment and supplies for vehicle armour ($132 million), for helmets, underwear, boots and other clothing (187 million), and for automatic weapons ($21.5 million).

Since this budget was approved and enlarged upon, the estimated monthly costs given by the Pentagon have been at the 700 million dollar mark. Currently the Pentagon estimates are that monthly bills for the war in Iraq are about $4.7 billion and for the war in Afghanistan one billion, which means $75 billion per year. This figure doesn’t include the billions in additional funding that will be needed for the pledged reconstruction efforts in the two countries, which the Pentagon estimated at $500 million per six month period.

By any calculation, this conflict is the costliest in history. During the course of the Vietnam War, which was fought for eight years, 11.1 billion dollars were spent, adjusted to the current dollar values. The amount spent in Vietnam was not a drop in the bucket of the current conflicts’ budget.

Other government estimates from the Bush administration conclude that the Pentagon actually is spending a bit less, and the real costs are nearly $5 billion per month in Iraq and Afghanistan, which makes the yearly costs nearly $60 billion. These estimates also are exclusive of the expenses that are associated with rebuilding Iraq‘s electric resources, water supply and other infrastructure elements, such as roads. One of the reasons cited for the high cost of these current wars is the different nature of the troops. Previous wars were primarily fought by draftees, who were paid minimal salaries. Today’s troops are volunteers who are paid higher wages; there are better trained and given better equipment, all of which is expensive.

It is interesting to note that none of the cost estimates attempts to approximate the anticipated costs for medical treatment for the troops after they return home, including counselling for reintegration into American life or for job retraining. The price tag for funding these wars also omits the cost of spousal and orphan support for the families of the deceased troops.

More Bombs in Baghdad!

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{mosimage}There was hope of the capital city of Iraq, Baghdad, there were several reports regarding improvement of situation in the city. The police were also thinking of removing roadblocks from certain parts of Baghdad to allow smooth movement from one place to another for people.

However, this has changed suddenly when there has been another incident of car bomb explosion in the city. There are reports that there was one car bomb that exploded in the Shia dominated part of the market killing at least 112 people. The car bomb detonated in a crowd of construction workers standing there after their work was finished. Another 115 were injured. Though there is no formal release of information, a police official confirmed the number of victims under anonymity.

 

In another incident, another suicide car bomber, crashed his car at an Iraqi checkpoint, this was at the entrance of the Sadr City, this area too is Shia dominated, in fact it happens to be the chief place of the anti-US cleric called Muqtada Al- Sadr. This explosion claimed the lives of 30 people and injured 45. People reported seeing black smoke come out from the cars that were caught in the midst of the blasts.

Another bomb exploded in Karradah, the bomb was placed in a car parked outside a private hospital. The number of people dead was 11 and the number of people injured was 13. It also damaged the private hospital and the surrounding buildings.

Other than the above three explosions there was another explosion which killed four people and injured six. A bomb left on a minibus exploded and caused this destruction. There were other incidents of four policemen being killed by people who ambushed them and also injured 6 pedestrian in this incident.

During recent past therehave been incidents of bombings after a lull, there were bombings inside Iraqi parliament and a collapse of a famous bridge across the river Tigris.

In Anbar province of Iraq the US troops killed 5 people, and took 30 people in their custody. This attack was launched after the police had discovered about 17 bodies buried in a schoolyard. The troops also raided several buildings in this area and found explosives in the buildings. The forces suspected, that these buildings were used for militant purposes. The area of Ramadi were dominated by Sunni insurgents and the Al- Qaida off late.

There have been demands from the Iraqis all over the country for withdrawal of troops. Another demand is that there should be a timetable regarding the pullout of the troops. However, this sentiment of the Iraqis can be carried out only then the Iraqi militia and the armed forces are able to take control of the country. With the Iraqis unable to take control of the situation in Iraq, the pullout would be difficult and almost impossible.

Therefore, if the Iraqis want foreign troops to be pulled out of Iraq, there should be peace and order restored in the region.

Gates announces longer tours in Iraq

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Gates announces longer tours in Iraq WASHINGTON – Beginning immediately, all active-duty Army soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan will serve 15-month tours — three months longer than the usual standard, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday. It was the latest move by the Pentagon to cope with the strains of fighting two wars simultaneously and maintaining a higher troop level in Iraq as part of President Bush’s revised strategy for stabilizing Baghdad. “This policy is a difficult but necessary interim step,” Gates told a Pentagon news conference. He said it did not affect the Marines, whose standard tour is seven months, nor the Army National Guard or Army Reserve, which will continue to serve 12-month tours. Gates said the new policy also seeks to ensure that all active-duty Army units get at least 12 months at home between deployments. He said it would allow the Pentagon to maintain the current level of troops in Iraq for another year, although he added that there has been no decision on future troop levels. Some units had already been extended beyond 12 months by varying amounts. The new policy will make deployments more equitable and more predictable for soldiers and for their families, Gates said. “I think it is fair to all soldier that all share the burden equally,” he said.

Iraqis rally, call for U.S. forces to leave

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Iraqis rally, call for U.S. forces to leave NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of people waving Iraqi flags staged a peaceful rally in the southern city of Najaf on Monday to demand the withdrawal of U.S. forces, four years to the day since Baghdad fell to invading American troops.

The streets of the Iraqi capital itself were largely empty after authorities clamped a 24-hour ban on vehicles to prevent any insurgent attacks, especially car bombings. The anniversary comes as Iraq’s Shi’ite-led government is trying to avert full-scale civil war between majority Shi’ites and minority Sunnis who were dominant under Saddam Hussein. Sunni and Shi’ite clerics marched alongside each other in Najaf. U.S. military spokesman Rear Admiral Mark Fox said that four years ago U.S.-led forces had “liberated Iraq from Saddam’s republic of fear.” That had allowed Iraqis to exercise their democratic rights and stage protests such as the one in Najaf. “While there have been substantial accomplishments, the first four years have also been disappointing, frustrating and increasingly dangerous in many parts of Iraq,” he said. The protesters in Najaf were responding to a call by powerful anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who blames the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 for the country’s woes and wants a timetable set for a U.S. troop withdrawal. Waving red, white and back Iraqi flags, marchers choked the 7 km-long road between Najaf and neighboring Kufa and clogged streets leading to Sadrayn Square, the main rallying point. Many had come from Baghdad and Shi’ite towns and cities in the south. Sadr was not at the rally. He has kept out of sight since the Baghdad crackdown. The U.S. military says he is in Iran, but his aides insist he is still in Iraq, possibly Najaf. His ability to muster such a large gathering was a signal to the Iraqi government and Washington that, despite his absence from public view, he is still a force to be reckoned with. The young cleric, popular among Iraq’s Shi’ite poor, led two uprisings against U.S. forces in 2004 but has since become a major political player. His movement holds a quarter of the seats in the ruling Shi’ite Alliance. Washington accuses his Mehdi Army militia of fuelling sectarian violence and says it is now the biggest threat to peace in Iraq, a charge he denies. SADDAM STATUE Speaking against the backdrop of an Iraqi flag, a senior Sadrist, cleric Abdelhadi al-Mohammadawi, called on U.S. forces to leave. His speech was interrupted by the periodic chorus of “Leave, leave occupier!” and “No, no, to the occupation.” “We demand the exit of the occupier and withdrawal of the last American soldier and we also reject the existence of any kind of military bases,” he said. U.S. President George W. Bush has insisted U.S. troops will not leave until Iraqis can take over security and has repeatedly rejected setting a timetable for withdrawal. While Iraq has a new U.S.-trained army, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s government is still heavily dependent on American firepower and logistical support to combat the Sunni insurgency. In November, the U.N. Security Council renewed the mandate of the U.S.-led forces in Iraq until the end of 2007. “This protest is our demand for sovereignty because we will not stay quiet on the issue. The Iraqi government can handle everything and there is no need for the occupiers to remain and continue killing innocents,” said Mohammed Hamza from Baghdad. Four years ago to the day, the world watched as Iraqis, helped by U.S. soldiers, toppled Saddam’s 20-foot (six-meter) statue in Baghdad’s central Firdous Square. A crowd trampled over what was left of the statue and danced for joy. Saddam had vowed to defeat the U.S.-led invasion launched on March 20, 2003, but his forces offered little resistance as U.S. forces thrust deep into the heart of the Iraqi capital. By then the war had cost 96 American dead, 30 British dead and unknown thousands of Iraqi military and civilian casualties. Four years on, those tolls have soared to more than 3,270 U.S. soldiers killed, 140 British soldiers, 124 from other nations, and tens of thousands of Iraqis. Ten U.S. soldiers were killed at the weekend.