Dead Men Walking

dMw Chit Chat => The Beer Bar => Seriously though ... => Topic started by: Anonymous on September 03, 2004, 07:14:01 PM

Title: I've just been watching the news...
Post by: Anonymous on September 03, 2004, 07:14:01 PM
...and seeing the reports coming in from Beslan School in Russia where Chechen rebels had taken 100s of adults and children hostage.

Is this what man has come to?

I don't know what else to say.

BB
Title: I've just been watching the news...
Post by: Gh0st Face Killah on September 03, 2004, 08:26:07 PM
Its a very sad state of affairs indeed. Still give peole guns and there are enough idiots out there with a point to prove who will do something like this. What can I say I'm glad the gun laws in this country are so strict.
Title: I've just been watching the news...
Post by: DuVeL on September 03, 2004, 11:29:38 PM
I've followed it all on the news, idiots I tell ya. Using kids like that... :argue:  :rant:  :taz:
Title: I've just been watching the news...
Post by: Vincentvega on September 04, 2004, 12:39:21 AM
all i can say is the russians have no idea what to do with these kind of people..
remember 2002 when the buggers held  the theatre with hostages in it they just thru gas nades in and killed the lot.
And now they go and jeapodise the lives of kids by blowing holes in the walls of the school ......
SAS come to mind to sort these t's out

my 2c :(  :(
Title: I've just been watching the news...
Post by: Doorman on September 04, 2004, 12:43:42 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by Gh0st Face Killah@Sep 3 2004, 08:26 PM
Its a very sad state of affairs indeed. Still give peole guns and there are enough idiots out there with a point to prove who will do something like this. What can I say I'm glad the gun laws in this country are so strict.
Strict my butt! Since Hungerford there have been more killings on the streets of London and the UK in general by guns that have supposedly been banned! Bona fide gun clubs have been closed and genuine, regulated enthusiasts have been deprived of their sport. Every time there is a report of some gun related killing/wounding my wife and I look at each other and say "How come? All guns have been banned"
Title: I've just been watching the news...
Post by: Vincentvega on September 04, 2004, 01:24:17 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by Doorman+Sep 3 2004, 11:43 PM-->
QUOTE (Doorman @ Sep 3 2004, 11:43 PM)
Title: I've just been watching the news...
Post by: Gh0st Face Killah on September 04, 2004, 12:45:42 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by Vincentvega@Sep 4 2004, 12:39 AM
And now they go and jeapodise the lives of kids by blowing holes in the walls of the school ......
 
Actually it was the terrorists who blew the hole in the wall and then they started machine gunning the kids as they tried to escape! Unsuprisingly 2 of the terrorists trying to escape where beaten to death by enraged locals.
Title: I've just been watching the news...
Post by: Phog on September 04, 2004, 01:16:13 PM
SAS have UK problems to sort out. Maybe a UN Rainbow 6 style force will be created (or maybe it already has been) to deal with problem caused by terrorists in countries that are unable to deal with the situation. Russia could be an example of this. UK, France, Germany, USA have pretty capable special forces dont know about many other countries though :/
Title: I've just been watching the news...
Post by: Gh0st Face Killah on September 04, 2004, 02:15:34 PM
We still have the best though! (he says in a flag waving moment!!) Most of the others get trained by our guys.
Title: I've just been watching the news...
Post by: Phog on September 04, 2004, 06:07:48 PM
Damn straight, our Royal marines are trained better than their Special forces :D
Title: I've just been watching the news...
Post by: Anonymous on September 04, 2004, 07:57:01 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by Phog@Sep 4 2004, 06:07 PM
Damn straight, our Royal marines are trained better than their Special forces :D
MacDonalds "chefs" are trained better than their Special Forces <_<
Title: I've just been watching the news...
Post by: Dr Sadako on September 04, 2004, 09:48:26 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by BlueBall+Sep 4 2004, 07:57 PM-->
QUOTE (BlueBall @ Sep 4 2004, 07:57 PM)
Title: I've just been watching the news...
Post by: Anonymous on September 04, 2004, 10:18:40 PM
No sorry but the Russian SF have a history of heavy handedness. They do not have the finesse required to handle situations like this well because it is not in their Psyche. years of the "communist" attitude left them ill prepared to cope succesfully with situations like this.
Title: I've just been watching the news...
Post by: TeaLeaf on September 04, 2004, 11:30:46 PM
Much as I agree with BB's sentiments (and I do), I have to go with Sadako on this one.  Had the SAS been in the same situation they would have walked away with similar casualty numbers.  It is totally unreasonable to expect anything else of a security force when a lump of explosive goes off and several hundred parents and relatives rush a gaping hole to save their children in the face of gun fire from the building that is trying to mow down the escapees.  

Whilst I also believe the forces training in this country is a peg or three above that in many other countries, there is imo no other outcome that a reasonable person could expect from such a situation.

TL.
Title: I've just been watching the news...
Post by: JB on September 05, 2004, 09:03:34 AM
It's been quoted many times by the SAS that a 30% loss of hostages is an acceptable loss and deemed a success.
Quote"once hostages are taken they're as good as dead"
Title: I've just been watching the news...
Post by: Vincentvega on September 05, 2004, 10:08:12 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by Gh0st Face Killah+Sep 4 2004, 11:45 AM-->
QUOTE (Gh0st Face Killah @ Sep 4 2004, 11:45 AM)
Title: I've just been watching the news...
Post by: 0ni0n on September 05, 2004, 11:04:08 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by Gh0st Face Killah+Sep 4 2004, 11:45 AM-->
QUOTE (Gh0st Face Killah @ Sep 4 2004, 11:45 AM)
Title: I've just been watching the news...
Post by: Phog on September 05, 2004, 11:39:05 AM
Why didnt they have more police on the streets holding the locals back? I know that the parents are worried about their children but running around carrying weaponry makes them just as much a threat as the terrorists. The parents should not have been able to run in through that hole and i think thats where the whole situation went out of control. Even riot police should have been called in to hold them back. I know for a fact that if this happened in the UK, there would have been no locals or civilians in the area as the Army would be surrounding the the building keeping it secure.
Title: I've just been watching the news...
Post by: Anonymous on September 05, 2004, 12:00:19 PM
OK let me explain where my comments come from:

1. In the past 5 to 10 years Terrorist demands have become more serious and the tendency for negotiation to work has been reduced - in short they mean what they say.

2. As a consequence of 1 a plan should have been in place to cater for the eventuality that the terrorists would turn on the hostages - there's not much evidence of Stockholm syndrome these days.

3. The SF guys have a difficult enough job without worrying about who is running around in the area - everyone who was not essential to the containing of the situation should have been well back and cordoned off.

4. In any situation like this it is imperative that you put yourself in the position wher you totally control the situation and can drive it in the direction you need it to go. This is to give you the best chance for success.

IMHO none of the above was carried out by the guys running the operation.
Title: I've just been watching the news...
Post by: OldBloke on September 05, 2004, 12:02:27 PM
Don't let the performance of the Russian forces cloud this issue. They acted, or to be more precise, reacted in good faith.

The simple fact is a bunch of total nutters herded a large number of civilians together, the majority of them children, surrounded them with high explosive, denied them water for two days and then tried to slaughter as many of them as possible.

Totally incomprehensible.
Title: I've just been watching the news...
Post by: A Twig on September 05, 2004, 01:37:19 PM
I would like to point out, that many deem a successful anti-terrorist mission to be the apprehension or elimination of the terrorists. Safe rescue of the hostages is secondary.
Therefore, in purely strict harsh cold objectivity, it was successful.
Title: I've just been watching the news...
Post by: Phog on September 05, 2004, 08:45:32 PM
Well to be honest, it was a very unsucessful sucess if you catch my drift.
I wish i was there for the beating of 2 of the terrorists that escaped, they deserve everything they got.
Why children? Theres no real word to descibe it.
Title: I've just been watching the news...
Post by: Moment on September 05, 2004, 08:47:56 PM
there is Phog.....more than 1...

sick
evil

but dont really want to think bout it.. just makes me feel horible seeing them kids after it
Title: I've just been watching the news...
Post by: target on September 06, 2004, 09:53:49 AM
The hardest thing for any military operation is going against an opponent who is not afraid to die (and in many cases, looking to die and take as many others with them).  It is made significantly more difficult for the military forces when non-combatants are involved (especially children).

Anyone who places C4 plastic exposive surreonded by nails and ball bearings above the heads of kids, isn't doing it for show - they intend to use them to create massive carnage.

Yes the Russian troops could and should have controlled the area better, but hey if it were your kids in there what would you do?  

But please take nothing away from the bravery of those Russian troops who were using their bodies to protect the kids from the incoming fire from the terrorists.  Going into a close quarters battle where you know the enemy is willing to die is no mean feat, and yes it is a horrendous shame that so many innocents died, but if the Russians hadn't reacted how many more would have died?

My 2p
Title: I've just been watching the news...
Post by: Thulsa Doom on September 06, 2004, 10:19:06 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by target@Sep 6 2004, 09:53 AM
The hardest thing for any military operation is going against an opponent who is not afraid to die (and in many cases, looking to die and take as many others with them). It is made significantly more difficult for the military forces when non-combatants are involved (especially children).

Anyone who places C4 plastic exposive surreonded by nails and ball bearings above the heads of kids, isn't doing it for show - they intend to use them to create massive carnage.

Yes the Russian troops could and should have controlled the area better, but hey if it were your kids in there what would you do?

But please take nothing away from the bravery of those Russian troops who were using their bodies to protect the kids from the incoming fire from the terrorists. Going into a close quarters battle where you know the enemy is willing to die is no mean feat, and yes it is a horrendous shame that so many innocents died, but if the Russians hadn't reacted how many more would have died?

My 2p
I see it the same way
Title: I've just been watching the news...
Post by: Anonymous on September 16, 2004, 02:53:03 PM
An after the event analysis by BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3632332.stm)

Ooops, spelling :(
Title: I've just been watching the news...
Post by: target on September 16, 2004, 04:09:58 PM
QuoteAn after the event analysis by BBC

An interesting read, but I feel it is very easy for an academic to pick fault with any military operation in the cold light of hind-sight
Title: I've just been watching the news...
Post by: Anonymous on September 16, 2004, 04:27:11 PM
Believe me, it is even easy for the military to find fault with a military operation in the cold light of hindsight.

To be fair this guy is from RUSI and they are pretty well respected as analysts even by the military.
Title: I've just been watching the news...
Post by: target on September 17, 2004, 09:25:43 AM
Fair point ;)