Ivan looking at Javelins
Business Insider breathlessly reports that at an arms expo in Abu Dhabi, Russian soldiers came by American booths, hung out with our guys, and seemed really interested in Javelins, our exported-to-Ukraine anti-tank missiles.
US Army soldiers and Russian weapons contractors both had displays at the Naval Defence & Security Exposition, a place for countries to showcase their weaponry and other combat systems, in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates this week, and they were separated by just a few yards, Breaking Defense reported from the event.
At one point, the Russians reportedly came over to the US stand, where one soldier told Breaking Defense the mood was friendly and there was even an exchange of patches. At least one of the Russians even picked up a Javelin, an anti-tank missile system that the US military has sent to Ukraine and has been used to destroy Russian tanks.
My recent experience is pretty limited, as I have been out a few decades, but I would bet that now, as when I was in, soldiers from roughly equivalent cultures probably understand, sympathize with, and get along better with their opposite number on which ever side is au courant described as “other” t han their own politicians, and many of their officers. (Yes, that was intentionally written to use as many commas as reasonably possible.)
US and Russian troops crossed paths last October in Syria, where they shook hands, exchanged patches, and even posed for photographs together. The US and Russia have backed different sides of the 12-year-long brutal civil war being fought there, and while the exchange last fall was friendly, some other exchanges between US and Russian forces in Syria have been less so, such as when Russian soldiers ran American troops off the road, causing injuries.
Reminds me of the old days when Soviet Military Liaison Mission (SMLM) vehicles used to roam the roads around our convoys (and somehow accidentally got run off when some foolish unbustable private ‘pulled out to pass’), or how somehow sugar might wind up in their Soviet gas tanks were they so foolish as to leave their cars unguarded. All in good fun, like sharing a table with decorated German WWII soldaten at a beer fest. Might be a fight, but people at our level wouldn’t start a war.
Besides, like Germans with beer, Russians really, really do make better vodka.
Category: International Affairs, None, Russia
Given the corruption in Ukraine, I’m betting that at least a couple of said missiles already made their way into Russian hands.
How many units did Lockheed put them down for?
“Hey, this is cooler than our sh*t.” –Russian dude
Don’t trust the Russians.
I am pretty sure these were not just some Russian “grunts” hanging out at an international arms expo. My guess is that they were intelligence officers, throwing a wide net, just to see what they could get.
The MIC grins.
Horse trading amongst NATO and Soviet Troops back in the early ’70s during border patrol duty? I admit nothing…call my lawer. Ivan had no use for Levis, American Cigs, or whiskey. And GIs had no use for Vodka or sturgeon eggs. And those rumors of Billy swapping coffee and sugar to Johnny for that good Southern Tobacky was just that…rumors. Never happened. Soldiers get everything they needed thru their regular supply channels. Everybody knows that. Just ask Claw Daddy.
I never saw the appeal of caviar. It’s always come across as salty fish balls – I’d rather just have the cracker with cream cheese and radish slice.
I enjoy anchovy on my pizza and I’m not opposed to salty fish eggs… but treating sturgeon abortions like they’re the ocean equivalent of foies gras is like saying Beyoncé is a great artist because she charges more per performance than Prince.
*Incidentally, Raspberry Beret is my most-requested song whenever I’m in Fayetteville. Especially since the 508th gay porn scandal.
https://youtu.be/MdSJFrhb-HM
Ivan has already been getting as up close and personal inspection as humanly possible of thousands of Javelins. I still remember during testing when that first video came out of the exploding T72 thinking the Russians were going to have some serious regrets about running into a line of those.