The SS-21 is not an artillery, barrage missile. It is an inertially guided missile with a 30 foot accuracy.BTW..The United States has seen "no significant" withdrawal from Georgia by Russian forces, a US defense official said Monday. "While we are still monitoring the situation and it is probably a little early, we have not seen any significant Russian movement out of Georgia today," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Gee, what a shock!
From WSJ Marketwatch:
And then...Russia Fires SS-21 Ballistic Missiles at the Republic of Georgia, Poland Agrees to Have US Missile Defense
WASHINGTON, Aug 14, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Riki Ellison, President of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance ( www.missiledefenseadvocacy.org), issued the following statements about the situation in Europe concerning Russia, Poland and the Republic of Georgia."Over the last few days Russia has fired over two dozen SS-21 Ballistic Short Range Missiles into the country of Georgia, integrating ballistic missile strikes with their conventional military forces. The SS-21 is a road mobile, solid fuel, single stage ballistic missile, which is maneuverable in flight and carries a high-explosive warhead weighing up to 1060lbs. with 150 meter accuracy. It has a range of 43 miles. These missiles have been used by the Russians tactically for psychological and military targets as the Georgians do not have the capability to defend against or defeat ballistic missiles."The use of ballistic missiles by Russia in this conflict sends an endorsement to the international community that the use of ballistic missiles has value, thus propelling countries and terrorist organizations to develop, purchase and continue to proliferate ballistic missiles. Modern warfare continues to integrate and use ballistic missiles as a tactic.
Russia moves SS-21 missiles into Georgia: US defense official
by Staff Writers
Washington (AFP) Aug 18, 2008
Russia has moved short-range SS-21 missile launchers into South Ossetia since fighting there halted, and has yet to give any sign of a significant pullback of its troops from Georgia, US officials said Monday.Instead, there were indications that Russia was adding ground troops and equipment to its force in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, strengthening its hold over the breakaway Georgian regions, the officials said.
"We are seeing evidence of SS-21 missiles in South Ossetia," a US defense official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The SS-21's 70 to 120 kilometer range (43 to 75 miles) should put them within striking distance of Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, officials said.
Later Monday, another US defense official said, "While we are still monitoring the situation and it is probably a little early, we have not seen any significant Russian movement out of Georgia today."
Poland then accepted US missile defense, and Ukraine invited us.
DUH. I guess those nations, knowing the Russians VERY well have few illusions about what awaits.
Time for missile defense for Tbilisi? Anti missile missiles can shoot down ONLY planes and missiles, and cannot be used for offensive purposes. Fly'em in, and set em up. NATO should have an emergency meeting and agree to supply the Georgians.
2 comments:
Quite right, missile defense installations should hurriedly be installed. I think also accelerating Ukraine and Georgia's membership of Nato would be a good thing. I think Poland is already in, if not that should be rushed through aswell. Good post, good find!
Why not invite Russia to join NATO?
Yelstsin sent a letter to NATO in 1992 raising a question of Russia’s membership in NATO. No reply. In 2000, Putin when asked about NATO by a journalist said that he could not see why Russia could not join NATO. Instead, the West only pushed back. NATO expanded into former Warsaw Pact countries and former Soviet States.
Of course, Russians r barbarians, we'd better keep them surrounded by our missiles. Newton Law: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction!
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