The Caucuses region have always presented a problem to military commands hoping to traverse the region or even subjugate it. Rising out of the steppes dividing Russia and Iran, these mountains are not quite as formidable as the Himalayas, but are more similar to their sister range, the Alps. Ragged and difficult to navigate at times on foot, much less in a tank, they are also bordered on the east by the Caspian Sea, and on the west by the Black Sea. (NatGeo, 158)
It would seem that it would be the perfect location for a fortress, with a view of the land and the seas, in all directions. Perhaps, that is the real reason for the want of control of this seemingly insignificant land bridge between the Arabic world and Russia, throughout the ages.
Unfortunately for Russia, it was already a well-manned fortress. For more than a millenia, the deep valleys and thick forests of these mountains have sheltered a "mountain folk" culture that is as divisive as any mix of tribal cultures, but united just enough to cause nothing but grief for Russian forces as far back as the 1600s. (Tolstoy)
Mountain folk fighting guerilla warfare, with no alliance to anyone but their family are hard to root out; they simply do not come out in the open and fight like they should, and going in to get them, begs a sniper attack. Tanks are unable to traverse much of the mountainous terrain, and are relatively ineffective in the forested valleys, except at close range. Sea power just cannot get closer to be effective, and modern air power is constantly at odds with the weather and intended targets that no longer exist on arrival. (Evans)
This geographic quagmire appears very similar to many of the frustrations the US felt in Vietnam, especially with regards to the populace; you can never be quite sure who supports whom. There is one exception. The US knew to get out, while the getting was good; the Russians persist.
- Collegiate Atlas of the World. Washington, DC: National Geographic Society. 2008.
- Leo Tolstoy. Hadji Murad. New York: Dodd, Mead and Company; 1912. 9-20, 159, 234 p.
- Maj. Robert D. Evans. Russian Airpower in the Second Chechen War. DTiC Online. http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA391341&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf
No comments:
Post a Comment