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Russian troops are proving that cell phones in war zones are a very bad idea:
It’s been a nightmare scenario for U.S. commanders for years: An amphibious readiness group sails stealthily towards its objective, one reckless Marine or sailor goes topside and uses a personal cell phone to check Facebook, revealing the position of the assault ship. The Chinese or Russians quickly detect the cell phone signal in the middle of the ocean and realize they can’t miss. The enemy fires its anti-ship ballistic or cruise missiles at Pfc./Seaman Schmuckatelli as he posts a meme and suddenly the entire ship along with thousands of sailors and Marines are lying on the ocean floor.
To some, this type of scenario may seem as hyperbolic as warnings that wearing white socks in combat could give away your location to the enemy, but Russian troops in Ukraine have shown the perils of using cell phones in modern-day warzones.
The Ukrainians claim to have killed 12 general Russian officers since late February, in part because the Russians have resorted to using cell phones when their communications systems break down.
“It is not hard to geo-locate someone on a phone talking in the clear,” retired Army Gen. Ben Hodges, former commander of U.S. Army Europe, told the New York Times.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 16 2022, @01:05PM (3 children)
Perhaps any phone that works comes with a billing plan. The phone companies, even in these parts of the world seem pretty pickey about getting paid?
Alternatively, look back in time at where the phone has been.
I wonder where this all is heading. The Russians clearly didn't take it seriously at he beginning. A bit like Hagar the Horrible, off to rape and pillage, then back for supper.
The Russians say they are concerned about having a bunch of NATO troops just over their border, this seems BS:
Nato purpose is not to take stuff. It is to prevent stuff from being taken. Hitler showed that you can take Europe like a sequence of falling dominos, but Nato requires you to take them all at once. A much harder thing to do.
The performance of Russia in Ukraine shows that if Nato wanted to, they could easily take Russia, but they don't and won't. The Nukes are part of it, but Nato is strong enough to make peace instead of war.
If Putin's goal were for Russia to be safe and properous, he would just move back from the border and then Nato would be able to do the same. Instead, he does the opposite and complains of the outcome.
He either has another goal, or his thinking is wrong.
BTW: for a sustained peace, Ukraine should not ask for things to be back where they were the day before the invasion. That would leave a ready for another invasion army on the border. Both sides need to move back from the border proportionally.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by pkrasimirov on Monday May 16 2022, @01:50PM (2 children)
> Both sides need to move back from the border proportionally.
Maybe this won't work as you expect it. One of the sides is notorious of breaking their promises and then making official rhetorics out of any reality explaining the other side did it instead. So any such agreement will result in lawless strip in Ukraine with roaming little green men making again what they always did before. My bet is on a strong border control, both military and on immigration/contraband from the worker's paradise.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 16 2022, @04:40PM (1 child)
"Maybe this won't work as you expect it."
I can see that if the Russians can't restrain themselves from the little green men plan, then the proportional response is as you suggest.
If they eventually figure out that life is better without the LGM, then both can withdraw. The Russians seem slow learners in this regard.
More interestingly, the number of opposing forces poised just outside Russia in the New Nato North should depend on if Russia becomes smart enough to learn that with Nato less forces deployed on the border makes Russia more secure. More Nato forces on the border doesn't risk an invasion, but rather some sort of mistake with bad consequences.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 17 2022, @04:46PM
Russia has restrained itself from that exactly once in the last thousand years, and it was only the direct threat of a third Russian massacre by Finland that made it stick.