James G
Squadron vice admiral
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Post by James G on Apr 9, 2018 17:56:05 GMT
Sounds depressing. The war in Mexico could be won by the good, less bad guys, probably with some relatively minor changes but it isn't going to happen and is probably the major factor, an unstable and large communist state on the Us border that really starts tipping things over into a far greater disaster.  Mexico is key to the coming war. Other factors play into the making the conflict happen, but the dynamite is in Mexico. Well i fear the bad guys are going to win. Only with some help from fraternal allies though. |
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James G
Squadron vice admiral
Posts: 7,608
Likes: 8,833
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Post by James G on Apr 9, 2018 17:56:22 GMT
(105)
February 1984:
Egypt attacked Libya from the air. In response to the involvement in the assassination of the country’s president, and acting under orders of his successor, Egyptian aircraft struck targets in Libya. Soviet-built MiGs and Sukhois, supplied when relations with Moscow had been strong, were sent westwards on attack missions over the desert to hit the Libyans. Military targets across the Cyrenaica region were bombed and strafed with Egyptian aircraft meeting no resistance in the air. There were the firings of SAMs upwards and a lot of anti-aircraft gunfire, but the Libyans were taken by surprise with the attack and their own aircraft stayed on the ground where they were attacked. They shouldn’t have been. Soviet warning had been sent to Colonel Gadhafi yet he had foolishly believed that Egypt was bluffing. Mubarak wasn’t bluffing when he had his jets attack the bases of the Libyan air force and hit army bases too. There was an attack on Benghazi as well, Libya’s second city. Regime targets were what were targeted in the dawn raid there, with information which might or might not have been supplied by the Israelis using a second-hand source. An intelligence centre was where the Egyptians sent their bombs to hit as well as a supposed ‘friendship bureau’ for inter-Arab relations. After two hours, the Egyptians finished their strike. Three aircraft didn’t return home and half a dozen more came home carrying war-wounds. When Libya had managed to get its air defences – missiles and guns, not aircraft of their own – active, Egypt had paid a price. Still, Mubarak was happy with the results. He was shown intelligence information afterwards which pointed to misses in places but perfect hits in others. Everything was what it was meant to be: Libya had been punished. They had lost many aircraft destroyed on the ground, there were hundreds dead and Libya had been shown the anger of the Egyptian state. Using Algeria as a conduit, the message was passed onto Libya that this was a response to the killing of Sadat. Should Libya attempt to harm Egyptian interests again, the skies would once more be full of attacking aircraft. Back off, Gadhafi was told, or we will do this again.
Gadhafi had been convinced that Egypt was incapable of attacking him like they did because there would still be internal trouble in Cairo after Sadat’s death but more so, Egypt was still tied up with its military responsibilities in Saudi Arabia facing down Iraq. Saddam had moved troops and aircraft about on the Iraqi-Saudi border, which was meant to keep Egypt distracted. That mistake was shown for what it was when those aircraft had come and done their worst. It was an unpleasant surprise for Gadhafi. He also had to re-evaluate his own military position after the air attacks had come. There was still the ongoing stand-off down in Chad which Libya was involved in that was a drain on Libya’s meagre military resources. The Egyptians followed up their air strike by moving troops of their Western Army around near the border. The Soviets did tell him explicitly that the Egyptian Army wasn’t coming over the border and considering how they had been correct over the air attack, Gadhafi took notice of that. He would set about pondering how to respond. The warning passed on through the Algerians was a threat which wasn’t concerning as it should have been. Gadhafi was certain that he knew exactly what he was doing.
The air attacks against Libya had been observed (on radar screens) from the warships of the two superpowers. Both the Soviet Union with their 5th Eskadra and the Sixth Fleet belonging to the US Navy had flotillas in the Mediterranean. The American force was bigger and more capable – they had access to many bases and plenty of experience in these waters – but the smaller Soviet group wasn’t something to be disregarded. Word had come down from the above with each to move closer to the Egyptian and Libyan coastlines though to still maintain a safe distance in case there was an accident. The KGB and the CIA were each aware beforehand of the show about to be put on. Staying out of the way of the attacking Egyptians, but also clear of the areas where there should have been defending Libyans if Gadhafi had listened, the Soviets and the Americans didn’t make much effort to avoid each other. Each monitored the air action and each spied on the other when they were doing so. Planning & targeting officers aboard ships within each flotilla looked at the other side’s dispositions and updated emergency procedures accordingly. Should there be a need to defend themselves – and attack was always the best form of defence, especially in modern naval warfare – then there was a readiness to do so. Officially, relations between Moscow and Washington were still meant to be the best they had been in a long time… though that was before Andropov had died. Regardless of supposed goodwill when it came to some matters, here on the shores of the Mediterranean, allies & proxies of the two superpowers were engaged in warfare with one another. There was always the outside possibility that the 5th Eskadra and the Sixth Fleet could one day end up trading shots with each other over some damn foolish thing in Latin America or maybe East Asia. The Soviets believed they had the advantage in missiles and the Americans highly-rated their own air strength: that opinion was shared by those who targeted the flotillas of the other to keep everything up to date too. What no one knew was that in seven months time, following some damn foolish thing elsewhere in the world, this part of the Mediterranean would see the work of those planners and targeteers put to use.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Apr 9, 2018 17:59:57 GMT
(105)February 1984: Egypt attacked Libya from the air. In response to the involvement in the assassination of the country’s president, and acting under orders of his successor, Egyptian aircraft struck targets in Libya. Soviet-built MiGs and Sukhois, supplied when relations with Moscow had been strong, were sent westwards on attack missions over the desert to hit the Libyans. Military targets across the Cyrenaica region were bombed and strafed with Egyptian aircraft meeting no resistance in the air. There were the firings of SAMs upwards and a lot of anti-aircraft gunfire, but the Libyans were taken by surprise with the attack and their own aircraft stayed on the ground where they were attacked. They shouldn’t have been. Soviet warning had been sent to Colonel Gadhafi yet he had foolishly believed that Egypt was bluffing. Mubarak wasn’t bluffing when he had his jets attack the bases of the Libyan air force and hit army bases too. There was an attack on Benghazi as well, Libya’s second city. Regime targets were what were targeted in the dawn raid there, with information which might or might not have been supplied by the Israelis using a second-hand source. An intelligence centre was where the Egyptians sent their bombs to hit as well as a supposed ‘friendship bureau’ for inter-Arab relations. After two hours, the Egyptians finished their strike. Three aircraft didn’t return home and half a dozen more came home carrying war-wounds. When Libya had managed to get its air defences – missiles and guns, not aircraft of their own – active, Egypt had paid a price. Still, Mubarak was happy with the results. He was shown intelligence information afterwards which pointed to misses in places but perfect hits in others. Everything was what it was meant to be: Libya had been punished. They had lost many aircraft destroyed on the ground, there were hundreds dead and Libya had been shown the anger of the Egyptian state. Using Algeria as a conduit, the message was passed onto Libya that this was a response to the killing of Sadat. Should Libya attempt to harm Egyptian interests again, the skies would once more be full of attacking aircraft. Back off, Gadhafi was told, or we will do this again. Gadhafi had been convinced that Egypt was incapable of attacking him like they did because there would still be internal trouble in Cairo after Sadat’s death but more so, Egypt was still tied up with its military responsibilities in Saudi Arabia facing down Iraq. Saddam had moved troops and aircraft about on the Iraqi-Saudi border, which was meant to keep Egypt distracted. That mistake was shown for what it was when those aircraft had come and done their worst. It was an unpleasant surprise for Gadhafi. He also had to re-evaluate his own military position after the air attacks had come. There was still the ongoing stand-off down in Chad which Libya was involved in that was a drain on Libya’s meagre military resources. The Egyptians followed up their air strike by moving troops of their Western Army around near the border. The Soviets did tell him explicitly that the Egyptian Army wasn’t coming over the border and considering how they had been correct over the air attack, Gadhafi took notice of that. He would set about pondering how to respond. The warning passed on through the Algerians was a threat which wasn’t concerning as it should have been. Gadhafi was certain that he knew exactly what he was doing. The air attacks against Libya had been observed (on radar screens) from the warships of the two superpowers. Both the Soviet Union with their 5th Eskadra and the Sixth Fleet belonging to the US Navy had flotillas in the Mediterranean. The American force was bigger and more capable – they had access to many bases and plenty of experience in these waters – but the smaller Soviet group wasn’t something to be disregarded. Word had come down from the above with each to move closer to the Egyptian and Libyan coastlines though to still maintain a safe distance in case there was an accident. The KGB and the CIA were each aware beforehand of the show about to be put on. Staying out of the way of the attacking Egyptians, but also clear of the areas where there should have been defending Libyans if Gadhafi had listened, the Soviets and the Americans didn’t make much effort to avoid each other. Each monitored the air action and each spied on the other when they were doing so. Planning & targeting officers aboard ships within each flotilla looked at the other side’s dispositions and updated emergency procedures accordingly. Should there be a need to defend themselves – and attack was always the best form of defence, especially in modern naval warfare – then there was a readiness to do so. Officially, relations between Moscow and Washington were still meant to be the best they had been in a long time… though that was before Andropov had died. Regardless of supposed goodwill when it came to some matters, here on the shores of the Mediterranean, allies & proxies of the two superpowers were engaged in warfare with one another. There was always the outside possibility that the 5th Eskadra and the Sixth Fleet could one day end up trading shots with each other over some damn foolish thing in Latin America or maybe East Asia. The Soviets believed they had the advantage in missiles and the Americans highly-rated their own air strength: that opinion was shared by those who targeted the flotillas of the other to keep everything up to date too. What no one knew was that in seven months time, following some damn foolish thing elsewhere in the world, this part of the Mediterranean would see the work of those planners and targeteers put to use. So the Libya-Egypt War has begun. |
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lordbyron
Warrant Officer
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Post by lordbyron on Apr 9, 2018 18:00:04 GMT
This just keeps getting worse and worse...
Ted Kennedy may just be considered one of the worst leaders in the world ITTL...
Waiting for more...
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lordroel
Administrator
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Post by lordroel on Apr 9, 2018 18:01:33 GMT
This just keeps getting worse and worse... Ted Kennedy may just be considered one of the worst leaders in the world ITTL... Waiting for more... I think he be the first on the list of worst presidents in this universe (o by they way James, does this timeline have a shortcut). |
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James G
Squadron vice admiral
Posts: 7,608
Likes: 8,833
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Post by James G on Apr 9, 2018 19:15:40 GMT
(105)February 1984: Egypt attacked Libya from the air. In response to the involvement in the assassination of the country’s president, and acting under orders of his successor, Egyptian aircraft struck targets in Libya. Soviet-built MiGs and Sukhois, supplied when relations with Moscow had been strong, were sent westwards on attack missions over the desert to hit the Libyans. Military targets across the Cyrenaica region were bombed and strafed with Egyptian aircraft meeting no resistance in the air. There were the firings of SAMs upwards and a lot of anti-aircraft gunfire, but the Libyans were taken by surprise with the attack and their own aircraft stayed on the ground where they were attacked. They shouldn’t have been. Soviet warning had been sent to Colonel Gadhafi yet he had foolishly believed that Egypt was bluffing. Mubarak wasn’t bluffing when he had his jets attack the bases of the Libyan air force and hit army bases too. There was an attack on Benghazi as well, Libya’s second city. Regime targets were what were targeted in the dawn raid there, with information which might or might not have been supplied by the Israelis using a second-hand source. An intelligence centre was where the Egyptians sent their bombs to hit as well as a supposed ‘friendship bureau’ for inter-Arab relations. After two hours, the Egyptians finished their strike. Three aircraft didn’t return home and half a dozen more came home carrying war-wounds. When Libya had managed to get its air defences – missiles and guns, not aircraft of their own – active, Egypt had paid a price. Still, Mubarak was happy with the results. He was shown intelligence information afterwards which pointed to misses in places but perfect hits in others. Everything was what it was meant to be: Libya had been punished. They had lost many aircraft destroyed on the ground, there were hundreds dead and Libya had been shown the anger of the Egyptian state. Using Algeria as a conduit, the message was passed onto Libya that this was a response to the killing of Sadat. Should Libya attempt to harm Egyptian interests again, the skies would once more be full of attacking aircraft. Back off, Gadhafi was told, or we will do this again. Gadhafi had been convinced that Egypt was incapable of attacking him like they did because there would still be internal trouble in Cairo after Sadat’s death but more so, Egypt was still tied up with its military responsibilities in Saudi Arabia facing down Iraq. Saddam had moved troops and aircraft about on the Iraqi-Saudi border, which was meant to keep Egypt distracted. That mistake was shown for what it was when those aircraft had come and done their worst. It was an unpleasant surprise for Gadhafi. He also had to re-evaluate his own military position after the air attacks had come. There was still the ongoing stand-off down in Chad which Libya was involved in that was a drain on Libya’s meagre military resources. The Egyptians followed up their air strike by moving troops of their Western Army around near the border. The Soviets did tell him explicitly that the Egyptian Army wasn’t coming over the border and considering how they had been correct over the air attack, Gadhafi took notice of that. He would set about pondering how to respond. The warning passed on through the Algerians was a threat which wasn’t concerning as it should have been. Gadhafi was certain that he knew exactly what he was doing. The air attacks against Libya had been observed (on radar screens) from the warships of the two superpowers. Both the Soviet Union with their 5th Eskadra and the Sixth Fleet belonging to the US Navy had flotillas in the Mediterranean. The American force was bigger and more capable – they had access to many bases and plenty of experience in these waters – but the smaller Soviet group wasn’t something to be disregarded. Word had come down from the above with each to move closer to the Egyptian and Libyan coastlines though to still maintain a safe distance in case there was an accident. The KGB and the CIA were each aware beforehand of the show about to be put on. Staying out of the way of the attacking Egyptians, but also clear of the areas where there should have been defending Libyans if Gadhafi had listened, the Soviets and the Americans didn’t make much effort to avoid each other. Each monitored the air action and each spied on the other when they were doing so. Planning & targeting officers aboard ships within each flotilla looked at the other side’s dispositions and updated emergency procedures accordingly. Should there be a need to defend themselves – and attack was always the best form of defence, especially in modern naval warfare – then there was a readiness to do so. Officially, relations between Moscow and Washington were still meant to be the best they had been in a long time… though that was before Andropov had died. Regardless of supposed goodwill when it came to some matters, here on the shores of the Mediterranean, allies & proxies of the two superpowers were engaged in warfare with one another. There was always the outside possibility that the 5th Eskadra and the Sixth Fleet could one day end up trading shots with each other over some damn foolish thing in Latin America or maybe East Asia. The Soviets believed they had the advantage in missiles and the Americans highly-rated their own air strength: that opinion was shared by those who targeted the flotillas of the other to keep everything up to date too. What no one knew was that in seven months time, following some damn foolish thing elsewhere in the world, this part of the Mediterranean would see the work of those planners and targeteers put to use. So the Libya-Egypt War has begun. It will. Libya will strike back... I just need to figure out how! This just keeps getting worse and worse... Ted Kennedy may just be considered one of the worst leaders in the world ITTL... Waiting for more... Keep reading for more horrors! I think he be the first on the list of worst presidents in this universe (o by they way James, does this timeline have a shortcut). Shortcut? |
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James G
Squadron vice admiral
Posts: 7,608
Likes: 8,833
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Post by James G on Apr 9, 2018 19:16:42 GMT
(106)
February 1984:
The Iowa Caucuses took place on February 20th and on the 28th there came the New Hampshire Primary. The Democratic contests were each won by Kennedy. The president had several challengers but none of any significance beyond a firebrand Southern senator who managed to win eight per cent of the vote in Iowa and five per cent in New Hampshire. His presidency had been hit by repeated attacks from within the party but no strong candidate to primary him had emerged after too many internal arguments over whom that should be resulting in no one serious running against him. Winning was good but there was a weak turnout and enthusiasm was lacklustre. Other concerns were on the minds of many voters and the non-contest which was the Democratic Party non-race wasn’t one of them. Congressmen Kemp beat Senator Dole in both states. The Republican race had more heart to it and more media attention; the voters turned out as well. Kemp stole the show, the young and energetic politician had the star appeal that the former vice president (who’d returned to the Senate in 1982) just didn’t have. Their races were tighter though when it came to numbers despite the seemingly more popularity of Kemp over Dole. Behind the scenes, the Kemp Campaign didn’t mind too much: at least there was drama for the media to pay attention to. During the contests, in each state and within the parties, there had come clashes over the economy and foreign policy. Kennedy had talked tough on Mexico but on Cuba too. Dole and Kemp had done the same yet made sure that everyone knew that it was under Kennedy that Cuba had managed to expand its regional influence to such an extent with Kemp claiming that Castro was responsible for the Mexican Civil War. Dole attacked the president on the economy and hit him hard… though his personal style and mannerisms still left out some of the sting which could have come from such attacks if made by Kemp. The latter candidate would fix that come the many more contests next month. There was still no sign of any sort of economic bounce-back following the Wall Street Crash and some of the gloomy forecasts made were now looking like reality. The president had left himself open on the economy and was going to pay for it.
Financial difficulties were starting to slowly hit home across the Atlantic too. Markets in Western Europe – London, Paris, Frankfurt and Milan – had sunk in December and not recovered. Government intervention had taken place and many countries fell back on EEC cooperation. This was all a temporary measure though. Spending was something that was going to have to be cut back soon in most countries and none were looking forward to the domestic political fallout from that. On the other side of the Iron Curtain, where there were no stock markets with futures speculation and all of that capitalism, the economic crash before Christmas in the West was already starting to hurt Eastern Europe more. That shouldn’t have been the case, government across the Eastern Bloc raged, but it was. They owed all of that money to Western banks for infrastructure and developments plus they had their industrial exports went to the West as well which helped keep them afloat by paying interest on debts and for imports. Western Europe would rather see others suffer rather than themselves and what elements of the financial crisis could be transferred East were duly so. Isn’t capitalism so very unfair for communists who want to play the game?
East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Romania were those who found themselves fast in trouble. That wouldn’t be today, but tomorrow. The position for the latter two countries was worse than it was in the former pair. Economic oblivion wasn’t staring Warsaw nor Bucharest in the face yet neither could look forward to a good year when it came to their economies. Western economic slowdown was going to affect the Soviets as well with their oil exports so there was little help going to come from there beyond the basics. Decisions were made by the governments of Poland and Romania that there would have to be restrictions and cutbacks. Prices were going to go up domestically and wages weren’t going to rise with them. Each government had different views on how this would play out domestically with the Romanians far more optimistic that the Poles. Still, each pre-empted any hint of internal trouble before the bite took hold with security measures implemented. The Poles and Romanians started secretly detaining identified potential troublemakers. Neither country was willing to see strikes, protests and counterrevolution occur by being complacent. Bucharest was sure that if trouble did come despite all efforts to forestall it, Romania could handle such events itself. The Warsaw Government was in no way certain of that. They crossed their fingers and hoped for the best.
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lordroel
Administrator
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Post by lordroel on Apr 9, 2018 19:17:41 GMT
So the Libya-Egypt War has begun. It will. Libya will strike back... I just need to figure out how! This just keeps getting worse and worse... Ted Kennedy may just be considered one of the worst leaders in the world ITTL... Waiting for more... Keep reading for more horrors! I think he be the first on the list of worst presidents in this universe (o by they way James, does this timeline have a shortcut). Shortcut? Like SD ore Red Dawn. |
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James G
Squadron vice admiral
Posts: 7,608
Likes: 8,833
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Post by James G on Apr 9, 2018 19:51:33 GMT
It will. Libya will strike back... I just need to figure out how! Keep reading for more horrors! Shortcut? Like SD ore Red Dawn. Ah, I see. In my head it is 'Sov Dom'. Red Dawn to me is Matt Wiser's story. |
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lordbyron
Warrant Officer
Posts: 235
Likes: 133
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Post by lordbyron on Apr 9, 2018 20:44:22 GMT
Why do I think Poland and Romania are in for tough times ahead?
Good update and waiting for more as we head towards war...
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James G
Squadron vice admiral
Posts: 7,608
Likes: 8,833
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Post by James G on Apr 9, 2018 20:46:38 GMT
Why do I think Poland and Romania are in for tough times ahead? Good update and waiting for more as we head towards war... They really are going to have some bad times head. |
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James G
Squadron vice admiral
Posts: 7,608
Likes: 8,833
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Post by James G on Apr 9, 2018 20:46:54 GMT
(107)
February 1984:
The defeat incurred at San Luis Potosi by the communist forces led to a rethink in strategy. Being on the defensive hadn’t worked where the aim of drawing the Northern Alliance into a fight to sap its strength and then counterattacking had not being possible. Military leadership was something which was lacking on the communist side with senior & mid-ranking military officers of the former regime to a man either with the Northern Alliance or having deserted their posts. The rabble which the remaining junior men led – none of those officers seeming to have the right motivation – needed leadership, which was going to be time-consuming to set up. Commissars were already being appointed and new leaders identified but for the meantime, it was decided in Mexico City by Tirado López that an uncomplicated attack was needed. A victory had to be won, preferably with a major propaganda value too. Comrades of his, Nicaraguans he had fought alongside before among the Sandinistas, were present in Mexico City with those former guerrilla commanders (acting on orders from Managua but ultimately Havana) suggesting that that victory could be won at Veracruz on the coast. Northern Alliance controlled territory was narrow and down below the high ground of the interior. Taking Veracruz would provide a mortal psychological blow to Monterrey but also cut the territory it controlled south and east from that city off. Already there was a split in areas controlled by the Northern Alliance up in the north with Baja California and Sinaloa physically on their own: Tabasco and Yucatán could be left alone to be taken later… plus there were all of those ‘neutral’ troops on the Guatemalan border across Chiapas. Break ‘em up and fight ‘em separately was the intention. That was how the war in Nicaragua had been finally won, Tirado López was reminded, though such remarks from his former comrades and now key advisers ignored the fact that the final blows there in that war had actually come from Cuban troops.
So to take Veracruz it would be. Through February, an advance was made to overrun the city beside the sea. It was a port and a transport hub, a major source of Northern Alliance strength. They had few available forces to defend it though with too many men sent north and when the communists attacked, they were able to break through and took it on the last day of the month. Northern Alliance units crumbled when attacked. They could have won if they had stood firm. They had so many advantages in the traditional military sense. One of those was missing though, the most-important one: morale. There was none of that. Fight for Veracruz? Who wanted to do that? Too few did. Those who didn’t run and desert would face revolutionary justice too. There was a decree on that recently published in Mexico City for enemies of the people. Veracruz would learn what a Red Terror was. It wouldn’t be hidden either. Mexicans elsewhere would fear the consequences of such a thing happening to them. Further northwards, past the Rio Grande, news of the Red Terror in Veracruz wouldn’t go down well either.
Before the news came of the bloody reality of the regime in Mexico City, up in the United States much of that could be imagined already. Some claims which were made were called alarmist and overblown but they would be shown to be true in the end. Congress wasn’t satisfied with the switch in diplomatic recognition to the Monterrey Government. They wanted more, much more. Full support for the legitimate Mexican government was the call, including armed intervention to support them if necessary. A violent and unstable communist state had emerged on America’s borders and it needed to be put down. The same voices which for years had been decried as paranoid fools when the talk came of the socialist tide sweeping Latin America were saying what they always had and now there was almost silence from their detractors. A few brave souls did swim against the tide but they were few. How could anyone defend the regime in Mexico City? How could anyone want it to survive? That wasn’t actually the point of those who stood firm in opposition to the demands for military action as their point was actually a non-violent solution yet that was how it appeared.
This went alongside the situation on the border. The Border States worked together when federal assistance wasn’t forthcoming due to the president’s decision not to… another one he’d fast regret. National Guard units moved to the border with California and Texas assisting Arizona and New Mexico (who had smaller numbers of available men) where needed. The governors called them out with a mission on the border of providing humanitarian relief but also security as well. There were again formal requests made for federal assistance in the form of FEMA aid but before then, the mobilisation of the national guard occurred. Some hastily planning work had been done in January though the scale of the situation was quite something more by late February when the national guardsmen started to arrive. They erected tents, opened medical aid stations and started patrolling the border. It was fast seen as too much to do with not enough.
No official count had yet to be made when it came to the numbers of refugees. It wasn’t easy to do with many avoiding contact with American state & federal authorities and the continuing movement of people. Nonetheless, an estimate was released on the same day as Veracruz fell and the New Hampshire Primary occurred. The White House would contest the number. That was one hundred thousand plus. More Mexican refugees were on their way to add to that. There were not enough national guardsmen, nor state employees assisting them, to deal with them and the needs which they would have.
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lordroel
Administrator
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Post by lordroel on Apr 10, 2018 3:05:12 GMT
(107)February 1984: The defeat incurred at San Luis Potosi by the communist forces led to a rethink in strategy. Being on the defensive hadn’t worked where the aim of drawing the Northern Alliance into a fight to sap its strength and then counterattacking had not being possible. Military leadership was something which was lacking on the communist side with senior & mid-ranking military officers of the former regime to a man either with the Northern Alliance or having deserted their posts. The rabble which the remaining junior men led – none of those officers seeming to have the right motivation – needed leadership, which was going to be time-consuming to set up. Commissars were already being appointed and new leaders identified but for the meantime, it was decided in Mexico City by Tirado López that an uncomplicated attack was needed. A victory had to be won, preferably with a major propaganda value too. Comrades of his, Nicaraguans he had fought alongside before among the Sandinistas, were present in Mexico City with those former guerrilla commanders (acting on orders from Managua but ultimately Havana) suggesting that that victory could be won at Veracruz on the coast. Northern Alliance controlled territory was narrow and down below the high ground of the interior. Taking Veracruz would provide a mortal psychological blow to Monterrey but also cut the territory it controlled south and east from that city off. Already there was a split in areas controlled by the Northern Alliance up in the north with Baja California and Sinaloa physically on their own: Tabasco and Yucatán could be left alone to be taken later… plus there were all of those ‘neutral’ troops on the Guatemalan border across Chiapas. Break ‘em up and fight ‘em separately was the intention. That was how the war in Nicaragua had been finally won, Tirado López was reminded, though such remarks from his former comrades and now key advisers ignored the fact that the final blows there in that war had actually come from Cuban troops. So to take Veracruz it would be. Through February, an advance was made to overrun the city beside the sea. It was a port and a transport hub, a major source of Northern Alliance strength. They had few available forces to defend it though with too many men sent north and when the communists attacked, they were able to break through and took it on the last day of the month. Northern Alliance units crumbled when attacked. They could have won if they had stood firm. They had so many advantages in the traditional military sense. One of those was missing though, the most-important one: morale. There was none of that. Fight for Veracruz? Who wanted to do that? Too few did. Those who didn’t run and desert would face revolutionary justice too. There was a decree on that recently published in Mexico City for enemies of the people. Veracruz would learn what a Red Terror was. It wouldn’t be hidden either. Mexicans elsewhere would fear the consequences of such a thing happening to them. Further northwards, past the Rio Grande, news of the Red Terror in Veracruz wouldn’t go down well either. Before the news came of the bloody reality of the regime in Mexico City, up in the United States much of that could be imagined already. Some claims which were made were called alarmist and overblown but they would be shown to be true in the end. Congress wasn’t satisfied with the switch in diplomatic recognition to the Monterrey Government. They wanted more, much more. Full support for the legitimate Mexican government was the call, including armed intervention to support them if necessary. A violent and unstable communist state had emerged on America’s borders and it needed to be put down. The same voices which for years had been decried as paranoid fools when the talk came of the socialist tide sweeping Latin America were saying what they always had and now there was almost silence from their detractors. A few brave souls did swim against the tide but they were few. How could anyone defend the regime in Mexico City? How could anyone want it to survive? That wasn’t actually the point of those who stood firm in opposition to the demands for military action as their point was actually a non-violent solution yet that was how it appeared. This went alongside the situation on the border. The Border States worked together when federal assistance wasn’t forthcoming due to the president’s decision not to… another one he’d fast regret. National Guard units moved to the border with California and Texas assisting Arizona and New Mexico (who had smaller numbers of available men) where needed. The governors called them out with a mission on the border of providing humanitarian relief but also security as well. There were again formal requests made for federal assistance in the form of FEMA aid but before then, the mobilisation of the national guard occurred. Some hastily planning work had been done in January though the scale of the situation was quite something more by late February when the national guardsmen started to arrive. They erected tents, opened medical aid stations and started patrolling the border. It was fast seen as too much to do with not enough. No official count had yet to be made when it came to the numbers of refugees. It wasn’t easy to do with many avoiding contact with American state & federal authorities and the continuing movement of people. Nonetheless, an estimate was released on the same day as Veracruz fell and the New Hampshire Primary occurred. The White House would contest the number. That was one hundred thousand plus. More Mexican refugees were on their way to add to that. There were not enough national guardsmen, nor state employees assisting them, to deal with them and the needs which they would have. So is the president going to sit by ore going to intervene, that is the question. |
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James G
Squadron vice admiral
Posts: 7,608
Likes: 8,833
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Post by James G on Apr 10, 2018 8:39:34 GMT
(107)February 1984: The defeat incurred at San Luis Potosi by the communist forces led to a rethink in strategy. Being on the defensive hadn’t worked where the aim of drawing the Northern Alliance into a fight to sap its strength and then counterattacking had not being possible. Military leadership was something which was lacking on the communist side with senior & mid-ranking military officers of the former regime to a man either with the Northern Alliance or having deserted their posts. The rabble which the remaining junior men led – none of those officers seeming to have the right motivation – needed leadership, which was going to be time-consuming to set up. Commissars were already being appointed and new leaders identified but for the meantime, it was decided in Mexico City by Tirado López that an uncomplicated attack was needed. A victory had to be won, preferably with a major propaganda value too. Comrades of his, Nicaraguans he had fought alongside before among the Sandinistas, were present in Mexico City with those former guerrilla commanders (acting on orders from Managua but ultimately Havana) suggesting that that victory could be won at Veracruz on the coast. Northern Alliance controlled territory was narrow and down below the high ground of the interior. Taking Veracruz would provide a mortal psychological blow to Monterrey but also cut the territory it controlled south and east from that city off. Already there was a split in areas controlled by the Northern Alliance up in the north with Baja California and Sinaloa physically on their own: Tabasco and Yucatán could be left alone to be taken later… plus there were all of those ‘neutral’ troops on the Guatemalan border across Chiapas. Break ‘em up and fight ‘em separately was the intention. That was how the war in Nicaragua had been finally won, Tirado López was reminded, though such remarks from his former comrades and now key advisers ignored the fact that the final blows there in that war had actually come from Cuban troops. So to take Veracruz it would be. Through February, an advance was made to overrun the city beside the sea. It was a port and a transport hub, a major source of Northern Alliance strength. They had few available forces to defend it though with too many men sent north and when the communists attacked, they were able to break through and took it on the last day of the month. Northern Alliance units crumbled when attacked. They could have won if they had stood firm. They had so many advantages in the traditional military sense. One of those was missing though, the most-important one: morale. There was none of that. Fight for Veracruz? Who wanted to do that? Too few did. Those who didn’t run and desert would face revolutionary justice too. There was a decree on that recently published in Mexico City for enemies of the people. Veracruz would learn what a Red Terror was. It wouldn’t be hidden either. Mexicans elsewhere would fear the consequences of such a thing happening to them. Further northwards, past the Rio Grande, news of the Red Terror in Veracruz wouldn’t go down well either. Before the news came of the bloody reality of the regime in Mexico City, up in the United States much of that could be imagined already. Some claims which were made were called alarmist and overblown but they would be shown to be true in the end. Congress wasn’t satisfied with the switch in diplomatic recognition to the Monterrey Government. They wanted more, much more. Full support for the legitimate Mexican government was the call, including armed intervention to support them if necessary. A violent and unstable communist state had emerged on America’s borders and it needed to be put down. The same voices which for years had been decried as paranoid fools when the talk came of the socialist tide sweeping Latin America were saying what they always had and now there was almost silence from their detractors. A few brave souls did swim against the tide but they were few. How could anyone defend the regime in Mexico City? How could anyone want it to survive? That wasn’t actually the point of those who stood firm in opposition to the demands for military action as their point was actually a non-violent solution yet that was how it appeared. This went alongside the situation on the border. The Border States worked together when federal assistance wasn’t forthcoming due to the president’s decision not to… another one he’d fast regret. National Guard units moved to the border with California and Texas assisting Arizona and New Mexico (who had smaller numbers of available men) where needed. The governors called them out with a mission on the border of providing humanitarian relief but also security as well. There were again formal requests made for federal assistance in the form of FEMA aid but before then, the mobilisation of the national guard occurred. Some hastily planning work had been done in January though the scale of the situation was quite something more by late February when the national guardsmen started to arrive. They erected tents, opened medical aid stations and started patrolling the border. It was fast seen as too much to do with not enough. No official count had yet to be made when it came to the numbers of refugees. It wasn’t easy to do with many avoiding contact with American state & federal authorities and the continuing movement of people. Nonetheless, an estimate was released on the same day as Veracruz fell and the New Hampshire Primary occurred. The White House would contest the number. That was one hundred thousand plus. More Mexican refugees were on their way to add to that. There were not enough national guardsmen, nor state employees assisting them, to deal with them and the needs which they would have. So is the president going to sit by ore going to intervene, that is the question. Intervention is the very last thing he wants to do. The drumbeat for war is being banged in Congress and he has an upcoming election too. Choices and time are running out. |
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lordbyron
Warrant Officer
Posts: 235
Likes: 133
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Post by lordbyron on Apr 10, 2018 15:28:04 GMT
Even James Buchanan, the president who did nothing as the US slid into Civil War, would be telling Ted Kennedy to get off his ass and intervene in Mexico...
Kennedy's probably going to top the list of worst presidents after this...
It's only gonna get worse, of course...
Waiting for more...
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