Alternate History World War III: 1988, aka "The War of '88"

World War III: 1988, Chapter 3: "Blood on the Rio Grande"

Tiamat

I've seen the future...
Phew, sorry for the delay in this next part, it was a bit longer than expected, but I hope you enjoy the mayhem. Thanks once again to CurtisLemay who's really been helpful in putting this together.

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World War III: 1988

Chapter 3: Blood on the Rio Grande


“My fellow Americans, as of 8PM this evening Eastern Standard Time, Air, naval and ground forces of the United States are engaged in combat with the military and paramilitary forces of the socialist regime of Mexico. This unfortunate turn of events was necessitated by the brutal acts of terrorists against our own citizens, operating with impunity from within the territory of Mexico, by permission of it’s leader, Juan Phillipe Merono…”

--Excerpt from televised speech by President Ronald Reagan, January 12 1987, Day 1 of the American Intervention in Mexico.



The holiday season in the United States proved to be a rather less than pleasant one with the situation in Mexico. With his own cabinet now in control of Mexico, one of the first orders Merono gave to Mexican law enforcement was to “cease all cooperative activities with the American DEA, and to excise their immediate departure from the territory of Mexico effective immediately”. This course of action was, naturally, not at all well received by the Reagan administration who were quick to condemn the action. Merono, again, rebuffed Reagan’s condemnation, stating that “the people of Mexico would look to their own in dealing with the Narco cartels”. As Reagan huddled with his advisors and the Pentagon Joint Chiefs to discuss options, the governors of the neighboring states of Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and California began issuing orders to their state law enforcement as well as the State Guards to “do all within their power to assist the U.S. Border Patrol in ensuring the U.S.-Mexican border is properly secure”, and to clamp down on “illegal crossings and trafficking of contraband substances”. Tensions immediately began to spike along the U.S.-Mexican border in December as law enforcement on both sides became increasingly acrimonious with each other, leading to several incidents where officers on both sides would argue with their cross-border counterparts, and even a few instances where “warning shots” were fired. Problems soon began to build with an increased number of Mexican illegal border crossings along with increased trafficking of narcotics. It was however only a preview of worse things to come.


In Moscow, discussion of the recent events in Mexico among the
Politburo soon turned to whether or not the Soviet Union should in fact provide any sort of military aid to the new Socialist Mexican government. However, this was immediately shot down by both Gromyko and Chebrikov, who both insisted if they were to do this, “we would give those Yankee cowboys the perfect excuse to invade the Warsaw Pact by the New Year.” Gromyko then held a joint telephone conference with Castro and Khaddafi, in which the Soviet Premier strongly advised the Cuban and Libyan leaders that while providing any military assistance to Mexico was his own prerogative, they were by no means whatsoever to provide Mexico with any new Soviet hardware. After the “Red October coup of ‘86” the Soviets had sent a considerable amount of military equipment and advisers to Cuba and Libya to upgrade their ADA and aircraft capabilities, as well as additional new armored vehicles and hardware to upgrade their ground forces. Only secondhand older Soviet hardware was to be permitted to be sold or allocated to the Mexicans. Castro and Khaddafi both said they would “take it under advisement” and ended the call.


As Castro and Khaddafi, and even Ortega had promised, “aid” had begun to ship and flow into Mexico. Merono was well aware of the American’s military superiority and had requested military aid from his new friends. From Cuba, several thousand military “advisors” soon flew in, accompanied with several cargo planes and vessels loaded with SA-2, SA-3, and SA-5 SAM batteries and radars, along with S-60 and M-1939 AAA guns and search radars. One squadron of Cuban “volunteer” pilots equipped with MIG-21 and MIG-23 fighter aircraft also flew in. Several hundred Sandinista “volunteers” also entered Mexico to train alongside the Mexican Army, while Khaddafi as promised flew in a thousand of his “Pan-African” mercenaries and dozens of multi-national terrorists (a collection of PLO, Red Brigade, Red Army Faction, Action Direct, and others) accompanied by several hundred Libyan army advisors/trainers, along with a considerable shipment of small arms and crew-served heavy weapons. Needless to say, none of this was missed by the CIA and DIA, who were giving daily reports of the movements to the White House and Pentagon, which sounded alarm bells. Soon, “stand-to” orders were given to the U.S. Army III Corps and XVIII Corps, as well as the U.S. II Marine Expeditionary Force. Several U.S. Navy carrier groups were soon given standby orders as well. At the U.N. Headquarters in New York City, U.S. Secretary of State George Schultz confronted the newly appointed Mexican ambassador, a supporter and friend of Merono, about the reports of Cubans, Libyans, Nicaraguans, and others now entering and operating within Mexico along with considerable military hardware. Schultz was loudly and rudely rebuffed by the Mexican diplomat and her staff, adding that Mexican government had no more to say to the Americans. However, Merono as it turned out had troubles of his own.


While Merono was grateful for the military aid, he was unaware that both Castro and Khaddafi were planning to use Mexico as a springboard territory to funnel terrorists into the United States. However a more immediate concern for him were several of the Narco cartels that were currently operating, some with near impunity in Mexico. Ironically, with the forced departure of the DEA from Mexico, this began to worsen the situation in Northern Mexico and the Baja peninsula as drugrunners terrorized several cities and towns with bombings and assassinations of anyone who tried to defy the rule of the cartels. At Merono’s assistance, Castro was able to speak with several of the cartels who had done business with Castro in the past (Cuba was well-known as a refueling point for many narcotics aircraft flying into the U.S.), and was able to convince some of them to scale back their ruthless operations against locals in exchange for Mexican Federales to turn a blind eye to their operations. With the deal in place, several of the cartels scaled back their more violent operations against Mexican locales, while the Mexican authorities allowed the cartel's drug shipments to pass through without hindrance. The cartels that honored the deal eventually, unofficially threw their support behind the new Merono administration, with some even going so far as to send men to fill the ranks of several new "People's Victory Battalion" civilian militias that were being created to both bolster the nation in case of attack, and unofficially to create a counterbalance to the Mexican Army. Not all the cartels were onboard with this agreement, however. A few remained openly defiant and continued to operate on their own terms, one cartel in particular that was rapidly gaining notoriety was Los Machetos Rojos, aka “The Red Machetes”. This particular cartel had gained a particular reputation for grisly public dismemberment of those it saw as a threat or simply “in the way” of their business. When activities by the Red Machete cartel increased, Merono insisted that Castro and Khaddafi help him deal with the situation. Khaddafi in particular at first resisted, anxious to start his own plans of funneling his operatives into the United States. However, he relented at Castro’s insistence and ordered his men and women to focus most of their attention on the rogue Mexican cartels, particularly the Red Machetes first. An escalation of bombings and assassinations within Mexico continued as further violence escalated. However, on December 22, 1986, events finally took on a life of their own.


The Red Machete cartel was aggressively attempting to expand it’s share of the cocaine market flowing into the U.S., and took several bold steps to pursue this expansion. Several large shipments of cocaine were scheduled to cross the U.S.-Mexican border, with one shipment in particular worth several million secretly stowed in false compartments aboard a semi-trailer truck that was scheduled to haul artificial Christmas trees to San Antonio, Texas. However, the Red Machetes for all their ruthlessness, had a few leaks inside their organization. This particular shipment became known via an informant to Castro, who passed the information along to Khaddafi’s men, who arranged to have the truck intercepted. Unbeknownst to both organizations, however, the DEA also had a clandestine network of informants still in place in Mexico (with rumors the CIA used said network to gather information inside Mexico, and later arranged for several informants to escape arrest.) and received a tip about the shipment as well, and relayed the information to U.S. Border Patrol agents and U.S. Customs personnel.


On December 22, the truck in question left it’s origin north of Monterrey heading for the border. A van full of Libyan army “specialists” in civilian clothing and heavily armed were waiting to intercept the rig in question. However, not all the information supplied by the informant turned out to be accurate. At the last minute, the truck and it’s illicit contents had been arranged to begin it’s journey from another location well over several dozen miles away further north from the planned ambush point. The Libyans scrambled to find the semi-rig in question…only to find it getting closer to the Laredo Border Crossing checkpoint. The Libyan van gave chase…only to find themselves hemmed in traffic approaching the border crossing.


At the Laredo Border Crossing checkpoint, tensions had been mounting in previous days between various pro-U.S. “patriot groups” and pro-Mexican “socialist groups” on both sides of the border who were now holding daily demonstrations on both sides. Tensions ran high as law enforcement had been doubled up at the crossing. Several Panhard armored vehicles from the Mexican military had been deployed along the Mexican side of the border, along with a number of visibly armed Cuban military personnel. On the American side, the Texas State Guard as well as elements of the Texas National Guard had both been deployed with armed Humvees and M113 armored personnel carriers. Protesters shouted and hurled epithets at each other from across the border with bullhorns as police attempted to keep the protests under control. Dan Rather from CBS was onsite with a television news crew documenting the recent tensions.


As the cocaine-laden semi-trailer rig inched to the border, Border Patrol agents and U.S. Customs personnel acted on the tip provided to them by the DEA and surrounded the truck immediately. Unknown to them however, the van full of armed Libyan agents was trailing right behind. As U.S. agents surrounded the trailer rig with guns drawn, it is believed from witness accounts that several of the U.S. agents noticed the occupants of the van right behind the rig as looking visibly agitated and turned to face them, with intent to see if they may be Narco-related enforcers or infiltrators. One or two of the occupants inside the van panicked, and fired an AKM directly through the windshield of the van, killing one Border Patrol agent instantly. U.S. agents reacted and fired their M16 rifles at the van whose occupants spilled out firing their AKM rifles wildly. It very quickly became a firefight with multiple casualties as well as dozens of wounded civilians, but soon became far worse.


At the protests that were occurring nearby not far from the border control station, the Cubans who were on the Mexican side heard the firefight and appeared to panic. It is theorized that the Cubans assumed the Americans were attacking the Mexicans and began opening fire across the border with their weapons, instantly killed several protesters. But what the Cubans had also done was situate several DSHK heavy machine guns and SPG-9 recoilless rifles in camouflaged positions overnight, with overlapping fire arcs for the weapons. The heavy weapon emplacements blazed a torrent of fire from their positions with horrific effect, brutally killing and dismembering a number of civilians and law enforcement personnel and State Guards. The Texas National Guard quickly responded with .50 cal machine gun and 40mm auto grenade launcher fire from several Humvees and M113’s, killing the heavy weapon crews…only to then take fire from the Mexican Army’s Panhard vehicles which resulted in several dead and wounded National Guardsmen. The situation became so dire, several AH-1 Cobra gunships that had been placed on standby at a nearby FARP (Forward Arming and Refueling Point) for “emergency use if necessary” were called in and destroyed the remaining Mexican Army vehicles with TOW missiles, and raked the Mexican and Cuban personnel still on the scene with 20mm autocannon fire. Dan Rather and his camera crew survived, filming the entire battle with utter horror and disbelief, to the point Dan Rather visibly retched on camera when he saw several dismembered bodies of civilians. “My god, ladies and gentlemen…I…I have no words to describe this. My god…”


The response, politically, was immediate. An ashen-faced Reagan had watched the carnage unfold from the Oval Office along with several of his cabinet and political aides. Within hours as horrified newsrooms and world leaders reacted to the bloodshed, Reagan immediately aired a speech from the White House, demanding that Merono “turn over all terrorists and other personages involved in the massacre at our border, and remove all Cuban, Libyan and other foreign military personnel from Mexico effective immediately.” He gave Merono 24 hours to respond, or face “the heaviest of reprisals.”


In Mexico, Juan Phillipe Merono was apoplectic at what had just taken place. This was not the outcome he had wanted at all. As he begged and screamed at his advisors for advice and options, Merono’s wife Isabelle, along with Khaddafi and Castro pointedly told the Mexican presidente that Reagan was bluffing, that they would continue to support the Mexican regime, and that surely the Soviets would not tolerate the Americans going to war with the newest and most prominent member of the fraternal socialist world order? A reluctant Merono agreed, and in a televised speech from the presidential palace in Mexico City, Merono expressed his personal remorse for the bloodshed and destruction on the border…before changing his tone to one of defiance and declaring that Mexico would never surrender it’s sovereignty. Within minutes of viewing the speech, President Reagan gave the order to begin the deployment of assets for Operation GREEN FOX.


Within a week, multiple elements of the U.S. Army’s III Corps, including the 1st Cavalry Division “First Team”and 2nd Armored Division “Hell on Wheels”, had assembled on the U.S.-Mexican border, while multiple elements of XVIII Corps including a task force from 5th Infantry Division had been airlifted to “staging areas”. The U.S. II Marine Expeditionary Force sortied out alongside three U.S. Navy carrier battlegroups, the Nimitz, Independence, and Kitty Hawk, accompanied by two battleships, the USS Iowa and USS New Jersey. Worldwide, the world reaction was mixed as various Western leaders urged the Reagan administration to be cautious and pursue a more diplomatic solution, while the OAS condemned the "Monroe Doctrine tactics" that were being employed. Other socialist-allied countries condemned the mobilization of U.S. military forces, led by the Soviets, with Gromyko giving a speech at the UN condemning the “rush to action by the American cowboy imperialists, wrought by their own provocations". However, the Soviets soon received some potentially bad news.


KGB elements who had been monitoring the situation in Mexico made a shocking discovery. In several warehouses in the dockside area of Veracruz were several battalions worth of factory-fresh Soviet-made armored vehicles and heavy weapons. Among them were T-72’s, BMP-2’s, BTR-80’s, ZSU-23-4 Shilkas, and plenty of ammunition and spare parts for all of them. The KGB agents were confused and baffled at why such modern fresh Soviet equipment was being delivered and stored in Mexico when the Soviets had been explicit that it would not be aiding the Mexicans. When the report was delivered to the Politburo, Gromyko immediately demanded a phone conference with Castro and Khaddafi and pointedly asked them if they knew anything about these shipments. When Castro and Khaddafi admitted they were in fact Soviet-supplied hardware that was meant to modernize their forces, but had been passed on to equip the Mexican’s at their behest, Gromyko flew into a rage and proceeded to scream at the two leaders for over 30 minutes. While Khaddafi offered a surprisedly more polite response, Castro was more belligerent, suggesting that the Soviet Premier should “grow some cajones”. Several more verbal exchanges were made before Gromyko terminated the phone conference and demanded Chebrikov deal with the situation, immediately. Within hours, Team 1206 of Spetzgruppa “V”, aka Spetsnaz Vympel, disembarked from Cuba for Mexico. However, fate would provide not one, but two cruel twists for Spetsnaz when they arrived.


As the day finally turned to nightfall along the U.S.-Mexican border on January 12, 1986, the U.S. military initiated Operation Green Fox, with the opening shots commenced by the U.S. Air Force and Navy. Various attack aircraft including F-111’s, F-16’s and A-6’s loaded with Paveway laser-guided bombs and other ordnance, and escorted by various fighter aircraft flew at low level into Mexico and dropped their payloads on several of the Cuban ADA radar sites along with airfields, army depots, government ministries and comm hubs. As the bombings initiated, attack helicopters and artillery of the U.S. Army’s III Corps including it’s new-model AH-64A Apache gunships and M270 MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) rained fire on the Mexican Army’s forward positions with deadly effect. The barrage lasted through the night, demoralizing much of the Mexican Army that had been deployed north to face III Corps. As the night turned to day, smoke and fire billowed from the wreckage of several Mexican Army, Cuban and Libyan positions, while many of the “Pan-African” mercenaries that were supposed to be assisting the Libyans had already scattered. Soon, multiple A-10 ground attack aircraft swooped low over the Mexican positions and unleashed more chaos, utilizing their 30mm cannons along with Rockeye cluster munitions and Maverick air-to-surface missiles. The Mexicans were badly outnumbered and outgunned, with the best tanks they had, AMX-13’s, which were no match for the M1’s and M1A1 Abrams tanks of the Americans who often engaged and destroyed them before the Mexicans could even get their own weapons within range. Soon, III Corps was pushing south and driving the Mexicans back, within several days they had already reached the outskirts of Monterrey. But III Corps was only part of the sledgehammer the U.S. military had unleashed.


As the Soviet’s Spetsnaz Team 1206 Vympel infiltrated the dockside warehouse area of Veracruz, the other half of the vise aimed at Mexico came down. The U.S. Marines II MEF came ashore the beaches at Veracruz, supported by a devastating offshore bombardment from the USS Iowa and USS New Jersey battleships. Two Cuban Foxtrot diesel subs that attempted to close in with the battleships were spotted by USN ASW frigates and destroyers screening the battleships and promptly sunk. The Marines encountered stiff resistance by the Mexicans and Cubans and suffered casualties, but soon the Marines established a beachhead which was quickly reinforced by several brigades of XVIII Corps including a task force from 5th Infantry Division. Meanwhile, Soviet Vympel Team 1206 managed to work frantically, locating the warehouses where the Soviet equipment was stored and by utilizing a few appropriated trucks, began placing wired barrels stuffed with Semtex explosive throughout the warehouses. As the U.S. Marines started fighting their way into the warehouse district, the Spetsnaz team managed to complete placement of the explosives and routed them all to a detonator….and then disaster struck. A stray 25mm autocannon shell from a U.S. Marine LAV-25 vehicle severed the detonation wires. Faced with only one of two possibilities, a Spetsnaz member was “volunteered” to go in and manually detonate the explosives. He almost succeeded, until he found himself caught with his back turned by a U.S. Marine fireteam. A CNN camera crew led by Peter Arnett that had come ashore with the Marines caught the image of a cuffed “unidentified Caucasian” in full combat gear with no identifiable markings being roughly marched to a LAV-25, before the vehicle was hit by an RPG-16 rocket from the Spetnaz team who attempted a rescue of their comrade. They were soon driven off by Marine reinforcements, taking several losses while Peter Arnett and his camera crew found themselves taking cover rather ungracefully in a mud puddle.


Another press camera crew, this one led by Bob Simon of CBS, entered one of the warehouses and soon broadcast to the world images of rows of brand-new Soviet AFV’s and heavy weapons waiting to be fueled and deployed. As the images beamed around the world, Gromyko, Chebrikov, Castro and Khaddafi soon began trading accusations when it was apparent the entire operation had become a wash. Reagan meanwhile was beside himself after seeing the images, demanding a full report of what was being uncovered in Veracruz. Some White House aides commented years later that the POTUS was about to call the Joint Chiefs and demand further options in regards to what had been found, before a quick arrival of the chiefs of the CIA and NSA with reports of the military hardware’s true origins were made clear to Reagan.


Brutal house-to-house fighting in Veracruz lasted for another several weeks as many die-hard loyal elements of the Mexican Army and “People’s Victory Battalions”, essentially pressed civilian militias armed by Merono, and Cuban holdouts battled the U.S. Army and Marines with horrific casualties on both sides. In the north, the U.S. III Corps surrounded and cut off the city of Monterrey and also found itself in bloody urban combat with various holdouts in the city that also took several weeks to clear. In the south of Mexico, U.S. Army Special Operations forces, the “Green Berets” parachuted into the Yucatan and began raiding Nicaraguan outposts and convoys in southern Mexico in coordination with local Indian tribes that opposed the Socialists. One notable event was when Special Forces in conjunction with U.S. Army Special Operations Force Detachment Delta, aka “Delta Force” managed to raid a Mexican army base that was also being used to house a Cuban detachment, along with a jail holding several Mexican Army officers that had been arrested for their opposition to Merono’s regime. The operation was a success with multiple army officers freed and flown out with the Deltas via CH-53's while an AC-130U "Spectre" gunship provided cover. One other passenger that flew out with the Deltas was the Cuban Commander's mistress who was still in her evening dress. Special Forces, for their part rode off with the Cuban commander’s prized vehicle, a 1956 Chevy Bel Air, and it is rumored several contraband cases of Cuban rum and cigars.


By the time the U.S. Marines broke out of Veracruz and the U.S. Army secured Monterrey, the end appeared inevitable. On February 18, Juan Phillipe Merono gave a final order to all remaining Mexican military, police and militia forces to stand down and surrender, before he retired to his bedroom in the Mexican Presidential Palace and committed suicide. His aides found him with his head lying on his desk, dead from a self-inflicted .357 magnum gunshot wound to the head. A note was found on the desk, written by him in which he expressed remorse for how he felt he had failed the Mexican people. “I promised my people a new beginning…instead I gave them hell.” He also denounced his “friends” Castro, Khaddafi and to a lesser extent Noriega for how he felt they had used him to create a war with the United States. He also professed his love once more for his wife Isabelle Diaz, who soon disappeared after his suicide. Despite various rumors and an intense search by the U.S. military and various intelligence services, Isabelle Diaz was never found and she remains missing to this day. However, the Americans were not done just yet…


With the revelation that the Libyans were involved in the border incident and even more Libyan advisers and mercs were encountered in Mexico, Reagan ordered a new retaliatory strike against Libya, as a follow-up to the previous airstrikes on Libya in April of 1986. Three U.S Navy carrier battlegroups, the
Coral Sea, Forrestal, and John F. Kennedy sailed into the Gulf of Sidra, while the U.S. Air Force deployed one of it’s most secretive, often rumored assets to date: The F-117A stealth attack aircraft. Two squadrons of the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing, the 415th “Nightstalkers” and the 416th “Ghost Riders” secretly deployed to secured airfields in Egypt by the permission of Hosni Mubarak, who was promised increased military aid and support in return for loaning several of the Egyptian airfields. On February 4, two weeks before Merono’s suicide, the U.S. Air Force and Navy launched Operation El Dorado Canyon II, beginning with the F117A’s of the 37th Tactical Wing launching a series of bombing raids into Libya, with the 415th striking key radar installations, comm hubs and a palace belonging to the Khaddafi family, while the 416th struck a number of training camps in the Libya desert belonging to various terrorist groups. There were also unconfirmed reports of several “near misses” with bombs near the Cuban embassy in Tripoli. The US Navy carrier battlegroups then launched a number of strike packages consisting of A-6E bombers escorted by F-18 and F14 fighter aircraft that bombed several army bases, airfields and several docked naval vessels, inflicting heavy damage. The final coup de grace was a volley of Tomahawk TLAM missiles launched from several U.S. Navy Spruance-class destroyers that also struck the same targets to ensure additional destruction.


All in all, the affair had been a disaster for the Soviets and their allies, and it had also become a personal one. It was later learned that a nephew of Castro’s family, Calixto Castro, had been an officer on one of the Cuban Foxtrot submarines that had been sunk by the U.S. Navy. Also, in Libya it was later discovered Khaddafi’s fourth son, Mutassim Khaddafi who was 13 at the time was killed when the U.S. Air Force had struck one of Khaddafi’s palaces. Khaddafi’s second wife, Safia Farkash was also injured in the bombing and taken to a hospital. Needless to say, the animosity shared by Cuba and Libya toward the United States and especially the Reagan administration reached new heights. It was something that would not readily dissipate with further implications down the line. Meanwhile, the Soviets fumed at the embarrassment in Veracruz with the failure of the Vympel unit to destroy the Soviet military stockpile and it’s discovery by the Western Press. As the weapons were hauled away to the United States for analysis and storage, a hapless U.S. businessman who had been attempting to open a shoe sale in Poland was arrested by the KGB for “suspicion of inciting anti-socialist sentiments” and was detained until he was swapped for the captured Vympel commando in a prisoner exchange.


For the Soviets however, the writing to them was on the wall: They believed war with the West was inevitable, or so it was discussed in closed door meetings of the Politburo. Later in March, Gromyko announced a focused increase on weapons modernization and procurement across all branches of the Soviet armed forces, while exhorting it’s Warsaw Pact neighbors and Third World allies to do the same. Several new previous unidentified weapon systems were seen for the first time at the Soviet’s May Day parade including several new armored vehicles and helicopters that shocked the West. The same month Gromyko made his announcement, President Reagan announced one of the largest defense increases in history, seeking further accelerated modernization of weapon systems as well as procurement of several experimental ones, and adding another U.S. Army infantry brigade, the buildup of another reserve U.S. Marine MEU, a renewed focus on building a “600 ship navy” and further U.S. Air Force attack squadrons. Further calls for increased military spending followed in countries across the globe as it became evident what was coming. It was summed up in a somber note on the CIA’s annual report of the world situation to Reagan shortly after events had concluded in Mexico and Libya: “We estimate 70-75 percent chance probability we will be in a full state of war with the Soviet Union and her allies in the next three to five years.”


Fate however, is known to often be finicky. A war would indeed come to the entire world, but there were other incidents that would occur first. And the flames of conflict would eventually ignite sooner than some expected, in a part of the world where the First World War had erupted...


“When all hell broke loose in Mexico, I was still a midshipman barely out of the Academy training to earn my wings. I had a friend who’d gone before me into the U.S. Coast Guard who was stationed in Florida, he swore it was the Mariel Boatlift Part 2 with all the Cubans desperately trying to flee the island, they were convinced we were gonna bomb their island next into oblivion. Didn’t quite happen of course, at least not then. Still, even with the festivities in Mexico over, I think everyone from the top brass down to the black shoes knew this was barely the preliminaries. Everyone felt it…there was a bigger storm on the horizon.”

-Captain Harmon Rabb, USN, former F-14 Tomcat pilot.

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CarlManvers2019

Writers Blocked Douchebag
😳
Holy Shit.....well hopefully in this AU even if the Communists lose, unlike IRL there won’t be loads of douchebags in academia and entertainment espousing the Communist Romanticism

Heh, that’s funny, here’s a suggestion for increased military spending, take out ALL funding for Non-STEM works in all colleges and have it all sent to the military and confiscate the belongings and property of Hollywood Celebrities being funded by the Communists for whatever the reason to fund said War Effort

Also, kinda funny, but I think most Socialist/Communist Governments would ignore their local organized crime as being a problem AT ALL as they can only focus on the Capitalist Fascist Bourgouise
 

Urabrask Revealed

Let them go.
Founder
Of course it's always the Balkans...

Tbh, I expected the mexican army to last longer, but then again, the nation lies right next to the USA. A quick defeat was inveitable. So the USA now has to deal with occupying a nation that is likely to loathe their invader while at the same time fighting a world wide war so soon. This is going to be interestening.
 

Kujo

For the FEDCOM! For the Archon-Prince!
Of course it's always the Balkans...

Tbh, I expected the mexican army to last longer, but then again, the nation lies right next to the USA. A quick defeat was inveitable. So the USA now has to deal with occupying a nation that is likely to loathe their invader while at the same time fighting a world wide war so soon. This is going to be interestening.

Thats why you have the Green Berets, you organize the Anti-Communist Tribes as the government and armed forces, use those Conservative Military officers rescued to tap down or control the remnants of the army to the US side and you pour aid in while dealing with the narco-terrorists, short term should at worst put a lid on things, if not bounce US approval up quite a bit for some time.
 

Tiamat

I've seen the future...
Hey folks, thanks again for the feedback and kind words. As I look at this last chapter it definitely needs some proofreading and perhaps a few extra details, blurbs, and a break here and there. I'll probably go back and edit it this weekend, also I'm about to start work on a multiverse that will be using this WW3 AU as a background setting, ten years after the war's conclusion. Who might be in this dramatis personae you ask? Well, without giving too much away, let's just say some of the action will take place in a certain town called Sunnydale... 😈

Now, on to a few things...

Heh, that’s funny, here’s a suggestion for increased military spending, take out ALL funding for Non-STEM works in all colleges and have it all sent to the military and confiscate the belongings and property of Hollywood Celebrities being funded by the Communists for whatever the reason to fund said War Effort

Also, kinda funny, but I think most Socialist/Communist Governments would ignore their local organized crime as being a problem AT ALL as they can only focus on the Capitalist Fascist Bourgouise

I may have a piece where it talks about some people we know in Hollywood actually getting involved with the USO and making contributions of their own once the war kicks off. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's the spirit of the '40's resurrected, but there will be a bit of that vibe contrasting with potential civil unrest in some cities, as well as a nasty bit of domestic violence that kicks off with the war as well, but more on that later. War brings out the best and worst in everyone, there's not a lot of go-betweens.

EDIT: I meant to add, as in regards to the issue with organized crime in Mexico, the Narco cartels are sort of in their own category when it comes to violence and brutality, particularly among the Mexican locals as they enforced their own rules and way of doing business, so Merono made a promise to his people to "do something" about the issue. In this case it was Castro, who had ties to several of the cartels, who made some backroom deals to at least get the cartels to back down from their more violent ways of doing business in return for "looking the other way" while they sent their cocaine shipments north, because who cares if it's the Yankees who are the ones spending millions to supposedly crack down on the trade while snorting it up, yes? It seemed like an ideal arrangement, and several of the cartels, notably the more established ones decided to play along, and even in a few cases had their own men constitute some of Merono's "People's Victory Battalion" militias, who were among the most fanatical that the U.S. Army and Marines encountered. Problem again, is not all the cartels wanted to play along as a few of the more ambitious up and coming cartels like the Red Machetes wanted to play things their own way and be the new kings of the hill...and all hell ended up breaking loose from there.

Of course it's always the Balkans...

Tbh, I expected the mexican army to last longer, but then again, the nation lies right next to the USA. A quick defeat was inveitable. So the USA now has to deal with occupying a nation that is likely to loathe their invader while at the same time fighting a world wide war so soon. This is going to be interestening.

Meh, I partly blame the Ottomans for the whole mess in the Balkans in the first place, but to quote Otto Von Bismarck, "One day the great European war will come out of some damned foolish thing in the Balkans," and hey, he was right!

Sadly, the Mexican Army is in less than ideal shape when Green Fox kicks off. I may need to go back in the last chapter and add a few more details, but for starters the Mexican Army has never really been meant to project any power abroad, only to deal more with possible insurgencies at home. It helps when they're surrounded on two sides with oceans, and their southern border is Guatemala and Belize. The Mexican Army at most has a few brigades of armor, infantry, with some supporting artillery but not a lot. Their equipment as of the late 80's was a hodgepodge of U.S. made WW2-era vehicles and weapons, along with some equipment like Panhard AFV's and AMX-13's purchased from France. Their Air Force is not much better, with their most sophisticated aircraft being F-5 Freedom Fighters and a bunch of various COIN (Counter-Insurgency) light attack aircraft, ditto for their Navy. Hence why Merono asked for military assistance, only problem is Merono trusted in some fairly shifty "allies" who immediately get tasked to "assist the Mexican military be more loyal to the new Socialist ideal." Which means, you guessed it, rounding up and imprisoning and potentially "reeducating" various officers who aren't happy with the new arrangements. Let's just say there's some major resentment and tension that begins to breed between the Mexicans and their new "advisors", and some of that spills out in the open when the American intervention kicks off. There was at least one recorded incident where Mexican soldiers attempted to surrender outside Monterrey but were literally shot in the back by Cubans calling them traitors. Yeah, that's not gonna go down well at all. Then there's the issue that it was a fairly close election, while a lot of the poor people may have been all for Merono, a lot of middle class and landowners for starters are going to get a sour taste of the revolution real fast once talk turns to "government-sponsored collectivization and land redistribution".

The U.S. plan is to stay no longer in Mexico than it needs to and vacate as soon as possible, once order is restored. So more likely the Mexican military will be rebuilt as quickly as possible with military aid and all the various officers and generals who were freed from the Cuban-run prison. Yes, we might see a military council ruling Mexico for at least a year before elections get underway again. Not the most ideal of situations and not everyone will be happy, but Mexico and the U.S. would rather choose this scenario than some alternatives.

Thats why you have the Green Berets, you organize the Anti-Communist Tribes as the government and armed forces, use those Conservative Military officers rescued to tap down or control the remnants of the army to the US side and you pour aid in while dealing with the narco-terrorists, short term should at worst put a lid on things, if not bounce US approval up quite a bit for some time.

Bingo, that's the plan right there, more or less. The U.S. Military will remain involved with Mexico but that will chiefly be in the form of Special Forces working with the various locals and also U.S. military advisers helping rebuild the Mexican military as quickly as possible. The U.S. military gets the bad feeling there's more trouble on the wind and wants to get those units back home ASAP and be ready to deploy for Europe or elsewhere at a given notice.
 
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CarlManvers2019

Writers Blocked Douchebag
@Tiamat
What's keeping constant resentment and blame on "Western Imperialism" again and again from occurring from Mexico

Even if the USA is at fault for a number of former Communist Nations' problems today, something tells me that those countries' policies are sorta also responsible for making life worse
 

Kujo

For the FEDCOM! For the Archon-Prince!
You know one other factor that could be put into play at least with Mexico, Nicaragua and maybe Cuba is Pope John Paul II. The old Stalin quote of "how many Divisions has the Pope" could come into play as the smart Catholic retort is "as many as the faithful can provide." JP II could deliver a paragraph or two crushing Reagan for 'choosing' violence and then spend the remainder on how wrong Socialism is and that it wasn't all Reagan's fault, that those of Christian Faith should be united against the godless faux Christianity of Marx, one that saves the soul and the other that drains it or words to that effect, then point out what's going on in Poland and other states were instead of being liberated (if a bit too vigorously) they have been enslaved to that ideology or words to that effect.

Basically John Paul II would smooth over things faster and better in many sectors and urban areas then all the Green Berets, aid and other advisers the US could muster, hell the US over time may get a half-way decent ally if JP II can move the needle enough. Thank you.
 

Urabrask Revealed

Let them go.
Founder
I'm not sure if I can agree with that. Isn't the word of the pope more a suggestion to the people of north- and south-america than an order? Or is that more a modern thing after the cancer of socialism has done its damage already?
 

Ganurath

Well-known member
I'm not sure if I can agree with that. Isn't the word of the pope more a suggestion to the people of north- and south-america than an order? Or is that more a modern thing after the cancer of socialism has done its damage already?
Well, that depends on how the aggressively antitheistic communist doctrine was approached in Mexico, which is over 80% Roman Catholic.
 

CarlManvers2019

Writers Blocked Douchebag
Maybe instead of just saying that Socialism is evil, he should point out how plenty are doing it or supporting it in the hopes it succeeds, then he shows and reminds that religious people are NOT stupid

By showing them that he actually knows economics, how socialist policies can and do make an "Expanding Bureaucracy that exists to account for the past expanding bureaucracy" and if they REALLY want to help the poor

Well, lots of rich and powerful people or Champagne Socialists around, they should be fucking entrepreneurs and give charity of their own accord rather than just expect everybody else to pay for it

Charity as well as businessmen choosing to build infrastructure for both charity and PR, won't involve an increase in taxes or pricing, that's for sure
 
World War III: 1988, Addendum A, "The May Day Dossier"

Tiamat

I've seen the future...
Author's note: Here are some details on some new weapons that were unveiled by the Soviet's prior to the outbreak of WW3. How many of these vehicles, along with some other weapons and armament systems were actually fielded and saw combat varied a bit, but saw more definite use as the war went on. Several of these vehicles, such as the Kamov KA-50 "Black Shark", BMP-3, and TOS-1 "Burantino" are real-life vehicles, while others including the T-85 "Dragon", BTR-80/30, and the BMP-TM are fictional, though loosely based on Soviet and later Russian design concepts that were being tested in real life.

******************************************************************************************************************************


World War III: 1988
Addendum A: The May Day Dossier



The “May Day Dossier” was a report presented to several NATO leaders including President Reagan and Minister Thatcher, compiled with materials from several sources including the CIA, DIA, MI-6, DGSE and BND in regards to the various military hardware that was showcased at the Soviet May Day parade on May 1, 1987. While the May Day parades were always considered an outward display of Soviet propaganda, the display of several new vehicles that had only been previously rumored at best was a particular concern for Western intelligence analysts. The following is a condensed version with excerpts in regards to the following Soviet hardware. It should also be noted that not all information in this dossier was accurate as Western intelligence agencies were still attempting to gather information on these systems in the wake of the '86 October Coup.


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T-85 “Dragon” Main Battle Tank

“Initial evaluation of this vehicle appears to be the long rumored next main battle tank that has been under development by the Soviet Omsktransmash KBTM design bureau. The main chassis is longer than the T-72 and T-80 with seven roadwheels per track as opposed to the six of it’s predecessors. The turret appears to be a ‘casemate’ design that suggests the gunner and commander sit lower within the turret, and ammunition for the main gun sits on a carousel lower in the vehicle as opposed to around the turret ring as is usually encountered in recent Soviet tank designs. The turret appears to mount the same 125mm 2A46 cannon used in the T-80 tank along with a coaxial PKT 7.62mm machinegun, and a remote-firing 12.7mm DSHK machinegun at the commander's hatch, however it also has other weapons. The turret also mounts twin 2A7 23mm autocannons that can be depressed and elevated independently of the main gun with a far higher elevation, presumably for anti-aircraft use though it can be used in a secondary role against light armored ground targets and infantry as well. There are missile racks mounted to the rear sides of the turret that appear to mount eight of either large caliber rockets or tube-launched ATGM's, possibly the AT-11 "Sniper". There is provision for ERA all around the chassis and select aspects of the turret. The engine appears to be a modified gas turbine engine currently in use on the T-80 giving it a high power-to-weight ratio. While the redesigned turret in itself would possibly have been lower in profile originally, the additional weaponry negates this advantage, however the vehicle and turret designs suggests an additional armor thickness greater than the T-80 along with additional sloping, possibly making this vehicle harder to destroy. The additional outer electronic gear on the vehicle suggests it may be equipped with the Shtora-1 active protection system that was disclosed by the engineer-turned-spy Adolph Tolkachev before his execution. "


Kamov KA-50 “Black Shark” Attack/Scout Helicopter

“Long rumored in the West, the May Day parade was the first visible demonstration of this helicopter as a formation of these flew over the Kremlin. It is a coaxial-rotor design, twin-seat helicopter apparently designed for both anti-armor attack and reconnaissance. Theoretically the twin-rotor design gives the helicopter outstanding agility and maneuverability while providing a tremendous power-to-weight lift ratio. Armament appears to be a combination of a fuselage-mounted 30mm 2A42 autocannon, eight or twelve AT-9 “Spiral-2” anti-tank missiles (an upgrade of the AT-6 ATGM) and up to eighty 80mm S-8 rockets, plus four SA-18 “Grouse” antiaircraft missiles loaded on the wingtip pods which appear to also house countermeasures (likely flares and chaff). There is a high probability it is able to carry various other air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, gun pods, fuel tanks and bombs as well. The helicopter’s role may be to supplement the MI-24 Hind and MI-28 Hokum, or act as a heavily-armed scout helicopter. The current NATO callsign for this helicopter is Hokum.”



Mil MI-28 Attack Helicopter

"This was the other often-speculated gunship helicopter that made it's appearance over Red Square. The Mil MI-28 attack helicopter, NATO designation Havoc, appears to be a speculative replacement for the MI-24 Hind in the anti-tank role. It bears a close resemblance to the AH-64 Apache and it is rumored it's design was influenced by data stolen from the Apache program during development. It is suspected to be about as fast and agile as the AH-64 Apache, while retaining roughly the same weapons payload as the KA-50, although it does not appear to have wingtip hardpoints. A variant of the 30mm 2A42 autocannon is carried under the nose in a turret. The gunships that appeared at the May Day parade appeared to be carrying a configuration of sixteen AT-9 "Spiral" ATGM and two rocket pods with five S-13 122mm rockets each, which is suspected to be a 'standard' attack loadout. It is also rumored the helicopter may have a small cargo carrying capacity or possibly room for one or two additional passengers in the rear, thus possibly allowing it to perform very limited insertions or search-and-rescue in coordination with Soviet special operations forces. "


AO-86 "Tkachev" Assault Rifle

"Little information is known about this rifle, which was seen carried by several VDV paratroopers who participated in the May Day parade. It appears to be a development of Soviet research into an assault rifle to succeed the AK-74 rifle currently in use with Soviet and WARPA forces. While it bears a passing resemblance to the AK series of rifles, it appears to be a twin-barreled rifle that is fed via a thicker curved magazine, with what appears to be a peep sight as opposed to the post-and-notch sights used by previous Kalashnikov designs. While it is theorized to fire the same 5.45x39mm cartridge as the current AK-74 series of rifles, it is claimed to be capable of firing a special automatic fast two or three round burst with supposedly more controllable recoil than other standard assault rifles in Western service like the M-16."


KS-23 Assault Shotgun

"This is another weapon that was seen in the hands of several MVD troops. It appears to be a large-bore pump-action shotgun, larger than 12 gauge, perhaps 4 gauge in size. It is referred to as a 'carbine assault shotgun' and may be capable of firing different shotshell ammunition types, including a special anti-vehicle heavy slug round. It also is rumored to be capable of firing modified rifle grenades."


RG-6 Multi-Shot Grenade Launcher

"Another weapon that was seen in the hands of VDV troops, the RG-6 appears to be the Soviet's answer to hand-held multi-shot grenade launchers being researched and produced like the South African MGL Striker and the American Hawk MM-1. It is a six-shell cylinder, revolver-style grenade launcher with folding leaf sights. It is said to fire 'caseless' grenade ammunition, similar to the GP-25 and GP-30 launchers, and to provide compact, repeating explosive firepower for assaults."


BMP-3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle

“This vehicle appears to be a redesign of the BMP series based on experiences with the BMP-1 and BMP-2 in Afghanistan. It is more heavily armored with a comparably much larger turret, and is significantly better armed. The turret houses a 100mm 2A70 cannon/ATGM launcher capable of firing both 100mm shells and various gun-launched ATGM missiles including the AT-10 “Stabber”, along with a coaxial 30mm 2A42 autocannon and 7.62mm PKT machinegun. Two more PKT machineguns are mounted in the left and right bow of the vehicle that are fired independently to give disembarking passengers additional covering fire. The armor itself appears to be strengthened, with the vulnerable rear fuel tanks that plagued the earlier BMP designs removed.”



BTR-80/30 Armored Personnel Carrier/Reconnaissance Vehicle

“While at first this was assumed to be a new vehicle, the BTR-80/30 in fact appears to be a modification of the BTR-80 armored personnel carrier/reconnaissance vehicle. It is equipped with a new turret housing a modified version of the 2A42 30mm autocannon along with a coaxial PKT machine gun. This gives the vehicle greater firepower compared to the original 14.5mm KPV-armed BTR-80, and coupled with it’s speed makes it a much greater threat against light-armored vehicle and infantry formations. The vehicle’s amphibious capabilities have also been retained.”


BMP-TM “Tactical Missile Support Vehicle”

“This vehicle platform has been a bit of a mystery, as the chassis itself suggests it is a heavily-modified T-55 chassis that has been overhauled, with the main turret removed and a new engine and transmission installed. What is the most visible difference is a new turret consisting of modified twin 30mm 2A42 autocannons that appear to be synchronized for a higher rate of fire as well as greater elevation. On each side of the turret are quadruple racks for a total of eight AT-9 “Spiral-2” ATGM missiles, and another twin quadruple launchers above the turret housing another total of eight SA-18 “Grouse” antiaircraft missiles. Two coaxial 7.62mm PKT machineguns are also mounted alongside the autocannons. The vehicle’s role is theorized to act as a dual-purpose antitank destroyer screening the Soviet’s tank formations and also as a mobile ADA vehicle. This along with the theoretical secondary ADA capabilities of the T-85 MBT suggest the Soviet’s are attempting to provide further protection of their ground armor forces against the NATO air threat.”



TOS-1 “Burantino” Armored Rocket Carrier Vehicle

“It was first assumed this vehicle, which appears to be built on a modified T-72 chassis, was a more heavily armored counterpart to standard multiple launch rocket systems designed for frontline armored assaults. The difference however is in the vehicle's weapon payload. The rockets in question designed for this vehicle appear to be specially modified 220mm rockets with either incendiary or thermobaric warheads, with an estimated range of about 3,000 meters, hence the vehicle appears to function as a “flamethrower” type unit designed to defeat fortifications, bunkers, reinforced buildings and concentrations of both infantry and light vehicles. Twenty-four rockets are carried and can be fired within a space of roughly twelve seconds or less.”


9A52 "Smerch" Rocket Artillery Vehicle

"This appears to be a larger variant of the BM-27 MRL vehicle, consisting of 12 tubes on a rotating and elevating launcher mounted on the chassis of a BM 9A52-2 launch vehicle. The tubes appear to contain much larger 300mm rockets for longer range, more destructive rocket artillery bombardments in advance of armored offensive attacks.


2S23 NONA-SVK Wheeled Mortar Carrier

"It would appear this is another new mortar carrier design, possibly for use by the Soviet's VDV battalions much like the 2S9 NONA-S. It appears to be a heavily modified BTR chassis upon which is mounted the same type of turret seen on the 2S9 NONA-S, housing a 2A60 120mm gun/mortar weapon that can be used for both indirect fire support as well as direct fire against targets such as fortifications. The BTR chassis used as the basis for this vehicle allows it greater mobility and speed, making it even more capable in the "shoot and scoot" role. It is also believed to retain the BTR's amphibious capability as well."


MT-LB2B Tracked Mortar Carrier

"This seems to be yet another configuration of the often-modified MT-LB armored transport vehicle. The rear of the vehicle houses a 2B9 "Vasilek" 82mm automatic gun-mortar system on a rotating bustle, with the weapon retaining the capability for either direct or indirect fire via either breech loading or by four-round clips. Folding armor shields are also mounted on the bustle for the mortar to provide some small arms and shrapnel protection to the gun crew. The front deck also has a modified turret housing a 14.5mm KPV heavy machine gun for use in either point defense or for added firepower when attacking enemy strongpoints.


Yakovlev Yak-141 VTOL Fighter Aircraft

"Little is known about this aircraft which was seen flying over Red Square during the parade. It is theorized to be a replacement for the Yak-38 which is regarded as a rather mediocre aircraft, thus likely it will be seen among the Soviet's Minsk-class aircraft carriers in their naval fleets. It appears to have three engines consisting of a vector-thrust nozzle along with two vertical thrust jets to facilitate VTOL as well as supersonic flight, though it is unknown if it possesses afterburner capability. 5 weapon hardpoints for the mounting of R-73 'Archer' and R-27 'Alamo' air-to-air missiles along with an inboard autocannon, possibly a Gsh-30 are observed to consist of the aircraft's known armament, although it is likely capable of carrying rocket and bomb munitions as well."
 
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Kujo

For the FEDCOM! For the Archon-Prince!
Tiamat,

seems you are going all in for 'balance' between NATO and PACT equipment, though I haven't seen the key equipment (avionics, targeting, range-finding, night/thermal imaging) that would still likely have NATO coming out on top! Great PACT update though, Thank you!
 

Tiamat

I've seen the future...
Tiamat,

seems you are going all in for 'balance' between NATO and PACT equipment, though I haven't seen the key equipment (avionics, targeting, range-finding, night/thermal imaging) that would still likely have NATO coming out on top! Great PACT update though, Thank you!

Thanks. :)

Keep in mind the May Day Dossier was an initial report on what the Soviets were showing off at the May Day Parade, which caused a bit of consternation from more than a few defense analysts and military officials Nitty gritty details like targeting equipment, avionics, range finders, etc. is what takes more time to analyze, and that usually requires getting samples or more in-depth technical readouts via clandestine means, and as of early 1987 things are still a bit chaotic since the coup on the espionage front, as the KGB, Stasi etc. managed to shut down several sources and methods behind the Iron Curtain. More importantly, a lot of the ones who were supplying info to the West on the Soviet's military designs have either had to flee or are dead, so the West is trying to get new agents and sources on the ground. Also, as we know, the Soviets usually tended to lag a bit behind the West in terms of more sophisticated electronics like the ones mentioned. Not to mention, some of the Soviet's more hardware often had their share of "quirks".

Don't worry, the WAPA won't be the only ones that get some neat toys, the U.S., NATO and a few others try to get out some designs, plus a couple "what-ifs" right before the war kicks off. I'll probably write up a separate addendum for those.
 

Tiamat

I've seen the future...
Hi folks, sorry have not updated lately, recently started a new job which was a little hectic, but now getting back to writing. Originally I had planned to write a chapter on the Balkans next but before that, will be writing a small bit about some not so good news that takes place in a region that's known to be a bit more...dusty, hint hint...

Also, I may be adding in some story interludes as seen from some characters we may know who get caught up in the events leading to, and during the Third World War. Who, you might ask? You'll see.

In the meantime, here's a peek at a speech that puts fateful events in motion:


"We have never desired war with the West, but now it is the Western bourgeois, those capitalist gangsters and their thuggish allies in London, Paris, Bonn, Rome, Seoul and Tokyo, who have brought the storm of war to the entire world. And now, the blood of our own sons, is on the American's hands! If the Americans do indeed have an inkling for true peace, they and their allies will yield immediately to the rightful demands as listed by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. And let the West also be aware; our patience is nearing its end. Do not test us further, for our resolve is absolute! The decadent West have never won a war against the might and resolve of the working class, no country has ever won a war against the Motherland, and now our fellow brothers and sisters of the worldwide proletariat stand ready to take action. Our message to them is simple: WE SHALL BURY YOU IN HISTORY!”

--Speech by Soviet Defense Minister Dmitry Yazov in a closed-door meeting of Soviet military combatant commanders, leaked by unknown military aide to Swiss Newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung, August 19, 1988.
 
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Kujo

For the FEDCOM! For the Archon-Prince!
The "Cowboy" Reagan must be thinking "Bring it ON!", can't wait for more Tiamat! Thank you!
 

Tiamat

I've seen the future...
@Tiamat
Might I suggest reading this? It’d probably tell how the commies would still be able to sorta win

A “Person of Color” with the actual skills and work ethic will probably lose his job to one hired for his/her politics

Ideology is one thing...it still doesn't change the massive issues the Soviet Union and her allies in real life was facing in the 1980's: The war in Afghanistan was continuing to drag on, the mismanaged Soviet economy was starting to crack, massive military spending had eaten it's budget, growing social and ethnic unrest continued to mount, etc. In this timeline the coup plotters are trying to stave off the inevitable collapse which happened in real life in 1991. In this timeline...let's just say a collapse may also be inevitable but it will be far, far more bloody, brutal and chaotic with far-reaching ramifications down the road.

I wonder what the demands are.

All will be revealed.

Also, after conferring with CurtisLemay, changed the identity of who gave that speech as it seemed more befitting. And yes, more than one Soviet Army commander in that room likely felt the man had gone f**king nuts. Otherwise why would one of their military aides, likely someone with a family member or friend high in the Soviet hierarchy, had leaked the speech to a Swiss newspaper?
 

CarlManvers2019

Writers Blocked Douchebag
Ideology is one thing...it still doesn't change the massive issues the Soviet Union and her allies in real life was facing in the 1980's: The war in Afghanistan was continuing to drag on, the mismanaged Soviet economy was starting to crack, massive military spending had eaten it's budget, growing social and ethnic unrest continued to mount, etc. In this timeline the coup plotters are trying to stave off the inevitable collapse which happened in real life in 1991. In this timeline...let's just say a collapse may also be inevitable but it will be far, far more bloody, brutal and chaotic with far-reaching ramifications down the road.



All will be revealed.

Also, after conferring with CurtisLemay, changed the identity of who gave that speech as it seemed more befitting. And yes, more than one Soviet Army commander in that room likely felt the man had gone f**king nuts. Otherwise why would one of their military aides, likely someone with a family member or friend high in the Soviet hierarchy, had leaked the speech to a Swiss newspaper?

Reaching ramifications? I doubt that will stop the sheer romanticism so many in the West and those whose intellectuals were indoctrinated by those “useful idiots” in the West, from trying to get Communism or a less obvious variant for a take over

So wait, the military aides aren’t blaming the USA?
 

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