The rise of a great power: starting with military industry

Just after the Athens Olympics ended, gunfire rang out again on the battlefield in Afghanistan.

A month's rest allowed the soldiers on both sides to catch their breath, and weapons, ammunition and supplies were replenished.

Unlike the battlefield in Iraq, where it is difficult to fight due to the scorching heat in summer, the highest temperature in Afghanistan is only 32℃ even in summer, and the temperature at night is 15℃. It will be one or two degrees lower in mountainous areas.

For the Afghans who have lived on this land for one or two thousand years, this has no impact on the war at all.

Moreover, after a month's rest, morale is high, and weapons, ammunition and supplies are sufficient.

It is not easy to get supplies in Iraq, but it is different in Afghanistan, where supplies are much easier.

Every day, a large amount of weapons, ammunition and supplies are transported from the Wakhan Corridor to Afghanistan, and can also be transported into Afghanistan from Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

After the Afghan War broke out, the United States did what it did in Afghanistan and how it bleeds the Soviet Union. At this time, the Americans launched the Afghan War, and Russia was also learning from the United States how to do it and how to bleed the United States.

Various Soviet-made weapons were continuously shipped to Afghanistan.

Russia's influence on the five Central Asian countries is enormous. Even China's influence on the five Central Asian countries is far less than that of Russia.

It is extremely easy for Russia to transport weapons, ammunition and supplies into Afghanistan for the guerrillas through Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

The coalition forces were so angry that they stopped purchasing supplies from Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Russia. Russia did not give the Americans any face and directly closed the land route to Turkmenistan, making it impossible for the coalition forces to transport soldiers, weapons, ammunition and supplies through Turkmenistan via the Caspian Sea, once again restoring the situation where all supplies and personnel must pass through Pakistan.

Russia even closed the air force bases leased to the coalition forces, making it impossible for the coalition air force to take off from Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to bomb the guerrillas.

As for the Afghan territory connected to the Wakhan Corridor, it is currently under the control of the guerrillas.

As soon as the Athens Olympics ended, the war in Afghanistan resumed.

Afghan guerrillas continue to attack county towns in the mountainous areas controlled by the coalition forces, attack coalition transport convoys, and ambush coalition forces.

There was no large-scale direct decisive battle, but the flames of war were burning everywhere.

The whole of Afghanistan was in flames.

Even in the Hindu Kush Mountains in Pakistan, guerrillas are growing stronger and attacking the coalition's transportation routes in Pakistan.

It is precisely because of the frequent attacks by guerrillas in Pakistan that the Americans' plan to build a railway from Pakistan to Afghanistan has not been completed so far.

Weapons, ammunition and supplies have to be transported by transport trucks.

The transportation volume is far from comparable to that of trains, and some troops have to be dispatched to protect the transportation lines.

After a month of rest, the coalition soldiers were able to recover physically and mentally, but the war was raging everywhere, forcing them to fight. Compared with the guerrillas, the coalition soldiers were undoubtedly armed to the teeth, with better and more advanced weapons and equipment. Each of them wore a bulletproof vest, a bulletproof helmet, and was equipped with night vision goggles. Each soldier was equipped with communication equipment and could report the situation at any time.

However, the challenges faced by the coalition forces are becoming increasingly severe. In addition to the coalition ambushes and attacks, they also have to guard against sudden explosions if the elderly or children walk by their side. Even if they go to the red-light district to have fun, they have to avoid being shot or stabbed to death.

Although the coalition forces require soldiers not to go to red-light districts at will, even the American soldiers cannot control them. With the American soldiers taking the lead, soldiers from other countries cannot control them, and their actions are useless.

In mountainous areas, for transportation in most areas, the coalition forces do not use transport trucks, but donkeys and mules!
Because it has been proven that the best means of transportation in mountain warfare are still donkeys and mules.

Although it can also be transported by helicopter, it would be very dangerous if the helicopter flew too low and could easily be destroyed by the guerrillas' individual portable air defense missiles.

The war broke out first in Afghanistan, and just as September began, the war also broke out in Iraq.

Rashid took the initiative to launch an offensive, intending to drive the joint ground forces out of Iraq through a decisive battle so as to rebuild the defense line.

Rashid's confidence comes from the fact that, in addition to adding a batch of anti-aircraft missiles, self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery shells and anti-aircraft machine gun bullets, he has a powerful armored force under his command.

At this moment, Rashid's regular army and reserve forces totaled more than 145 million, with a total of 10 armies and 77 divisions, more than 5000 tanks of various types, more than 8000 armored vehicles, 3500 large-caliber artillery pieces, more than 350 fighter jets in the air force, and more than 1500 Scud missiles.

坦克中，足足有650辆80式主战坦克、780辆81式中型坦克、480辆81式轻型坦克、260辆59式改、490辆59式坦克、720辆T72主战坦克、230辆T80坦克、160辆T90主战坦克、540辆T54坦克、230辆T55坦克、1000辆T62坦克、520辆T64坦克，攻击5520辆坦克。

装甲车方面，80式自行高炮1000辆、81式步兵战车890辆、81式自行火箭炮360辆、81式122毫米自行榴弹炮420辆、81式120毫米自行迫击炮250辆、81式反坦克导弹发射车120辆，81式装甲运兵车1300辆，其他苏制装甲车近4000辆。

This is not only a collection of tank and armored forces from almost all of Iraq, but also from other Arab countries and Persia.

Whether it is for regional peace and stability, or because they do not want the United States to defeat Iraq and occupy Iraq to gain Gulf hegemony, or because of the Arab League or Islamic civilization, all countries have given Iraq tremendous support.

Anyway, they were given to Iraq, and the tanks and armored vehicles they purchased were transported to their country by sea in a steady stream and could be replenished soon.

But if the United States defeats Iraq and takes control of Iraq, their lives will be difficult in the future. They will have to depend on the Americans for everything and even have to be on guard against the Americans launching a color revolution at all times.

What the United States is doing in Latin America and Africa has aroused the vigilance of countries in the Middle East.

Monarchies in particular are often scolded by Americans and accused of being backward and uncivilized.

Preventing the United States from defeating Iraq, occupying Iraq and gaining Gulf hegemony is the consensus of all Middle Eastern countries, the Arab League and the entire Islam.

This is why, since the outbreak of the Iraq War, Persia has secretly helped Iraq a lot. After the joint forces broke through Iraq’s two lines of defense and entered Iraqi territory this year, Persia was even more willing to provide weapons and equipment to Iraq.

Anyway, Persia is not afraid of the United States. So far, Persia and the United States have not yet normalized their relations. (End of this chapter)