More than 100 U.S. soldiers equipped with mobile rocket launchers are on their way to Alaska. Pentagon spokesperson Major General Pat Ryder announced at a news conference Tuesday that the military unit is headed for a desolate island in the Aleutian chain. They plan to set up their HIMARS gear just in case Russia and China decide to get sneaky.
Troops to defend Alaska
In the past week, “eight Russian military planes and four navy vessels, including two submarines, have come close to Alaska.”
Since Joe Biden’s out to lunch even when he’s not on vacation and Kamala Harris is busy trying to get elected Queen of America, the Pentagon decided they better take some preventive measures.
Russia and China publicly announced they’re conducting joint military drills in the vicinity of Alaska. Everyone knows that’s just an excuse to show off and do a little saber rattling. Both Putin and the Pooh Bear are testing the waters, literally, to see how chaotic U.S. leadership really is.
Vlad is getting ready to break out the thermonuclear weapons while Xi Jinping has rapidly ripening plans to “re-unify” Taiwan. So far, “none of the planes breached U.S. airspace.”
There is “no cause for alarm” General Ryder assures. “It’s not the first time” they’ve seen the Russians and the Chinese flying “in the vicinity.” Russia is so close to Alaska that on a clear day they can see each other.
It’s something the Pentagon analysts “closely monitor,” and it’s “also something that we’re prepared to respond to.” Russia’s learning all about what our HIMARS systems can do because the Ukrainians have been using them.
Shoot and scoot
General Ryder explained to the press that on September 12, they executed a little “force projection operation,” deploying around 100 Army soldiers to Shemya Island. While American territory and part of Alaska, the remote rock lies “some 1,200 miles southwest of Anchorage.”
The Air Force “maintains an air station that dates to World War II.” They brought “two High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems” with them to keep them warm.
The beauty of HIMARS is their ability to shoot and scoot. That won’t be much of an advantage on the small remote island off Alaska. The tactics are a whole lot different from the open battlefields of Ukraine and Russia but the firepower is just as decisive. The Ukrainians love them because they’re so mobile.
The disadvantage of heavy artillery or mounted rocket launchers is that as soon as you fire a round you reveal your position. The HIMARS can roll quickly into position, fire and scoot off quickly to cover and safety before the enemy can get a fix on them to shoot back.
According to Senator Dan Sullivan, a Republican representing the state, our military also “deployed a guided missile destroyer and a Coast Guard vessel to the western region of Alaska.” The did that back on September 10 at the start of what our adversaries are calling “Ocean-24.”
Sullivan wants to see “a larger military presence in the Aleutians while advocating the U.S. respond with strength to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.” Both of those can happen if Trump is elected but you can expect World War III if Kamala ends up on top this November.
