The Western media made a rating of the eight of the strongest forces in the world
Recently, the Swedish newspaper Expressen has published a ranking of the eight of the strongest forces in the world, which was the American edition of Business Insider. The places were distributed as follows.
On 8-th place, the journalists put a group of a special purpose of army of Pakistan Special Services Group (SSG) or “Black storks”. SSG operates in a very volatile region, where there are border clashes and religious extremism. In December 2014, the commandos tracked down and eliminated operational leader “of al-Qaeda” * – Gulshair Adnan al-Shukri Juma.
At the 7th place, according to the publication Business Insider, are the special naval forces of Spain, Fuerza de Guerra Naval Especial. The number of units — about 100 people, whose task is to protect the sea, coast and land area 50 km inland from the coast.
6th place Western journalists have given to the Russian “alpha”. Based on their logic, on the position of the rating of our unit was due to the fact that during counter-terrorist operation in the Dubrovka theater in 2002, suffered and died too many hostages.
5 place the media puts special forces unit of the French gendarmerie — National Gendarmerie Intervention Group (GIGN), which in its history has performed more than 1,800 operations and freed more than 600 hostages.
4-th place in the ranking of special forces of General staff of the Israel defense forces — Sayeret Mat kal (“Sayeret Matkal”). This country is constantly becoming the target of threats and attacks, but there is hope that the secret service “Sayeret Matkal”, which is also involved in gathering of intelligence, sooner or later will correct the situation, according to the journalists of Business Insider.
3rd and 2nd place is a division of UK — Special air service (Special Air Service, SAS) and Special boat service (Special Boat Service, SBS), respectively. SAS had several dangerous operations during the Second world war, and after the Olympic games in Munich, when it became clear that the main threat the world has changed its appearance, Special air service began to prepare for the fight against terrorism. Special boat service — the British equivalent of “seals” in the United States: if the SAS is responsible for land operations, the SBS men trained to the sea.
And the first place the Americans gave it to her (who would doubt) seals — Navy SEALs. Unit was used in all armed conflicts involving the United States. 2 may 2011 it’s the Team 6 Navy seals eliminated Osama bin Laden in Pakistan’s Abbottabad.
How correct such a rating? Whether the us “Navy seals” — the coolest special forces in the world?
Research fellow, Centre for analysis of strategies and technologies, chief editor of the magazine “arms Export” Andrey Frolov says Business Insider compares “apples with oranges”.
— Navy SEALs — unit of special operations Forces (SDF) of the US Navy, designed for reconnaissance, sabotage, rescue operations, etc. of the British SBS and SAS, which, incidentally, are closely interrelated, and the Israeli company “Sayeret Matkal” which was formed in the image and likeness of the British SAS, are working more outside their home countries. Including have contact with regular enemy forces.
But the Management “And” special purpose Center of the FSB of Russia or a Group of “alpha” is a pure power arm of the internal service, which aims at combating terrorism and crime, the assault support forces. The French GIGN is also an elite anti-terrorist unit, however, it shall be considered as the special detachment of both the army and the police, as has a dual reporting line and the defense Ministry, and interior Ministry. While GIGN personnel involved in operations within the country and abroad — in Afghanistan, côte d’ivoire, in the middle East.
So when American journalists Business Insider wanted to compare special forces then it would be correct to include in the rating of Russian special operations Forces, the defense Ministry, the creation of which was attended by specialists of the GRU and FSB. The “alpha” group here at all out of place. But it is possible that it was included in the rating because journalists only about the “alpha” and I know.
Also unclear criteria that can be compared. First, it must be taken into account the specific challenges facing a particular special unit. Secondly, the level of training a particular fighter.
Third, the level of equipment and weapons. For example, how you was not prepared, but if you’re in the hands with the standard SVD PSO-1 sight, and goes against you people, for example, with the Austrian rifle Steyr-Mannlicher SSG 08 caliber .338 (8,6×70), then he has every chance to come out of this duel victorious, since his weapon has a more accurate and farther. Or, say, the fighter can be a good rifle, but bad cartridges…
Fourthly, account must be taken of the availability of technical opportunities to address the challenges facing the unit. For example, if the MTR of the Russian Federation ordered to destroy the launchers of tactical nuclear weapons (universal PU, which in addition to the interceptor missiles can launch cruise missiles from YABCH installed, for example, in Romania — “SP”), then the forces must be able to these objects as something to quickly get to effectively accomplish the task.
Fifth, a key criterion for rating the performance of operations, but it is impossible to determine for the simple reason that almost no one knows where SWAT works, what it does and the damage being done to the enemy.
— It is clear that the rating Business Insider politically biased, it is absolutely unclear how the Americans make it up. If we take the criterion “the success of transactions for a certain period”, then perhaps the leader of the rating must be the British Special air service, founded in 1941, says the Director of the Centre for strategic conjuncture Ivan Konovalov. And the idea is that if you create an objective rating of the spetsnaz, the Russian and the British should share first place. And then — British special forces over recent years much has passed for him just goes the glory of past years.
The seals obviously can’t be the first, because of the operation to eliminate Osama bin Laden not enough for leadership. For example, the same Pakistani army commandos SSG operates in extremely difficult conditions in the tribal areas on the Afghan-Pakistan border. If you take the American special forces actually indicative in this sense, the battle in Mogadishu (Somalia), also known as “Day Ranger” — all the experts admitted that the operation was planned badly. Then the Rangers of the 75th airborne reconnaissance special forces regiment of the U.S. army and the men of detachment “Delta” was blocked by militants, General Mohammed Farah Aideed. And although the Americans still declared this operation as a victory, but the number of dead commandos (18 people) actually says about her failure.
Of course, to compare the alpha with the army special forces is absolutely wrong, then it is necessary to draw Parallels with the forces of the other intelligence agencies — the CIA or MI-6 or included in the rating of our airborne special forces or GRU. By the way, I’m surprised that the rating is not mentioned Chinese special forces are very well prepared.
As for the French special forces, he still keeps a high level, although of course here we have to consider the recent failures of the intelligence services of France, which admitted carrying out the attacks by Islamists. Although, maybe here, can’t blame Glock because the attacks were made possible because of poor intelligence work. The fact that the United States has largely taken over the function of providing European information through the intelligence network “Echelon” global electronic intelligence system). I note that French special forces are still forced to conduct military operations in Africa. Famous “operation Serval” in Mali is only a small part of the activities of the French special forces, which now operate in Africa, often secretly, efficiently. By the way, in the Foreign Legion and the French special forces quite a lot of Slavs.
Military expert Mikhail Khodarenok believes that a key metric when ranking the best special forces is the effectiveness/cost.
— But it sometimes seeks to execute the order at any price and then to assess the activities of special forces? Some credibility to the rating Business Insider could be, if its compilation was attended by experts from different countries, and the issue was decided by voting. In General, serious science ends where it ends with math. In this ranking there is no clear and obvious criteria for determining the effectiveness of those or other forces. In this respect we can safely say that this is another false rating of the Western media, the result of purely personal preferences of the editorial staff of the publication.
Military historian Alexander Shirokorad said that if you can estimate the forces on the criterion of the performance/cost, then the British, French and Americans can not pretend in the first place, because their activity is always connected with high costs.
— In addition, it is necessary to understand which operations are going on, if you make a rating — the elimination of terrorists, operations in the coastal zone or the organization of a coup d’etat. Rebuke “alpha” alleged that during the operation in the Dubrovka theater were injured and killed many of the hostages due to the gas — incorrect because the question then comes down to the interaction of different services and, most importantly, timely medical assistance. Incorrectly compare “alpha” with those foreign entities that are working outside of their country. In the end, in the tssn FSB of Russia includes the Management of “B” (“Vympel”) and the Directorate of special operations. In General, we have a special forces military intelligence, including unit of combat swimmers, which Western journalists in General know almost nothing. That is an indication of professionalism of our specialists.
The American special forces many high-profile botched operations: in addition to the battle in Mogadishu, you can remember the “operation Eagle claw” in 1980 to rescue the 53 hostages from the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, which ended in complete failure. Also note and operation Red wings in 2005 in Afghanistan, which, incidentally, is the most tragic episode in the history of the Navy seals. I remind you that the special forces was exposed, and the operation ended in failure — killed 19 elite fighters, downed helicopter and lost secret documents. So, the seals and American special forces can never claim the role of leaders of such a rating.
* “Al-Qaeda” decision of the Supreme court of the Russian Federation of 14 February 2003 was recognized as a terrorist organization, its activity on the territory of Russia is prohibited.
