U.S. accused of rigging war game

Sergeant_Scrotum · **U.S. accused of rigging war game -** 08-21-2002, 10:37 PM

Taken from the national post: [quote:c3fba]U.S. accused of rigging war game
Defeat of 'Iraq' ensured

Jan Cienski
National Post

Wednesday, August 21, 2002

WASHINGTON - The quality of U.S. preparation for a possible attack on Iraq is being called into question by a retired Marine Corps general who says recent military games -- the largest ever held by the Pentagon -- were rigged to ensure the forces posing as the Iraqis would lose.

The games were "almost entirely scripted to ensure a [U.S. military] 'win'" said General Paul Van Riper, commander of the opposing "Red" forces, who quit in disgust halfway through the exercise.

He told the Army Times newspaper he was concerned the U.S. would send troops into combat using doctrine and weapons systems based on false conclusions drawn from the war games.

Millennium Challenge 02 was a three-week exercise ending on Aug. 15 that cost US$250-million and involved 13,500 troops engaging each other in nine separate practice ranges across the United States, as well as in 17 computer simulations.

Gen. Van Riper was in charge of the opposition forces, supposed to be from an undefined Persian Gulf country, but thought to be Iraq. The U.S. forces, from the navy, Marines, army, air force and special services, were known as the "Blue" forces.

In a scenario that will give little comfort to strategists predicting an easy U.S. victory over Saddam Hussein, Gen. Van Riper again and again stymied the larger Blue forces using weapons and technologies available to the Iraqi dictator.

The Blue forces ran into trouble almost immediately.

Instead of using radios to send orders, which the Blue forces could intercept, Gen. Van Riper relied on motorcycle couriers.

When the Blue fleet sailed into the Persian Gulf, Gen. Van Riper sent apparently harmless small planes and boats into the area. After the Blue commander issued an ultimatum to surrender, Gen. Van Riper issued his attack orders via the morning call to prayer broadcast from his country's mosques.

His unconventional forces wreaked havoc on the Blue fleet and sent much of it to the bottom. The officials in charge had to halt the exercise and "refloat" the Blue fleet to allow the games to continue.

Gen. Van Riper complained he was continually hamstrung and prevented from using his advantages. At one point he was told he would not be able to fire his "chemical weapons" at Blue troops. Another time he was ordered to reveal the location of some Red units so the Blues would have an easier time finding them.

He was also told to immobilize his air defences so the army and Marines could stage a successful landing.

In the end, the Blue forces declared victory after acknowledging some unexpected early losses.

By preventing his Red force from employing the full range of its capabilities, Gen. Van Riper complained that the Pentagon was sacrificing the usefulness of the exercise.

"Unfortunately, in my opinion, neither the construct nor the conduct of the exercise allowed for the concepts of rapid decisive operations, effects-based operations, or operational net assessment to be properly assessed," he wrote in a letter to colleagues that was obtained by the Army Times. "[It] was in actuality an exercise that was almost entirely scripted to ensure a Blue win.

"You don't come to a conclusion beforehand and then work your way to that conclusion. You see how the thing plays out," he said.

The Pentagon insists the Millennium Challenge was complex and experimental and was designed to do much more than indicate a simple win-or-lose proposition.

"It is an experiment. It is designed to help quantify where we are and where we might be able to go, and then to experiment again," Marine General Peter Pace, vice-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said yesterday.

Gen. Pace said the war games were not rigged and "the money was well spent" on the exercise.

But the comforting words from the Pentagon did not allay fears that the military had lost the opportunity to learn a useful, if possibly embarrassing, lesson on the eve of a potential war.

"There is a tradition, if I can call it that, in the military of handing out the answers to the final exams ahead of time in order to up the grade point average," said Daniel Gouré, a former Defence Department official and now an analyst with the Lexington Institute think-tank.

He noted that in past navy war games, attacking submarines never made it close to aircraft carriers, the most cherished possession of navy brass, a result Mr. Gouré says experienced submariners called "crap."

But the consequences of fixing the results of the latest games may be much more serious.

"There is no question that if you are trying to prepare for war and you are cooking the books, as it were, you've got a problem," Mr. Gouré said. "You want the practices to be tougher than the game because then you can win the game."[/quote:c3fba]

If an american general can beat the americans what do you think iraq will do to them? Americans ALWAYS have to cheat! Even at their own game!

BallisticWookie · 08-21-2002, 11:10 PM

Fact is, America will crush Iraq and any resistance posed, just like they did in the Gulf War. Hell, America could wage a war against Iraq by itself and easily win. But that report does paint a pretty bad picture on the Pentagon....I hope they pick their act up and start taking things a little more seriously.

Pfc.Green · 08-21-2002, 11:27 PM

Uh..sargent ballsack, war is not a fucking game there is no cheating, and the opinion of one general does'nt mean its true, hell the guy could have a frigging grudge for all we know.

08-21-2002, 11:44 PM

uhm.. actually it is true that they "ressurected" alot of destroyed vehicles to continue the scenario. And no wookie this isn't my opinion this came from an american general during a press confrence on CNN I was watching yesterday.

BallisticWookie · 08-21-2002, 11:48 PM

[quote="CSF_Jaizen":c3684]uhm.. actually it is true that they "ressurected" alot of destroyed vehicles to continue the scenario. And no wookie this isn't my opinion this came from an american general during a press confrence on CNN I was watching yesterday.[/quote:c3684]

I have no problem with what you have said, ofcourse FWB may because he doesnt believe CNN tells the truth...ever. biggrin: Anyways, I said myself that they better get their act together, war isnt a game, and if they are treating it like a game they had better grow up.

Old Reliable · 08-22-2002, 12:01 AM

It was stupid of the military to release a video game now they get this bad rap

Tripper · 08-22-2002, 12:18 AM

I dont think they are refering to the video game...But actual War games played out by the US military....But you were kidding, weren't ya OL..!

I Like Bummers. Its a Bummer when I'm not around in the Summer.

[NP: Mystik Journeymen - 1 2 3]

Pfc.Green · 08-22-2002, 09:52 AM

[quote="CSF_Jaizen":5021f]uhm.. actually it is true that they "ressurected" alot of destroyed vehicles to continue the scenario. And no wookie this isn't my opinion this came from an american general during a press confrence on CNN I was watching yesterday.[/quote:5021f]

You do know its very hard to believe anything you say that pertain to the U.S., for you are a very outspoken anti-american/u.s. military person.

08-22-2002, 09:54 AM

i think you take him too seriously green, he's a good laugh in a funny-stupid sort of way.

08-22-2002, 12:20 PM

Destroyed the whole fleet? don't make me laugh!

The only way any Iraqui anti-ship weapon could penetrate the AAW screen of 2 AEGIS cruisers (Ticos) and 2 or more AEGIS destroyers (Burkes) is if the crews were asleep or drunk!

Also Iraqui SAMs are old SA-3s and SA-6s, Soviet Vietnam era missiles.
Unless the US is kind enough to use F-4 Phantoms, A-6 Intruders, and B-52s against Iraq the Iraquis will not have much luck shooting anything down!

Our problems will begin when we enter their cities (to perform a "regime change" one must invade the cities). It will become an urban war in which our technological advantage will be practically nonexistant (lobbing 2000 lb. smart bombs in a city war means blowing up you own men as well as the enemy)

Pyro · 08-22-2002, 12:30 PM

If America would just allow more canadians on their little "game" shows....you know who would win

what are they so scared of

anyways...a War game...gay

my above comments has to do with morons being on Survivor.....they could at least pick like smart americans

Zoner · 08-22-2002, 12:38 PM

The last line of that article should have Gen. Van Riper mumbling under his breath, "F*cking Blue Team nOObs..."

heh heh

Zone

wintersforge · 08-22-2002, 12:39 PM

the US needs to utilize wallhacks, aimbots, and neon skins to win....damn cheaters..... biggrin:

Sh3llSh0ck · 08-22-2002, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wintersforge

the US needs to utilize wallhacks, aimbots, and neon skins to win....damn cheaters..... biggrin:

LOL!

FWB · 08-22-2002, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BallisticWookie

Fact is, America will crush Iraq and any resistance posed, just like they did in the Gulf War. Hell, America could wage a war against Iraq by itself and easily win. But that report does paint a pretty bad picture on the Pentagon....I hope they pick their act up and start taking things a little more seriously.

Wow, I actually agree with this guy for once. Amazing.

The US would crush Iraq with convential weapons, but only because the war would suit America very well... an "organised" opposition army, perfect terrain, clear blue skies. Its an easy contest. The problem is the political fallout.