History Lesson 04

The Middle East

A few days after the EMP crippled the USA, the uncoordinated attacks on American troops began. In Iraq and Kuwait there were officially some 27,000 troops and 180,000 contractors supporting them. In Afghanistan there were about 68,000 troops and 12,000 contractors supporting them. These were the main, but not the only, targets of attack. Several thousand more troops were posted to smaller bases around the area.

With its homeland knocked out the US forces were seen as easy targets. Years of repressed anger came quickly to the surface. Although some Arabs express that they are not angry at the troops themselves but at American foreign policy and corporate exploitation, the men in uniform were the targets.

Arms from Pakistan and Russia quickly found their way into the hands of the anti-American coalition. Although it had often supported the USA as a fellow UN member, Pakistan had suffered so many insults over the past decade that it was eager to exert its rights as a sovereign nation; including a no-fly zone. This became a critical issue for the American fleet in the Arabian Sea, who was trying to support the troops in Afghanistan. 

Attacks on Americans intensify during 2013, as troops tried to withdraw. In many cases the men were saved by air lift, but valuable equipment was left behind. For small bases this was acceptable, but given the overall situation, commanders are not willing to abandon large amounts of now irreplaceable items. So the two main battle groups fought their way to the coast for evacuation.

Things got messy when nuclear missiles were fired from Pakistan at the US fleet. Although most are shot down without exploding, one reaches its target range near the air craft carrier H.G. Bush and detonates. As expected, the US retaliation is severe.        

Note - The fact that most of the troops, including much of the navy was Constitutionalist, would later became important. Once they were safe and away from the combat zone, they did not take their orders from US - HQ in Hawaii.  

Meanwhile…

Early in 2013, a coordinated attack is launched against Israel by its neighbors after a month long series of rocket attacks from Palestinian forces provides valuable data about the Israeli “Iron Shield” anti-missile system. Although the attack is no surprise, its effectiveness is much higher than expected; inflicting serious non specific damage on Israeli cities. 

With civilian casualties high, but no real damage to their military from the concentrated (non-nuclear) missile attack, Israel is able to respond and the war is on.        

It quickly becomes impossible to tell the two conflicts apart; everyone vs Americans and everyone vs Israel. The entire region is soon a hot bed of unorganized violence, ground fighting, air strikes and the occasional nuclear explosion. 

Some European forces are also involved. Mercenary unis come to help Israel and a British brigade, including one air craft carrier, comes to help the Americans.

End of Section 04