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| Iraq |
| US warplanes to fly from Iraqi base: Pentagon |
| 2014-09-12 |
| [Al Ahram] US combat aircraft will soon start flying out of a base in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq as part of an expanded air campaign against Islamic State jihadists, the Pentagon said Thursday. Press secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby confirmed "armed and manned" US aircraft would fly from Arbil, capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, but declined to provide more details. American fighter jets and other warplanes bombing IS snuffies in Iraq previously have been flying out of bases and from aircraft carriers in the region outside Iraq. The airfield in Arbil would allow some fighter jets easier access to the battlefront, a defense official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity ... for fear of being murdered... Fighters have a shorter range than bombers or surveillance planes and using a nearby base allows for more time over a target while reducing the need to frequently refuel, the official said. The use of Arbil's air base reflects the broadening US campaign against IS murderous Moslems, though attack helicopters already have been flying out of bases in Iraq. The Pentagon did not say what type of "manned" aircraft were involved or how many aircraft will deploy to Arbil. "There's still some decisions that have yet to be made on exact sourcing solutions," Kirby told news hounds. But he indicated that US bombing raids in Iraq would expand in support of Iraqi government and Kurdish forces battling the IS murderous Moslems. "The kind of support we're going to be giving to Iraqi forces will be more aggressive from the air," Kirby said, without providing details. His comments came a day after President Barack Obama Because I won... 's vow to wage a "relentless" war against the IS turbans in Iraq and Syria, under a plan that relies on US air power while arming and training local forces battling the jihadists. Since August 8, US aircraft have carried out more than 150 bombing raids in Iraq, with most of the strikes targeting IS snuffies threatening djinn-infested Mosul ... the home of a particularly ferocious and hairy djinn... dam. Obama's strategy calls for more more assistance for local forces in Iraq and "moderate" rebel fighters in Syria, with an additional 475 troops to serve as "advisers" to Iraqi troops or in support roles. The additional troops, which will bring the total number of US forces in Iraq to 1,600, will start arriving in Iraq "next week," Kirby said. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #7 As per the MSM-Net, TURKEY has turned the Bammer = USA down again ala use of its airpsace for anti-ISIS strikes. * GROONG > TURKEY GOES AGAINST THE US IN [air?] CAMPAIGN AGZ ISIS. OTOH ... ... * WORLD NEWS > [Atlanta JournaL] US WEAKENS [weakened?] AL-QAEDA GROUPs AROUND THE WORLD, BUT HASN'T WIPED OUT ANY OF THEM. To once again paraph KRAUTHAMMER, "SAY IT WID ME, AMERIKA, OOOOOOOPPPPPPPPSSSSS"! WINNER = ISIS CALIPHATE + FUTURE US CONVERT TO ISLAM AKA "ISLAMIC MAHDI/HIDDEN IMAM". |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2014-09-12 22:59 |
| #6 We've been operating in alliance, covertly, since Desert Storm. This includes the Clinton years. We can trust the Kurds, I personally have. Issue is, given the fecklessness of Obama first with Hildabeeste and now with Ketchup Kerry, can the Kurds trust us? |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2014-09-12 12:24 |
| #5 Saddam has most runways at most airports in Iraq capable of handling combat aircraft. Rumor has it that most of the major highways in Iraq, built under Saddam, had pavement cross sections capable of handling anything up to Class V aircraft, that's an Antonov 244 for the uninitiated. |
| Posted by: Bill Clinton 2014-09-12 10:30 |
| #4 From people who have recently returned from Irbil, there was a CIA base in operation at least as long ago as six months. And there has recently been "modern" construction at the airport which has a huge runway. |
| Posted by: Beldar Sloque3832 2014-09-12 09:27 |
| #3 Can we protect our airplanes and related personnel in Arbil/Erbil without boots on the ground? War has many steep and slippery slopes, Mr. President! |
| Posted by: Bobby 2014-09-12 07:31 |
| #2 Can we be depended on to protect the Kurds? |
| Posted by: BrerRabbit 2014-09-12 07:21 |
| #1 Can the ?Kurds be depended on for force protection? |
| Posted by: Shipman 2014-09-12 07:03 |