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| Terror Networks |
| US moves pilot-rescue aircraft closer to battlefields |
| 2015-02-07 |
| [Gulf News] The gruesome killing of a Jordanian pilot who had crashed in Daesh territory laid bare a problem of the US-led coalition -- there is no sure way to rescue an airman who is down behind enemy lines. Now, in response, the US has moved search-and-rescue aircraft closer to the battlefield, defence officials said on Thursday. US pilots are flying missions over Syria daily from bases in the region, including from Qatar ...an emirate on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It sits on some really productive gas and oil deposits, which produces the highest per capita income in the world. They piss it all away on religion, financing the Moslem Brotherhood and several al-Qaeda affiliates... , and partner nations, including Jordan, Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... and Bahrain, are flying less often. The risk of capture is unavoidable in air combat missions anywhere. The danger is arguably greater for pilots flying over Syria with no US troops nearby, even though Daesh has a very limited ability to shoot down planes. The importance of finding the pilot before he is captured was highlighted by the video showing Daesh Death Eaters burning Jordanian Lt Muath Al Kasaesbeh alive in a cage. The US has flown nearly 900 combat missions over Iraq since last August and more than 900 over Syria since September -- not to mention hundreds of reconnaissance and other support missions -- without a single loss. Coalition pilots have flown more than 350 air strike missions over Iraq and 80 or more over Syria, with Al Kasaeasbeh the only casualty so far. Nonetheless, three defence officials said that in recent days the US has moved search-and-rescue aircraft into northern Iraq to shorten the response time in the event of another pilot loss. Al Kaseasbeh's plane went down in December and he was quickly captured by Daesh fighters before US rescue crews could reach him. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #6 To be fair, CSAR is difficult. My team lost an A-6 pilot we were in radio contact with, had a rescue-bird ETA 30 min and air cover hot inbound. The Iraqis showed up first. Still... bothers me. But putting your CSAR assets hours away is criminal. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2015-02-07 14:58 |
| #5 As our military is (once again) tied up by ROE, I would be inclined to place my faith more with potassium cyanide than The One. |
| Posted by: Hupineger Glomomp0038 2015-02-07 13:16 |
| #4 "Al Kasaeasbeh the only casualty so far" There will be few, if any, POWs released by IS. Ever. Start getting used to it. |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2015-02-07 12:50 |
| #3 But it's so much easier to keep the aircraft nice and shiny if we keep them in, oh, Delaware. |
| Posted by: ed in texas 2015-02-07 11:12 |
| #2 "CSAR is hard..." Even harder when you're cutting the CSAR budget to help pay for the damned F-35s. Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2015-02-07 09:09 |
| #1 "CSAR is hard!" - USAF General Barbie |
| Posted by: Pappy 2015-02-07 09:04 |