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| U.S. Intelligence has LOC of ISIS HQ complex in Raqqa, but won't bomb it. |
| 2015-05-27 |
| [New York Times] WASHINGTON -- American intelligence analysts have identified seven buildings in downtown Raqqa in eastern Syria as the main headquarters of the Islamic State. But the buildings have gone untouched during the 10-month allied air campaign. They're still trying to get Jamie Gorelick to sign off on the mission... And just last week, convoys of heavily armed Islamic State fighters paraded triumphantly through the streets of the provincial capital Ramadi in western Iraq after forcing Iraqi troops to flee. They rolled on unscathed by coalition fighter-bombers. Yes, the lack of kinetic engagement on the celebratory convoy was noted here last week, which combined with this article pretty much labels the Washington regimes campaign against ISIS a notional effort. That being said, perhaps our analysis should now turn to the reasons why. American and allied warplanes are equipped with the most precise aerial arsenal ever fielded. But American officials say they are not striking significant, and obvious, Islamic State targets out of fear that the attacks will accidentally kill civilians. Killing such innocents could hand the militants a major propaganda coup and alienate the local Sunni tribesmen, whose support is critical to ousting the militants, and Sunni Arab countries that are part of the fragile American-led coalition. But many Iraqi commanders and some American officers say that exercising such prudence with airstrikes is a major reason the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or Daesh, has been able to seize vast territory in recent months in Iraq and Syria. Now, now: we're dropping two, three bombs a day! How much more can we do? That caution -- coupled with President Obama's reluctance to commit significant American firepower to a war the White House declared over in 2011, when the last United States combat troops withdrew from Iraq -- has led to persistent complaints from Iraqi officials that the United States has been too cautious in its air campaign. Map depicting ISIS arterial flow and strategic Lines of Communication (LOC) from Raqqa. |
| Posted by:Besoeker |
| #15 Talkin' 29 stumps or LID {Lost In Desert}? Both, plus Eddie. Also lots of BLM land to roam upon. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2015-05-27 17:00 |
| #14 Goes back to warrior creed - Its not the sword, its the arm that wields it. Best sword in the world get beat to hell pretty quick if its used as a hammer. Best military on the planet doesnt matter if its being used wrong. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2015-05-27 15:16 |
| #13 SoCal, Talkin' 29 stumps or LID {Lost In Desert}? |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2015-05-27 15:15 |
| #12 California is not a Red State The primary SoCal op area listed as "insurgent" for the exercise tends to be, however. I understand why it's set up that way (remote and varying terrain, access to desirable sites, military facilities, etc.) But again, it tends to run more 'red' than the rest of the state. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2015-05-27 14:31 |
| #11 Now I understand why they haven't wacked any baby bunnies or fluffy ducks. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2015-05-27 14:02 |
| #10 Any big bombs used since Obama was in office? Say daisy cutter size or bigger. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2015-05-27 13:50 |
| #9 ... they'll acquiesce to negotiations. Negotiations? Send in the Harf Squad! |
| Posted by: SteveS 2015-05-27 12:34 |
| #8 That being said, perhaps our analysis should now turn to the reasons why. Perhaps Foggy Bottom is pressing for inaction, in the hopes that once IS acquires more of the trappings of a state, they'll acquiesce to negotiations. Posted by Pappy Yes, very likely. If one were a conspiracy theorist, you could easily make a case for a clandestine Yalta scenario; the Bear takes Eastern Europe, China takes the Asian Pacific, Iran negotiates hegemony over the ME and as much of Europe as it can populate, and so on. Leaving Afrika up for grabs, cold putu leftovers...so to speak. Of course all of this is [once again] meaningless, tin-hatted conspiracy ramblings. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2015-05-27 12:28 |
| #7 That being said, perhaps our analysis should now turn to the reasons why. If I was the President, which I'm not, I'd be looking to use ISIS as a club to bludgeon the Mad Mullahs in Iran. But it's hard to tell what Baraq is thinking. His Middle East policy is confused at best and the results have been disastrous. Maybe he's choomin' again. Maybe he never stopped. It looks like mostly he's thinking about his golf game and how to grant amnesty to illegal aliens. |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2015-05-27 12:18 |
| #6 Sorry but All of Hussein's military resources are committed to Jade Helm 15 operations dealing with red states from Texas to California. California is not a Red State. |
| Posted by: Woozle Scourge of the Wee Folk4194 2015-05-27 12:13 |
| #5 Sorry but All of Hussein's military resources are committed to Jade Helm 15 operations dealing with red states from Texas to California. |
| Posted by: Ebbomosh Hupemp2664 2015-05-27 11:03 |
| #4 Perhaps Foggy Bottom is pressing for inaction, in the hopes that once IS acquires more of the trappings of a state, they'll acquiesce to FIFY |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2015-05-27 10:52 |
| #3 That being said, perhaps our analysis should now turn to the reasons why Perhaps Foggy Bottom is pressing for inaction, in the hopes that once IS acquires more of the trappings of a state, they'll acquiesce to negotiations. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2015-05-27 10:48 |
| #2 Iraqi officials say the limited American airstrikes have allowed columns of Islamic State fighters essentially free movement on the battlefield. Doesn't look like we are taking of advantage of the situation when they aren't in Raqqa either. They didn't want us there. Many of them spilled the blood of Americans, so screw em. Let them bleed each other for awhile if they think being a Shite or being a Sunni is more important than forming a stable country. If ISIS gets larger aspirations outside of the area, give them hell and destroy them. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2015-05-27 08:01 |
| #1 400 civilans wer killed by ISIS few days ago just because Barka Hussein didn't want to kill afew terrorists out of uniform. |
| Posted by: JFM 2015-05-27 05:13 |