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2014-08-08 Iraq

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Posted by OldSpook 2014-08-08 00:15|| || Front Page|| [7 views ] Top
File under: Islamic State

For once, I applaud President Obama in his actions as CinC.

Yes, you can be officially shocked with that statement coming from me.

Just be sure to follow through (keep supplying the Kurds with weapons and ammunition, especially artillery rounds).

Posted by OldSpook 2014-08-08 00:34|| 2014-08-08 00:34|| Front Page Top

#2 Yeah it would be applaud-able....

If it wasn't too little to late and a dollar short.

Posted by DarthVader 2014-08-08 00:49|| 2014-08-08 00:49|| Front Page Top

#3 I'm withholding my praise. I fear this is little more than Obama theater.

Posted by Besoeker 2014-08-08 00:53|| 2014-08-08 00:53|| Front Page Top

#4 Ladies and gentlemen, please hold your applause until you see pink ISIS mist on the battlefield . . . .

Posted by gorb 2014-08-08 01:28|| 2014-08-08 01:28|| Front Page Top

Kuwaiti 'Highway of Death.' This is how it is done, Bush and Darth Chaney did it in 1991 !

Posted by Besoeker 2014-08-08 01:42|| 2014-08-08 01:42|| Front Page Top

#6 You heard it first from? Here if you read the comments. Glad this got it's own post. Namaste, sorry for my brag.

Posted by mossomo 2014-08-08 02:43|| 2014-08-08 02:43|| Front Page Top

#7 Was there actually any action, or just a certain mouth flapping?

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2014-08-08 03:02|| 2014-08-08 03:02|| Front Page Top

#8 I authorized targeted airstrikes if necessary

Isn't it necessary already?

Posted by Willy 2014-08-08 04:23|| 2014-08-08 04:23|| Front Page Top

#9 Fact check on #5. Bush and Quale, not Chaney. Sorry.

Posted by Besoeker 2014-08-08 07:05|| 2014-08-08 07:05|| Front Page Top

#10 This is only to protect the 40,000 on the mountaintop and our personnel in Irbil. The IS can have everything else without interference by us.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2014-08-08 07:52|| 2014-08-08 07:52|| Front Page Top

#11 NS if that's the case then my praise was premature.

Posted by OldSpook 2014-08-08 08:34|| 2014-08-08 08:34|| Front Page Top

#12 Pentagon says we're bombing ISIS artillery positions outside Erbil.

Posted by Classical_Liberal 2014-08-08 10:02|| 2014-08-08 10:02|| Front Page Top

#13 And they announced it on twitter

Posted by Beavis 2014-08-08 10:20|| 2014-08-08 10:20|| Front Page Top

#14 OS, time will tell, but this is what the White House site has:

(")I’ve, therefore, authorized targeted airstrikes, if necessary, to help forces in Iraq as they fight to break the siege of Mount Sinjar and protect the civilians trapped there. Already, American aircraft have begun conducting humanitarian airdrops of food and water to help these desperate men, women and children survive. Earlier this week, one Iraqi in the area cried to the world, “There is no one coming to help.” Well today, America is coming to help. We’re also consulting with other countries -- and the United Nations -- who have called for action to address this humanitarian crisis."

The President also said that he understands many people are "rightly concerned about any American military action in Iraq, even limited strikes like these" -- and made clear that he "will not allow the United States to be dragged into fighting another war in Iraq."

"Even as we support Iraqis as they take the fight to these terrorists, American combat troops will not be returning to fight in Iraq," he said.

Note the very limited scope. He's doing just enough not to be blamed for the humanitarian crisis of people starving to death on a mountain top, but not enough to keep them from being beheaded on the plains.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2014-08-08 11:09|| 2014-08-08 11:09|| Front Page Top

#15 Pinprick (bullshit) reaction to internal US Politics per retired General McCaffrey. 2 missiles fired from two F/A-18 aircraft just to say he is bombing ISIS. The day I give the SOB jackass in the Oval office any credibility is for the day he enters the furnaces of Hell.

Posted by Thineng Angailet7166 2014-08-08 12:08|| 2014-08-08 12:08|| Front Page Top

#16 Trivia (but sort of instructive): the "highway of death" had very little death on it. Once lead/trailing vehicles were hit, and column stopped, most personnel high-tailed it away from their vehicles (of which only a small number were actually hit, from the entire column). Know someone who got to the scene very soon (probably first Coalition contact) after the attack. Very few bodies, lots of footprints. Combined smell of burning tires/vehicles and ..... perfume, quite strong from a distance.

Anyway, back on-topic. The WH's hand is being forced by events. Events they have long had a chance to affect but refused to do so, of course. As is to be expected, there is no clear or sensible approach - we'll bomb only where ISIS makes a break-through, or threatens a US consulate or coordination team, even if all of Nineveh and Anbar and Salah al-Din become Cambodian killing fields? The standard (idiotic) "no boots on the ground" nonsense?

Unserious country, with an unserious electorate, and unserious institutions.

The only interesting question to me is separate: WTF with the peshmerga's operations and (rumored) logistics issues? They've been arming/stockpiling for 20+ years. I find it very hard to believe they have logistics issues.

Posted by Verlaine 2014-08-08 12:09|| 2014-08-08 12:09|| Front Page Top

#17 Flashback Video: Obama Brags “We’re Leaving Behind a Sovereign, Stable And Self-Reliant Iraq”…

Posted by Uncle Phester 2014-08-08 12:25|| 2014-08-08 12:25|| Front Page Top

#18 I saw the so-called "Highway of Death". Other than command vehicles, and the column leads, the vehicles were abandoned before they were destroyed. The Zoomies did a good job of the Air-Land battle doctrine of taking out the Antenna vehicles, knowing the lower echelons would be paralyzed -- with the result of them deciding to ride out on their LPCs instead of their vehicles. A lot of looters in that area too - stolen vehicles filled with stolen stuff - thats another reason they bailed instead of maintaining military discipline. Hard to believe we are nearly as far removed from that as the Tet offensive was from the Battle of the Bulge.

Back to the topic at hand: It sounds like they may have authorized some limited strikes around Mosul, which will be of great value for the Kurds. My bet is these are designed to interdict and isolate the forces at the Mosul dam, and a few key logistics and maneuver related points. Its a minimal amount of strikes, certainly low risk. But it would help the Kurds immensely if coupled with solid resupply, and some humanitarian aid so they don't have to deal with that logistically, allowing them to concentrate on fighting and securing the areas instead of feeding refugees. However, they do have long experience of running refugee camps in their history, so they will be able to organize such things quickly and well. This is one case where I hope the US and UN are up to the task of pouring food, shelter and equipment for civilian life into the region. The Kurds will put it to good use, unlike the Paleostinians or Africans, for example.

One thing that's interesting is the Turks and Erdogan. I wonder what his game is? Is he getting a quid pro quo from the Kurds in Turkey, politically? Rumor has it he is supporting them in exchange for their tacit electoral support in Turkey. Im not so sure thats a good thing in the long run, but for now, it seems to be a bad but necessary temporary step.

Posted by OldSpook 2014-08-08 12:40|| 2014-08-08 12:40|| Front Page Top

#19 These are the days our children will call us on for sticking our heads in the sand and allowing the new Nazis to take root in this world. We are standing by, doing nothing, while evil flourishes. It will soon be here in America, we wont get lucky like we did in WWII. He dropped two bombs. Its like going to the superbowl and hanging out in the hotel watching it on TV then saying you were there. As Islam creeps into the fabric of our society under the false flag of multiculturalism our leaders are lost and without a clue. We have cancer and are rotting from within, I only wonder if we will realize the path we're on in time to fix it...

Posted by 49 Pan 2014-08-08 12:50|| 2014-08-08 12:50|| Front Page Top

#20 Verklane - they've had 20+ years of rule under other governments. Its nearly impossible to stockpile artillery to any extent in a clandestine manner, That's been the issue -- not small arms, but the stuff that differentiates an army from a rabble: artillery. Also, basic strategic reserve comes into play. The bulk of their artillery is recent acquisition from the Iraqi Army - meaning they have not had that much time to stockpile it. So what they do have, they are reserving for last-etch defense of the Kurdish home areas. The fighting you see in the new is forward of that, in areas the Kurds advanced into when the Iraqi Army abandoned it. The Kurds were NOT set up with the ability to logistically support heavy weaponry when forward deployed like that. Unlike a lot of militaries, the Kurdish one is not set up for large offensives (taking and holding large swaths of territory), and is relatively untrained in it. They did this current advance into these areas out of necessity, in order to provide a buffer against ISIS incursion.

Without a lot more ammunition, heavy weapons resupply, fuel, and logistics "advise" (From US "advisors" on the ground there), the Kurds will not be able to sustain the forward positions without risking their own homeland and population security. THAT is why they need more supply.

Posted by OldSpook 2014-08-08 12:55|| 2014-08-08 12:55|| Front Page Top

#21 Verlane, to put it in more personal terms, place yourself in this survival situation: Society has collapsed, but thanks to your foresight, you have enough ammunition and firearms to secure your home - you even managed to scavenge a bit more form the local police station when they ran away. But the bandits did so as well - and they have a nasty habit of taking homes from people to use as a base to take other homes and kill the pople in them that they don't like. So you reach out and help secure your neighbors, to provide more safety to your house by securing theirs, basically buying time with distance (an old military axiom).

Will your firearms and ammunition be enough to secure both their homes AND yours? No? Then the prudent thing to do would be to keep what you need for your home defense at your house, and only venture out just enough to keep a presence in your heighbors' homes - but if the bad guys come, and they decide to fight hard, you'll need to retreat back to your place once you run low on the limited ammo you have with you.

If the Army comes by and offers you heavier weapons (like RPGs and a machine gun), and a lot more ammo, would that enable you to take the fight out to bandits to protect your neighbors houses without the fear of endangering your own? Yes. THAT is why the Kurds are asking for more ammunition and heavy weapons and resupply.

Posted by OldSpook 2014-08-08 13:00|| 2014-08-08 13:00|| Front Page Top

#22 Old Spook, I understand the framework you've set up re Kurds and logistics, I'm still just skeptical that in the 20+ years of de facto independence (armed, vigilant, uncertain independence) Kurdistan didn't acquire a lot more in the way of medium weaponry and logistics capacity. Did not spend that much time up north, but when I was there, and also from constant interaction with MNF-I staff officers, I had the impression they had far more than just light arms.

Factual question, I may be completely wrong, but I find it baffling. In a similar vein, I find it hard to believe ISIS is "all that" militarily, notwithstanding the loot they captured in their big offensive. Even with some old Iraqi Army collaborators/Sunnis to help them.

Then again, I'm increasingly baffled by Iraq. I have expected the tribes to be much, much, much more of a problem for the crazy foreigners than they appear to have been. Then again I am seeing zero granular/reliable/meaningful info out of ISIS-stan.

Posted by Verlaine 2014-08-08 13:59|| 2014-08-08 13:59|| Front Page Top

#23 The Kurds DO have gear. But, as is typical with them, they don't want to risk losing any of it or using it up, in anything other than defense of their own "homeland". That's where they hide the stuff. And the 20+ years were not all free - certain elements in the US (State Dept) did not want them to accumulate heavy weaponry and any decent amount of artillery ammunition, because it becomes a threat to our "ally" (NATO) Turkey. That was certainly the case during the no-fly 90's. Syria, Iraq, Iran and Turkey all have interests in keeping the Kurds poorly armed and supplied, and have acted to do so prior to OIF. Post OIF, the Shia government has not trusted the Kurds, so they have pressured the US to limit and restrict supplies as well. So yes, they had 20 years, but the main thing they accumulated was what typical guerrilla armies accumulate: a lot of small arms, and not much else. And ISIS is operating artillery, heavy weapons, and is highly trained and well equipped. A lot of the Baathist batboys went over, as did AQI baddies who were looking for a more "hard core" element once the US kicked AQI ass.

So its not as simple as what you saw with the MNF. A lot of what you saw is what the Shia wanted you to see. And a lot of what the Kurds didn't want you to see was well tucked away. The Kurds have learned hard from history.

The other branch you seem to be missing is that the Peshmerga are not trained in offensive warfare. Think about that - they are NOT operating outside of home areas typically, and are not trained to do so. Nor did US/Wester ... "advisors/contractors" train them to do so, because it was never imagined that they would need to assume a strategic offensive posture in non-Kurdish areas.

As for ISIS - these are some of the hardest of the hard boys, and apparently a lot of Qatari money has been poured in to equip and train them before they cut loose. Pleanty of money can buy plenty of training for the cadres, and then they train up locals. Also, these ISIS are not typical Arabs - they speak Modern Standard Arabic, but are not Arab themselves. They've "imported" thousands from elsewhere. The west's leadership was self absorbed and disinterested, for the most part, and were therefore deliberately ignoring Syria in the years it took to build up to this. The "suddenness" is an artifact of US press blackout of coverage of the mess in Syria to protect Obama. For anyone watching the region carefully, this was a known group, and it was known to be strengthening rapidly from resources outside and inside the region.

More than that I cannot say.

Posted by OldSpook 2014-08-08 14:18|| 2014-08-08 14:18|| Front Page Top

#24 And that is why Rantburg is the best site on the internet.

Posted by rjschwarz 2014-08-08 14:28|| 2014-08-08 14:28|| Front Page Top

#25 Thank you, gentlemen.

Posted by trailing wife 2014-08-08 14:49|| 2014-08-08 14:49|| Front Page Top

#26 Wiping out anyone with a black flag is fine with me

Posted by European Conservative 2014-08-08 16:50|| 2014-08-08 16:50|| Front Page Top

#27 Afternoon pickled news from Rooters:
STRIKE TARGETED MILITANT ARTILLERY ~~the otherwise unidentified source in this article~~ Kirby said the decision to strike was made by the U.S. Central Command commander under the authorization granted by ~~Fundamental-Transformer-in-Chief~~ Obama.

He said it occurred at 6:45 a.m. EDT, or 1:45 p.m. in Arbil (1045 GMT). According to military officials, the strike was launched from an aircraft carrier, the USS George H.W. Bush.

An allied government source familiar with intelligence reports said the main target of the first U.S. air strike was an Islamic State artillery battery comprised of U.S.-made weapons ~~transferred~~ stolen from the retreating Iraqi army.

Washington has indications ~~a big column of black smoke was seen through the distant haze~~ the artillery targeted in the strikes was destroyed, a U.S. defense official said.

Sunni fighters from the Islamic State, an al Qaeda offshoot bent on ~~mass production and dissemination of jihadi snuff films / world domination~~ establishing a caliphate and ~~robbing terrorizing torturing beheading mutilating crucifying exterminating killing~~ eradicating non-believers, have swept through northern Iraq since June. They are now encroaching on Arbil, seat of the Kurdish region's parliament and temporary home to ~~thousands~~ scores of refugees ~~running for their lives~~ who have fled other parts of Iraq.

U.S. officials said ~~"D'oh!"~~ it was too soon to say ~~little, if anything was accomplished~~ whether events of the last 24 hours have prompted them to fall back from Arbil.

While Obama has insisted ~~on a fundamental change in the essence of~~ the United States will not commit ground troops again, since June he has ~~contradicted himself, while hoping none notices his lack of focus and inconsistency~~ by order~~ing (hey, Reuters, hire me to proofread this stuff!)~~ed some 700 soldiers into Iraq to protect diplomatic personnel and facilities and to assess the state of Iraq's military, much of which melted away in the face of the ~~bloodthirsty barbarian hordes of~~ the Islamic State advance.

Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2014-08-08 17:31|| 2014-08-08 17:31|| Front Page Top

#28 The Islamic State is expanding in all directions, following paths of least resistance. Recent bolstering of Shia positions by Iran and minions temporarily took pressure off Shia areas and made the North the most vulnerable area. US bolstering of the Kurdish North will send the Islamic State in yet other directions because the Kurds should be able to hold if assisted by our air power. The jihadists have already been probing Lebanon.

Posted by Odysseus 2014-08-08 17:53|| 2014-08-08 17:53|| Front Page Top

#29 So the strikes were launched from the USS Bush. He can now say in total honesty the strikes are Bush's fault....

Posted by 49 Pan 2014-08-08 18:22|| 2014-08-08 18:22|| Front Page Top

#30 FYI, strikes have gone in on ISIS armored vehicles. Apparently the Iraqi Army gave up a lot of tanks and AFVs, and the ISIS is rolling them at Irbil, in hopes of launching an armored overrun before TOW and heavy weapons get to the Kurds.

And yes, the Kurd retreater were in many places caused by facing armor with nothing more than small arms. The thing is, Irbil is home ground for them. ISIS enters, it will be a blood bath, they will fight in the rubble against the armor - think the defense of Stalingrad. Unless the US airstrikes go on, things are going to get very bloody for both sides. The ISIS deaths I welcome, my Kurdish compatriots, not. But the Kurds will exact a very dear price for ISIS if attacked on their home turf. I don't know if ISIS realizes that, or is stupid, or just doesn't care if they die in large numbers.

Posted by OldSpook 2014-08-08 19:01|| 2014-08-08 19:01|| Front Page Top

#31 Jordan is already on alert -- and they have the best professional army in the region outside of the Israelis.

Posted by OldSpook 2014-08-08 19:03|| 2014-08-08 19:03|| Front Page Top

#32 Ditto 24 and 25. Thanks.

Posted by Matt 2014-08-08 19:29|| 2014-08-08 19:29|| Front Page Top

#33 I agree about the competence of the Jordan army, OldSpook. However, Jordan does have a certain number of citizens with 5th column sentiments who could get excited if/when jihadists come close. I'm guessing domestic unrest would be one of their principal concerns, so Jordan should hit the Islamists hard and fast from the outset, if they come close, to avoid internal excitement.

I would expect US strikes to continue if Irbil is attacked, so the Kurds wouldn't be outgunned in my opinion.

Posted by Odysseus 2014-08-08 20:37|| 2014-08-08 20:37|| Front Page Top

#34 this is really put a crimp in his Martha's Vineyard vacay and golf

Posted by Frank G on the road 2014-08-08 20:39|| 2014-08-08 20:39|| Front Page Top

#35 Up to 900 ISIS fighter in Iraq carry US passports. Keep bombing, we don't want them to come home.

Posted by 49 Pan 2014-08-08 20:43|| 2014-08-08 20:43|| Front Page Top

#36 Nine hundred, 49 Pan? That would make them one of the larger international contingents, no?

Posted by trailing wife 2014-08-08 21:55|| 2014-08-08 21:55|| Front Page Top

#37 Far more Chechens

Posted by OldSpook 2014-08-08 23:57|| 2014-08-08 23:57|| Front Page Top

23:57 OldSpook
23:53 JosephMendiola
23:26 AuburnTom
22:37 Procopius2k
21:55 trailing wife
21:38 trailing wife
21:28 Odysseus
21:13 Anguper Hupomosing9418
20:54 Frank G on the road
20:52 Frank G on the road
20:43 49 Pan
20:39 Frank G on the road
20:37 Odysseus
20:31 Frank G on the road
20:26 tu3031
20:16 JosephMendiola
20:08 JosephMendiola
19:54 Secret Master
19:47 Jerkface Killa
19:29 Matt
19:28 phil_b
19:03 OldSpook
19:01 OldSpook
18:52 Old Patriot