Iraq and ISIS Discussion

[AWP]

We should help the Kurds because we've played this big brother (post Desert Storm) or partner in war (Iraq 2003 now ISIS) roles and then let them down. We take a dump on nearly every third world ally we've ever met, recruited, thought about, used, or seen. Starting with the Hmong and working through to the present the list of abandoned allies is long, distinguished, and heartbreaking. We should help the Kurds if for no other reason than to stop looking like shitheads and start looking like the leader we claim to be.

 

[CQB]

I couldn't agree more, and it's good for it to be recognised, esp. by one of the home team. It must be a national trait as I've worked with a U.S. global corporate and it's the same type of thing. But every nationality broadly speaking had its pecadelloes, Chinese copy things well etc., it gets down to an acceptance of "plus a change plus a meme chose." But I digress...

 

[Brill]

We should help the Kurds if for no other reason than to stop looking like shitheads and start looking like the leader we claim to be.

Gotta wait for Jan 2017 for that one.

 

[DA SWO]

Gotta wait for Jan 2017 for that one.

Republicans throw allies under the bus just as quick as the dems.

 

[Brill]

I believe Jack Sparrow said it best, "That's interesting."

Mosul's Vigilante Brigades Risk It All To Take On IS

 

[pardus]

I believe Jack Sparrow said it best, "That's interesting."

Mosul's Vigilante Brigades Risk It All To Take On IS

Good luck to them!

 

[AWP]

Fortunately the Russians are in town and ready to help.

Here’s how the Russian Air Force moved 28 aircraft to Syria (almost) undetected

The photographs taken from space gave us the possibility to identify the combat planes as 4x Su-30SMs, 12x Su-25s (based on their color scheme, these are Su-25SMs belonging to the 368th Assault Aviation Regiment from Budyonnovsk) and 12 Su-24M2s along with about a dozen helicopters, including 10 Mi-24PN, Mi-35M and a couple of Mi-8AMTSh choppers, from the 387th Army Aviation Air Base Budyonnovsk.

 

[Florida173]

Now that LH and the Russians are fighting together in Syria, it should make it interesting.

 

[pardus]

Now that LH and the Russians are fighting together in Syria, it should make it interesting.

LH?

 

[Grunt]

I think it's the Lebanese Hezbollah....

 

[Florida173]

My apologies, yes.. Lebanese Hezbollah

 

[pardus]

My apologies, yes.. Lebanese Hezbollah

Thank you.

 

[Crusader74]

As discussed, a necessary evil. Down range there'll be a couple more I'm sure. Bye bye Riyadh, hello Tehran.

I'm also in agreement. isil won't stop at Syria.. They have their sights set on the rest of the levant too. The west should have initially assisted Assad under the provision he step down as soon as the threat has been minimised.

 

[Florida173]

I'm also in agreement. isil won't stop at Syria.. They have their sights set on the rest of the levant too. The west should have initially assisted Assad under the provision he step down as soon as the threat has been minimised.

Sure.. The L in ISIL is Levant, but don't forget about their current efforts in northern Africa and all the way to Indonesia.

 

[Brill]

My apologies, yes.. Lebanese Hezbollah

EVERYTIME I say that during briefs I no shit say "Lezbanese Hezbollah"...so I just call 'em the Hizzies now.

 

[Crusader74]

EVERYTIME I say that during briefs I no shit say "Lezbanese Hezbollah"...so I just call 'em the Hizzies now.

There is a Hezbollah in Syria too, affiliated to Lebanese Hezbollah but different groups.

 

[DA SWO]

EVERYTIME I say that during briefs I no shit say "Lezbanese Hezbollah"...so I just call 'em the Hizzies now.

If they are angry would it be briefed as a Hizzy fit?

 

[Crusader74]

If they are angry would it be briefed as a Hizzy fit?

When I was deployed in the Lebanon, we referred to them as "the haries".. for obvious reasons..lol (epic beards wouldn't seem appropriate)
. lol

 

[Brill]

Good article with some valid points:

The Islamic State’s claim to rule as a “caliphate” will remain viable as long as it retains control over a significant amount of territory.

Killing senior leaders and striking other high-value targets is not enough to defeat the Islamic State or al Qaeda.

The Iraqi and Syrian governments, backed by Iran and Russia, are not capable of waging a true counterinsurgency campaign. In fact, their actions have, in many ways, contributed to the rise of the Islamic State, Al Nusrah Front and other Sunni jihadist groups. Iranian-sponsored extremism is fuel for the war.

US counterterrorism efforts in Syria: A winning strategy? | The Long War Journal

 

[poison]

So putin has gone from pariah to shaking hands with Obama and clinking champagne glasses, in 2 months. How long before sanctions against Russia are dropped? ;)