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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
US Officials: Media to Blame for Failure of Air Strike Strategy in Syria
2014-10-15
Despite lunching 46 cruise missiles last month on eight locations in northern Syria to destroy the Khorasan group’s training camps, there were only one or two key militants killed, US officials told the Press Agency That Cannot Be Named.

The officials said US-led airstrikes were ineffective because IS members were able to scatter as they learned of the targets from the media, highlighting a September 13 report by the AyPee, which disclosed the group’s significance, causing members to flee.

“The Press Agency That Cannot Be Named can speak only for itself and its reporting. The AyPee’s Sept. 13 story revealing the name and other details about the Khorasan Group was the product of weeks of reporting with sources, most of whom were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. Representatives of the US government asked the AyPee to withhold from the story some details AyPee had confirmed, but the AyPee declined to do that.” Erin Madigan White, The Press Agency That Cannot Be Named Senior Media Relations Manager responded.

Questions about civilian deaths from US counterterrorism operations sometimes result in heated internal policy debates on effectiveness of the air strikes. According to local activist Mohammed Abu Omar, one of the cruise missiles killed a dozen civilians in a town west of Aleppo.

“For me and those in my chain of command, those deaths will haunt us as long as we live.” said Obama addressing the subject in a speech at the National Defense University, as he acknowledged for the first time that US strikes have resulted in civilian casualties.

The targets hit by guided missiles were in territory controlled by the Nusra Front, a sometimes ally of the US backed rebels in its war with the Islamic State and the Syrian regime.
Posted by:Pappy

#18  This is now called "Operation Inherent Resolve". Bad, but much catchier than "Operation CINC Has No Balls."

More like Operation Inherent Incompetence.
Posted by: Pappy   2014-10-15 21:38  

#17  Turkey has announced that Syrian-Kurds are now allowed to cross into Syria to fight ISIS.

Prior to the announcement, Kurd holdouts had already started retaking other hills overlooking Kobane after intense US airstrikes killed 100's of ISIS in their positions in and around Kobane.
Posted by: Ebbomosh Hupemp2664   2014-10-15 19:00  

#16  Military strategy is owned by the Commander in Chief/President. It is executed by DOD. When it fails we find out why in the after action so we never do it again. The failure however, IS owned by the Commander in Chief. "YOU CANT BE A PART TIME COMMANDER IN CHIEF MR PRESIDENT."
Posted by: 49 Pan   2014-10-15 17:19  

#15  This is now called "Operation Inherent Resolve". Bad, but much catchier than "Operation CINC Has No Balls."
Posted by: Matt   2014-10-15 15:57  

#14  The officials said US-led airstrikes were ineffective because IS members were able to scatter as they learned of the targets from the media, highlighting a September 13 report by the AyPee, which disclosed the group’s significance, causing members to flee.

Paging Col. Boyd... Col. Boyd to the white courtesy phone. I suspect target approval has to go up the chain to the White House and back down. If your enemies can find out about your targeting plans from a wire service quicker than you can execute them, you might as well not bother. All those pointless explosions will just add to global warming.
Posted by: SteveS   2014-10-15 15:42  

#13  Sure they can, Deacon. It's already started. >:-(
Posted by: Barbara   2014-10-15 14:52  

#12  Nice to see that the AP doesn't play favorites - now.
Posted by: Pappy   2014-10-15 14:51  

#11  Well, they can't blame Bush or the Republicans this time.
Posted by: Deacon Blues   2014-10-15 14:42  

#10  Denial always leads to excellent results.
Posted by: gorb   2014-10-15 14:02  

#9  In the border town of Kobani, Kurd fighters making progress against Sunni militants, hours after the US-led coalition stepped up airstrikes in and around the town.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2014-10-15 12:18  

#8  P2K: We have an internal rot in Washington now that we didn't have then ('44-'45). We have enemies at home and abroad.
Posted by: JohnQC   2014-10-15 10:45  

#7  Questions about civilian deaths from US counterterrorism operations sometimes result in heated internal policy debates on effectiveness of the air strikes.

Never seem to be a problem from '44-'45 when we bombed the crap out of people. Side effect of which, two nations with a long history of militarism don't seem eager to get into conflicts these days.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2014-10-15 09:37  

#6  Too much stupidity in one article for me to read without raging.
Posted by: DarthVader   2014-10-15 08:52  

#5  Where's the Irony Meter? Champ's boy have just figured out the media is not on their side, either!
Posted by: Bobby   2014-10-15 07:42  

#4  Like the common whore, the media demands no loyalty, only tribute, and it is very well paid. Besides, progressives owe loyalty only to themselves, as is evidenced by so many cheese-eating, tell all books.
Posted by: Besoeker   2014-10-15 07:18  

#3  The Obola-rot disease has totally infected the entire country when the military starts this.

We are so screwed.

those deaths will haunt us as long as we live.” said Obama

Yeah right a$$#ole. Like the ambassador? Like the ATF agent? Like all the others you've caused and allowed with nary a shrug?

Stick it where the sun don't shine.
Posted by: AlanC   2014-10-15 07:09  

#2  and the media were informed by the same big-mouthed ass-covering tools of this regime
Posted by: Frank G   2014-10-15 07:03  

#1  
Posted by: Big Thromoth3646   2014-10-15 06:58  

00:00