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| Iraq |
| Pentagon expects more raids similar to Iraq rescue |
| 2015-10-25 |
| [AlArabiya] A U.S.-backed military operation that freed 70 hostages who had been held by ISIS in Iraq produced a cache of intelligence, and U.S. forces supporting Iraqi troops are likely to undertake more raids in the future, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Friday. Carter said he decided on the rescue mission after intelligence showed that executions were imminent and mass graves had been dug. "When we find opportunities to do things that will effectively prosecute the campaign we're going to do that ... raids is one of those categories and I suspect that we'll have further opportunities in the future and we're going to avail ourselves of them," Carter said. The U.S.-led coalition against ISIS will also intensify its assault on the group's oil production and sales enterprise, Carter said, pointing as an example to a recent strike against a pump station and site for crude oil production in eastern Syria. Overseeing those efforts will be Lieutenant General Sean MacFarland, who Carter placed in charge of counter-ISIS activities in Iraq and Syria. Three general had previously shared responsibility. MacFarland pioneered the use of a Sunni force called Sahwa (Awakening) that worked with U.S. troops to defeat al-Qaeda in Iraq six years ago, Carter said. "His efforts will be critical in the coming months as we continue to provide support for capable partners fighting on the front lines," Carter said. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #8 It is funny they announce this now while the Prez vetos military cash. It is never fun on a 90 day acquisition process to have to wait for funds. Supporting this logistically is - how do you say - negligible |
| Posted by: newc 2015-10-25 19:51 |
| #7 Whatever yields good PR, eh? When the New York Times, the Washington Post and Foreign Policy are all shuffling to the far end of the political room near the door, you send the SecDef over with a tray of free drinks and canapes. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2015-10-25 13:41 |
| #6 And it would also seem to me that you'd need an officer who can launch the QRF without having to ask Champ. Since Champ's OODA loop can be measured in geologic time. |
| Posted by: Matt 2015-10-25 11:52 |
| #5 Ditto Dr. White. A healthy 'Quick Reaction Force' (QRF) numbering 2-3 times the size of of the raiding force must be available. The QRF must be in-country and ready to board helos immediately, or already airborne. Medical EVAC and Tactical Air Support must also be on station or stand-by. These are complex, high risk operations that must be well thought out and enjoy the highest degree of operational security. Expect Friendly Killed in Action (FKIA) and MIA. It's simply the cost of doing this type of business. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2015-10-25 10:10 |
| #4 All well and good, but we'll need more than 3500 of our people in Iraq if we're going to do this. Had we kept 12K or so there back in 2009 instead of pulling out, we wouldn't be putting up with this today, and duty in Iraq would be like duty in South Korea in the 1960s. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2015-10-25 10:02 |
| #3 ..yep, that's the kind of warfare these guys fight, PR. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2015-10-25 09:03 |
| #2 Whatever yields good PR, eh? |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2015-10-25 05:49 |
| #1 Ok fine, just don't forget the ambush over the Wardak Province on Aug. 6, 2011 that led to the crash of a CH-47 Chinook and loss of 30 American lives. They're not stupid, they'll be waiting on you. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2015-10-25 04:32 |