Article

2014-08-26 Iraq

US Special Ops Sources: ISIS an 'Incredible' Fighting Force,

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by gorb 2014-08-26 12:00|| || Front Page|| [2 views ] Top

#1 In 1991 the US govn't & media kept harping on 'the battle hardened' Iraqi Army. This recent reticense regarding ISIL just IMO CYA phoney baloney nonsense. (I'm presuming we don't fight them with both hands tied behind our back.)

Posted by borgboy 2014-08-26 13:00|| 2014-08-26 13:00|| Front Page Top

#2 Arent they syrian/ex saddam army guys?

Posted by Paul D 2014-08-26 13:12|| 2014-08-26 13:12|| Front Page Top

#3 Where to start.

Battle hardened? Palestinians could be considered battle hardened after decades of war, that doesn't always translate to good. Especially when fighting a western army and not other 3rd worlders.

There is a huge difference between the tactics and stratgeies of a guerrilla or terrorist army and one fighting large scale battles. We really should have hit them when they marched towards Baghdad, they'd be dead and buried by now.

I have read up on the Chechyns and they are bold and brave and appropriately suicidal and they pulled off wonders against an untrained Russian conscript army but I don't see them screwing around with Putin's Russia and I suspect they are picking fights with teh weak horse (which is Obama of course).

Posted by rjschwarz 2014-08-26 14:25|| 2014-08-26 14:25|| Front Page Top

#4 Is this a ping-pong game? First, the administration (mainly Obama) says these guys are the JV. Then he goes on vacation and Hagel and Demsey hold a news conference and say we have to do something about the worst scourge since Ghengis Khan. Then Obama flies in from vacation and says these guys aren't so bad.

The administration and Obama should quit talking. Quit reacting to the 24/7 news cycle every time someone sneezes. Develop a strategy. It's prudent to never underestimate your enemy.

Posted by JohnQC 2014-08-26 15:25|| 2014-08-26 15:25|| Front Page Top

#5 "Develop a strategy"

Unfortunately, I think they already have, John. :-(

Posted by Barbara 2014-08-26 15:38|| 2014-08-26 15:38|| Front Page Top

#6 ISIS was known in Iraq even before the surge but lacked as much challenge by US forces as Al Qeada

Posted by newc 2014-08-26 15:45|| 2014-08-26 15:45|| Front Page Top

#7 "Well funded" says far more than well trained.

Posted by Iblis 2014-08-26 19:09|| 2014-08-26 19:09|| Front Page Top

#8 They are clearly well funded and have quality talent. Here is my theory.

The Syrian government created ISIS to kill off the other opposition groups and to be a foil against which to demonstrate the Assad regime's reasonableness. Much of their talent is from Syrian Army "defectors".

The whole dam thing will collapse as soon as everyone agrees to support Assad in fighting them, and he provides an amnesty to get his minions to return to the fold.

This is where a strategy would help. Decide who is worse, Assad or ISIS, then ally with the other to kill the worst one. Sadly, then ally with everyone else in the world to kill that fool who allied with you in the first place. Because they both need to go.

Posted by rammer 2014-08-26 20:38|| 2014-08-26 20:38|| Front Page Top

#9 I don't subscribe to the conspiracy, but there's a strong Sunni Baathist hand in ISIS

Posted by Frank G 2014-08-26 21:02|| 2014-08-26 21:02|| Front Page Top

#10 Assad harbored Iraqi Baathists, for the record.

Posted by Pappy 2014-08-26 22:02|| 2014-08-26 22:02|| Front Page Top

23:34 anon1
23:20 JosephMendiola
23:10 JosephMendiola
23:07 JosephMendiola
23:00 JosephMendiola
22:53 phil_b
22:04 Pappy
22:03 Pappy
22:02 Pappy
21:11 Procopius2k
21:08 Zhang Fei
21:04 Frank G
21:03 Frank G
21:03 badanov
21:02 Frank G
20:52 Alaska Paul
20:51 Alaska Paul
20:49 Alaska Paul
20:47 borgboy
20:38 rammer
20:31 Rex Mundi
20:30 USN, Ret.
20:26 USN, Ret.
20:23 3dc