The US Central Command said in a statement that several airstrikes were launched near Kobani since Tuesday. It said four airstrikes south of Kobani destroyed an Islamic State group armored personnel carrier, an artillery piece and three armed vehicles, damaging a fourth. It said a fifth airstrike destroyed an armed vehicle and a sixth destroyed an artillery piece.
Since Monday night, the strikes have killed 45 Islamic State fighters in and around Kobani, targeting 20 separate locations and destroying at least five of their vehicles, said the Britain-based Observatory, which relies on a network of activists inside Syria.
The news lies. I have no doubt but what we're bombing them and have destroyed a few pieces of equipment, but we have nobody on the ground and don't have any idea what's really going on.
ReplyDeleteTrue, but, at least there is some bombing. With a little air support, and maybe the gift of some accurate artillery pieces, I trust that the Kurds can take care of things themselves
DeleteHow do you know that we didn't hit the Kurds?
DeleteThis is the problem with an air campaign. I've been on the receiving end of US artillery and air strikes and it's no high school prom. This is the problem when there is nobody on the ground and you're doing arc light strikes from B-52's
They may have, but at least the news is that ISIS has stopped advancing and even retreated in some areas. That's good. Might be back to bad news tomorrow, but we can savor some good today.
DeleteOn another note, I simply don't know why air power couldn't eliminate every visible tank, artillery piece or Humvee around Kobani, ISIS likely stole it all from the hapless Iraqis, who got it from us in turn, so let's tag it all. Your thoughts?
For the record, we left the Kurds with the same US equipment. I don't trust the news. Maybe it's reliable this time. Usually you can get a better read from Pravda these days than you can from CNN. I hate to say that, but it's true. The US media has been completely co-opted. I hope it's good news from the front but I'm with anonymous (below) on this.
Deletesorry c w, but this is the pResident's un-named campaign. the military is fully capable of of exactly what you suggest, but not with a commander that is hindering the operation to minimize enemy casualties. Just have to appear to the public and the world that he is doing something.
ReplyDeleteYeah.
DeleteTranslation....... 3 camels were taken out.
ReplyDeleteSerious war. Thousand plane fire bombing raids which killed hundreds of thousands. Atomic weapons used on cities. It was how you shaped minds that failed to understand grace. "oh, hi, we blew up a car today...." so not sincere. They think of destroying the World Trade Center and America thinks jeepny.
ReplyDeletePlinking is like putting, it's what sportsman do when they're bored. We have become Dutch and pretend to play war.
I don't mind actually. We still have oceans between us and the enemy and the people our enemy most desperately want to kill live in New York City, Washington DC and San Francisco. They deserve each other.
LL: congratulations on survivng an arc-light strike. I've viewed one from a somewhat safer distance - the most awesome thing I've ever beheld; the finger of God drawn across the landscape.
ReplyDeleteBut now - one bomb for one truck is just plinking with JDAMs, literally too little, too late. The ISIL troops are already in Kobane, so now it's just a matter of house-to-house fighting. The Peshmerga will fight like hell but it's just numbers now, and air support is useless in that environment. Obama has to be seen to be doing something, but this is the equivalent of just phoning it in.
The impacts of 500-1000 lbs bombs going off move the earth and actually throw you out of the hole that you're hiding in so that the shrapnel will take you. It's no small thing.
DeleteInfantry holds territory. Air power doesn't. Airborne artillery (JDAM's) is wicked, but as you suggest, a truck here and a building there is a token. The Pesh Merga are brave fighters but there is a limit to their ability to sustain themselves in the field against a more numerous, well financed, well supplied and motivated Caliphate army.
I'm not worried about them. Back when I had access to the true news, they were enjoying themselves shooting other Kurds because they literally could not put business ahead of pleasure. Saddam wanted them all dead and the PKK and Peshmerga could not stop shooting at each other.
DeleteLL, moving the earth with gravity bombs is kind of like sex. You have to be there to appreciate it. Bombing as an art form is cool but it leaves dead children and little else behind. Super efficient airpower is like getting a blowjob from a tranny. You can do it but why would you?....OK, now I'm thinking of Elizabeth Hurley so so long.