Small Wars Journal

U.S. Providing Little Information to Judge Progress Against Islamic State

Fri, 12/12/2014 - 5:43pm

U.S. Providing Little Information to Judge Progress Against Islamic State by Nancy A. Youssef , McClatchy

The American war against the Islamic State has become the most opaque conflict the United States has undertaken in more than two decades, a fight that’s so underreported that U.S. officials and their critics can make claims about progress, or lack thereof, with no definitive data available to refute or bolster their positions.

The result is that it’s unclear what impact more than 1,000 airstrikes on Iraq and Syria have had during the past four months. That confusion was on display at a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing earlier this week, where the topic — “Countering ISIS: Are We Making Progress?” — proved to be a question without an answer…

Read on.

Comments

Madhu (not verified)

Wed, 12/17/2014 - 10:27am

The foreign policy elite and Washington Consensus have taken charge of when we war in a way that leaves the average American feeling powerless, as Paul Pillar writes in The National Interest.

So, the hawkish members of the retired military that often agitate for boots on the ground or missiles in Eastern Europe or arms sales to Vietnam or to back up whatever the Saudis are doing, basically ensure that they don't get the public buy in they say that they need. A vicious cycle that can only be broken by the American people writ large, yet so many are not affected by the wars and are unaware of the manipulation of information that it doesn't happen.

The well-meaning volunteers in the military? I'm sorry. What can I say? My congressperson and senator are in the back pocket of these people and are lifers in their positions. I call but it's a formality and we all know it.

Outlaw 09

Sun, 12/14/2014 - 2:16pm

In reply to by Outlaw 09

Notice---now it seems some have seen the real target of the KSA oil war against Russia who has been supporting Assad and Iran and their arch regional hegemon foe Iran.

More has been achieved by the KSA towards Russia and Iran that we have been able to do through sheer hours and weeks of diplomacy.

http://nypost.com/2014/12/14/saudi-arabias-oil-war-against-iran-and-rus…

Outlaw 09

Sat, 12/13/2014 - 3:11am

I am surprised by the article--there has been results-actually "unintended consequences"--Iranian militia/QUDS now are in control of Iraqi security forces to include Hezbollah fighters, the current perception in the ME is that the Iranian AF is part and parcel of the coalition of the willing flying together with the USAF in the fight against IS, the Syrian Islamist groups in general are not dislodging Assad which at one time was our stated goal and IS is still on the battlefield and holding their own.

Seems like the civilian leadership needs a class in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th order of effects.

On top of everything the bulk of the Sunni tribes and original Sunni insurgency still support IS, and the KSA started an "oil fight" with two goals-1) to reign in US fracking and 2) more specifically targeting Iran/Assad and their main supporter Russia. This oil fight is getting verbally brutal with Iran recently accusing the KSA of being "nonMuslim" and "stabbing" Muslims" in the back with their actions.

AND far more important the revolutionary Shiaism goal stated often by Khomeini in establishing his "Green Crescent" (from AFG to Lebanon)as Iraq was the last piece--has been now achieved--took 35 years but Iran pulled it off. And yet we wonder why the KSA is not listening to us much these days? And just what has been the KSA response in building a wall around the "Green Crescent"---something we fail totally to discuss.

So in fact there have been results---just not those stated by this administration as a form of an end stated goal.