Attacks Likely to Force Tougher Stance by U.S.
Attacks Likely to Force Tougher Stance by U.S. by Peter Baker and Eric Schmitt, New York Times
When the Islamic State stormed onto the scene in Syria and Iraq, it seemed focused on seizing territory in its own neighborhood. But in the last two weeks, the so-called soldiers of the caliphate appear to have demonstrated a chilling reach, with terrorist attacks against Russia, in Lebanon and now in Europe.
The seemingly synchronized assaults that turned Paris into a war zone on Friday came just days after a bombing targeted a Shiite district of Beirut controlled by Iran’s ally, Hezbollah, and a Russian passenger jet was downed over Egypt. The rapid succession of strikes, all claimed by the Islamic State, suggested that the regional war has turned into a global one.
For President Obama and American allies, the attacks are almost certain to force a reassessment of the threat and may require a more aggressive strategy against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, ISIL or Daesh. Mr. Obama prepared to leave Saturday for a scheduled trip to Antalya, Turkey, where he was to consult with other world leaders in a Group of 20 summit meeting now sure to be dominated by the Paris attacks and questions of what to do next…
Maybe this administration should order our forces into more aggressive Islamic sensitivity training before we offend someone. I’m being facetious.
I hope we do take a tougher stance. I am a Vietnam Vet with 4 trips south. I have an attitude. It is time to introduce ISIS to the Westmoreland strategy of attrition with a vengeance. That could be accomplished by aggressive search and destroy operations. To search and destroy, we add our firepower. (I am not talking about smart bombs taking out one Toyota at a time. I’m talking B52s in trail.) To firepower, we pile on and wipe them out. And, yes, body count will be one measure of success. To the Russians, we say stay out of this like we did during the Cuban crisis and in the 73 Israeli war. What is happening now looks like a politician’s attempt to “pick and choose” and “piece-meal” our military into a fight. Been there, done that.
I have to disagree. Ninety two (92%) of South Vietnam was under government control by 1972. That sounds a whole lot like success to me. Neither the VC nor the NVA could mount a significant operation after 1968/69. The Communists failed to hold on to any of their territorial gains. Even the Easter Offensive (1972) was not successful and mostly advisers were left in country. But, as long as US air was in support, the North was not successful. Lots of journalist and writers like to dwell on the sensational actions like Ia Drang, TET, Khe Sanh, Hue, etc. What they fail to grasp is the day-to-day actions that led to the 92% under GVN control. At no time did the South rise up in support of the North as was hoped. The South was not on the verge of collapse. From 1957 to 75 the National Liberation Front had assassinated over 37000 village and hamlet leaders, teachers, social workers, and medical types. They kidnapped more that 58000. And, does anyone think the South Vietnamese liked or supported the North? After TET of 68 US units had more target information coming in than could be acted on. An additional factor is that we controlled the night. To suggest otherwise only plays in Hollywood. They couldn’t move large forces without being hit. That isn’t too bad considering we had our own government officials passing information to the North through the Swiss. And, our government using air strikes as a negotiating tool. I have an attitude. We were winning when I left on 1 February 73. What happened after that is pure politics. A.E. Stahl writes in the Armed Forces Journal, February 2011, “Hunt to Kill”: “If the history of warfare has shown us anything, it is that breaking the enemy’s will is best facilitated by constant physical attrition”. I believe a strategy of attrition would work against ISIS.
Duplicate
New US stance is now being taken…….
Rebels use TOW to blow up Humvee used by Iraq’i Shiite forces in southern Aleppo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhKTnvBTQGU …
Its the 4th destroyed and or captured
FSA Central Div says they killed the leader of Iraqi shiite militia Ansar Allah by destroying his Humvee with a TOW missile south Aleppo.
Maybe it is just a new DoD recycling program….or just a normal day on the Syrian front lines using Humvees for TOW target practice…..
But at least it is a US stance on something…..US clearly supporting Iraqi Shia in their fight against Syrian Sunni’s……
Starvation is a key weapon being used by Assad AND now Russia going on 4.5 years—and yet our Administration does not seem to realize it and insist Assad an stay around awhile.
We have seen the same exact Russia actions being taken in eastern Ukraine
Aleppo 120.000 without bread after Russia airstrikes hit bread factory in Atarib
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dmk4SZ1FJbE …
RuAF and Russian MoD claimed it was an IS IED factory…..
We see 132 civilians killed by IS in Paris–but that number and more are being killed daily by Russian and Assad bombings, starvation, and barrel bombs and hundreds driven into refugee flows and we did exactly what again…..?
Right now we have a double standard world and this Administration is contributing greatly to the confusion.
Obama needs no further “tougher stance” as he has successfully retrenched the US foreign policy in both the ME especially Syria and eastern Europe–the core question will be for historians to answer—how badly has he damaged US foreign policy in the coming years….
Putin has been pushing for a “new Yalta”—seems he has gotten it and more.
The Ukraine now fully falls under Russian influence as well as the entire ME.
Meaning if you work with Russia in an cooperative fashion say in Syria—will Putin then bend in the Ukraine, Crimea and the other threats he has uttered towards eastern Europe—how can you then keep sanctions in place if Russian never implements Minsk 2 and Russia argues …BUT we worked together in Syria does that not count towards easing sanctions and us being “friends” again….????
Yury Barmin @yurybarmin
12 TU-22 bombers struck Raqqa & Deir Ez-Zor at 5AM and 4PM today. 5 TU-95 and 6 TU-160 launched 34 missiles at 9AM. All flew in from Mozdok
Yury Barmin @yurybarmin
THIS: Moscow is massively expanding its operation in Syria, will add 25 strategic long-range bombers, launching strikes from bases in Russia
Yury Barmin @yurybarmin
Just to make it clear, Moscow wouldn’t have admitted Sinai crash was a terrorist act unless it was sure it can use it in its favor in Syria
Yury Barmin @yurybarmin
Note a major shift in Moscow’s rhetoric: From Assad’s request to intervene in Syria to Russia’s own right to self-defense.
Yury Barmin @yurybarmin
Important: Putin has just ordered to intensify the Russian operation in Syria, says Russia to exercise its UN right for self-defense.
SYRIA: Russia claims to have destroyed 140 facilities belonging to ‘terrorists’ today. – Interfax.
BREAKING: #Putin orders Def Min to co-operate with French naval group in #Syria as allies – @RT_com
BREAKING: French President Hollande to meet Obama Nov. 24 in Washington, Putin in Moscow Nov. 26 – AP
What is amazing is the hypocrisy of some of the current Western leaders–ie Hollande–he keeps telling the Ukrainians over and over to “negotiate” with the Russian over eastern Ukrainains –not words like Russia invaded and took eastern Ukraine and took Crimea etc—-BUT when faced by IS he does not follow his own statements to the Ukrainians of–“negotiate”.
Nothing like good ole fashion double standards.
Reports of US airborne mission- helicopter landed at IS held Tanf border crossing Syria – Iraq
any confirms?
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=33.430152&lon=38.878212&z=13&m=b …