Posted on Nov 28, 2015
COL Mikel J. Burroughs
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Did you know that Iraqi troops gunning for Ramadi outnumber ISIS 10 to 1?

Have the Iraqi's had enough and will they get their country back? Is the training we provided starting to pay off?

http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/2015/11/27/no-american-ground-troops-fighting-ramadi-islamic-state/76443524/

Iraqi troops closing in on Ramadi outnumber Islamic State militants by as many as 10 to one, a U.S. official told Military Times on Friday.

The offensive to wrest back control of the city involves between 8,000 and 10,000 Iraqi security forces, said Army Col. Steve Warren, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition overseeing the fight against the Islamic State group.

No American military personnel are on the ground fighting alongside them, he said.

Three U.S.-trained Iraqi brigades are participating in the operation, Warren said. They face between 600 and 1,000 well-entrenched Islamic State fighters.

American and coalition warplanes have conducted airstrikes in and around Ramadi since the summer, aiming to weaken the militants' grip ahead of the highly anticipated ground operation that began Wednesday.

"We believe the Iraqis will finish soon," Warren said, adding that Iraq's government has a "detailed plan to use tribal fighters, federal police and local police for stabilization" once the city is cleared.
Edited >1 y ago
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MAJ Ken Landgren
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The question I have is are they lions ready to fight or tepid water destined to recede when time comes.
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Sgt Kelli Mays
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They may be out numbered, but will all of the Iraqi's really stand up and fight...after all many of them turned and ran a few years back.

I sure hope they have finally had enough, gotten their act together and go after them....but I suppose they'll have to fight as dirty as ISIS fights.
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MCPO Roger Collins
MCPO Roger Collins
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As I understand it, that is the proper ratio for the attacking force, 10:1. You addressed the real issue, will they seriously take on ISIS or run and leave their weapons. This will only be successful, in any battle, if we have USA leadership on the ground.
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LTC Bink Romanick
LTC Bink Romanick
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MCPO Roger Collins My money is on another Iraqi marathon!
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MCPO Roger Collins
MCPO Roger Collins
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One can move quickly in strategic withdrawal when unencumbered by those heavy weapons.
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LTC G3 Chief Of Operations
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The question though, is and has been whether the Sunni troops are willing to fight other Sunnis on behalf of the Shia government. That 10 to 1 ratio assumes they all are, and that's not necessarily a valid assumption in the middle east when you bring sectarian differences into the fold.
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CPT Military Police
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs

The question is even though they outnumber them do they have the mentality and fortitude to defeat them?
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
COL Mikel J. Burroughs
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CPT (Join to see) based on the Intel it looks like they do in this particular case. I would imagine that after all of the killing by ISIS and invasion into Iraq the people will finally have enough and will come together and try to move them out! Just a guess or maybe I'm hoping!
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