Posted on Dec 19, 2014
Top Islamic State militants killed; more U.S. troops going to Iraq
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From: Army Times
Two senior Islamic State group leaders were killed in U.S. and coalition airstrikes in northern Iraq over the last week, U.S. officials said Thursday, as Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel approved new orders for several hundred troops to deploy to Iraq to train Iraqi forces.
According to one of the U.S. officials, airstrikes killed a key deputy of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State militants, and one of al-Baghdadi's military chiefs. A third militant, described as a mid-level leader, was also killed.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the identification details publicly. According to one official, the names of those killed were Haji Mutazz, al-Baghdadi's deputy; Abd al (or Abdul) Basit, the military chief; and Radwin Talib.
Words of the deaths came after Hagel signed orders Wednesday for the first group of U.S. troops to go to Iraq as part of the administration's recent decision to deploy 1,500 more American forces to the country. The troops are to advise and train Iraqi forces.
Also Thursday, President Obama spoke with Iraq Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, commending him for his efforts to create an inclusive government and build a united Iraqi front to combat the Islamic State militants. Obama also reiterated the U.S. commitment to train and assist the Iraqi military, provide weapons and equipment and continue to launch airstrikes against the militants.
The top U.S. commander for the mission in Iraq and Syria said Thursday the next wave of American troops will begin moving into Iraq in a couple of weeks, and cautioned that it will take at least three years to build the capabilities of the Iraqi military.
Army Lt. Gen. James Terry, who is leading the U.S. campaign to defeat Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, said the challenge is to get Iraqi units trained and back into the fight so they can plan operations to regain contested areas such as Mosul.
He said that while there has been progress in halting the militants' charge across Iraq, "I think what we must do, especially inside of Iraq, is continue to build those (Iraqi) capabilities. I think you're at least talking a minimum of three years."
The Iraqi army wants to launch a counteroffensive to retake Mosul, the largest city in northern Iraq, and the U.S. probably would help. While there have been some concerns that Iraq's military may not be ready yet for such an ambitious operation, Hagel said last week that the U.S. is working with senior Iraqi leaders on preparations.
"Part of the planning has to be how you generate force to do operations," Terry told reporters. The question, he said, is "how do you get into a place where you can generate some capability, pull some units back so that you can make them better, and then now start to put those against operations down the road?"
He declined to say when a Mosul operation might be launched. There have been fewer details and more limited media access to U.S. military operations in Iraq this time than during the eight years of war that ended in 2011. U.S. officials say it's because the military is there only to advise and assist the sovereign Iraqi government.
There were two airstrikes Wednesday near Mosul and two near Tal Afar in northern Iraq, according to the U.S.-led Combined Joint Task Force.
There are currently about 1,700 U.S. troops in Iraq, and President Barack Obama has authorized up to 3,000. More than 1,000 U.S. troops are expected to be deployed in the coming weeks to increase the effort to advise and assist Iraq units at the higher headquarters levels and also to conduct training at several sites around the country.
Terry offered an optimistic view of the Shiite-dominated Iraqi government's progress in working more with the Sunni tribes.
The deep sectarian divide fueled the advances of the Islamic State militants across Iraq earlier this year as grievances led some to align with the extremists. U.S. officials have stressed that ongoing coalition assistance hinges in part on whether the Iraqi government becomes more inclusive.
The U.S. and Iraqi governments have proposed creating a national guard program that would arm and pay tribesmen to fight. Terry said that as the Iraqis conduct more combat operations in Sunni strongholds such as Anbar, there will be more opportunities to bring tribal members into the fight.
He said the national guard effort is starting and he is optimistic the Iraqi government will approve legislation needed for the program to move forward.
http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/pentagon/2014/12/18/top-islamic-militants-killed-more-us-troops-going-to-iraq/20609583/
Two senior Islamic State group leaders were killed in U.S. and coalition airstrikes in northern Iraq over the last week, U.S. officials said Thursday, as Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel approved new orders for several hundred troops to deploy to Iraq to train Iraqi forces.
According to one of the U.S. officials, airstrikes killed a key deputy of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State militants, and one of al-Baghdadi's military chiefs. A third militant, described as a mid-level leader, was also killed.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the identification details publicly. According to one official, the names of those killed were Haji Mutazz, al-Baghdadi's deputy; Abd al (or Abdul) Basit, the military chief; and Radwin Talib.
Words of the deaths came after Hagel signed orders Wednesday for the first group of U.S. troops to go to Iraq as part of the administration's recent decision to deploy 1,500 more American forces to the country. The troops are to advise and train Iraqi forces.
Also Thursday, President Obama spoke with Iraq Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, commending him for his efforts to create an inclusive government and build a united Iraqi front to combat the Islamic State militants. Obama also reiterated the U.S. commitment to train and assist the Iraqi military, provide weapons and equipment and continue to launch airstrikes against the militants.
The top U.S. commander for the mission in Iraq and Syria said Thursday the next wave of American troops will begin moving into Iraq in a couple of weeks, and cautioned that it will take at least three years to build the capabilities of the Iraqi military.
Army Lt. Gen. James Terry, who is leading the U.S. campaign to defeat Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, said the challenge is to get Iraqi units trained and back into the fight so they can plan operations to regain contested areas such as Mosul.
He said that while there has been progress in halting the militants' charge across Iraq, "I think what we must do, especially inside of Iraq, is continue to build those (Iraqi) capabilities. I think you're at least talking a minimum of three years."
The Iraqi army wants to launch a counteroffensive to retake Mosul, the largest city in northern Iraq, and the U.S. probably would help. While there have been some concerns that Iraq's military may not be ready yet for such an ambitious operation, Hagel said last week that the U.S. is working with senior Iraqi leaders on preparations.
"Part of the planning has to be how you generate force to do operations," Terry told reporters. The question, he said, is "how do you get into a place where you can generate some capability, pull some units back so that you can make them better, and then now start to put those against operations down the road?"
He declined to say when a Mosul operation might be launched. There have been fewer details and more limited media access to U.S. military operations in Iraq this time than during the eight years of war that ended in 2011. U.S. officials say it's because the military is there only to advise and assist the sovereign Iraqi government.
There were two airstrikes Wednesday near Mosul and two near Tal Afar in northern Iraq, according to the U.S.-led Combined Joint Task Force.
There are currently about 1,700 U.S. troops in Iraq, and President Barack Obama has authorized up to 3,000. More than 1,000 U.S. troops are expected to be deployed in the coming weeks to increase the effort to advise and assist Iraq units at the higher headquarters levels and also to conduct training at several sites around the country.
Terry offered an optimistic view of the Shiite-dominated Iraqi government's progress in working more with the Sunni tribes.
The deep sectarian divide fueled the advances of the Islamic State militants across Iraq earlier this year as grievances led some to align with the extremists. U.S. officials have stressed that ongoing coalition assistance hinges in part on whether the Iraqi government becomes more inclusive.
The U.S. and Iraqi governments have proposed creating a national guard program that would arm and pay tribesmen to fight. Terry said that as the Iraqis conduct more combat operations in Sunni strongholds such as Anbar, there will be more opportunities to bring tribal members into the fight.
He said the national guard effort is starting and he is optimistic the Iraqi government will approve legislation needed for the program to move forward.
http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/pentagon/2014/12/18/top-islamic-militants-killed-more-us-troops-going-to-iraq/20609583/
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When I left Iraq the last time in the spring of 2011, I was pretty sure that this would happen; that Iraq would be unable to protect herself and US troops would be needed in the region once again. While I understand the Iraqi peoples' desire to control their own destiny, IMHO the Iraqi military and police lack the core values necessary to protect themselves and their borders. Training a person in technical and tactical proficiency is one thing; changing someone's values is entirely another.
By and large, I don't think the military and police believed in what they were doing enough to be personally vested. It looked to me as if they saw service as a was to feed their families and did not buy into the responsibilities that go along with the job. I get the need to put food on the table but you have to understand that military service is about way more than a paycheck.
To bring this back around, I am sure that with US help, ISIS can be pushed back. However I also believe that until there is a change in mindset, it is a Dutch boy putting his finger in the dike and some other organization will fill the void left by ISIS.
By and large, I don't think the military and police believed in what they were doing enough to be personally vested. It looked to me as if they saw service as a was to feed their families and did not buy into the responsibilities that go along with the job. I get the need to put food on the table but you have to understand that military service is about way more than a paycheck.
To bring this back around, I am sure that with US help, ISIS can be pushed back. However I also believe that until there is a change in mindset, it is a Dutch boy putting his finger in the dike and some other organization will fill the void left by ISIS.
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First off. Didn't we spend quite some time training the Iraqis? Second. In my opinion, we should allow for two options with regards to ISIS: 1) They are a mid-east problem. Let the mid-east countries handle it, unless they assault U.S. property or personnel, at which point option 2) kicks in. The president goes to congress and gets a formal declaration of war. Put the full arsenal at the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs disposal (short of nukes). His objective: make ISIS incapable of waging war.
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PJTV (an online network for news and opinion) is airing an interesting discussion of The Future of the Middle East. You have to be a paid subscriber to view it, but it's worth the $5/month inasmuch as there are few other reliable places to get news and opinion that doesn't insult you (and no, I'm not affiliated with PJTV, nor will I collect anything for recommending them).
It's interesting to trace the modern Islamic Revolution. You may not be as old as I or been paying attention, but I remember its beginning. Islam was quietly and reasonably practiced until President Carter withdrew American support for the Shah of Iran and the Ayatollahs took over that nation. Yes, that's when it all started. Sure, the Shah was a nasty piece of work when it came to dealing with dissidents, but his rule was otherwise unremarkable. (I had a fellow officer in Vietnam who has been stationed in Iran where he helped man a listening post to monitor the Soviets. He told me many interesting tales about the place and life under the Shah.) Still, Carter reviled any unChristian-like behavior and allowed his Biblical imperatives to drive diplomacy.
If you want to know more, you can listen to the PJTV broadcast. I recommend it. I also recommend reading T.E. Lawrence's The Seven Pillars of Wisdom (that's Lawrence of Arabia) and The Devil We Know: Dealing with the new Iranian superpower, by Robert Baer (a former CIA operative stationed in Iran).
It helps to keep the frustration at bay if you have some background about the situation.
It's interesting to trace the modern Islamic Revolution. You may not be as old as I or been paying attention, but I remember its beginning. Islam was quietly and reasonably practiced until President Carter withdrew American support for the Shah of Iran and the Ayatollahs took over that nation. Yes, that's when it all started. Sure, the Shah was a nasty piece of work when it came to dealing with dissidents, but his rule was otherwise unremarkable. (I had a fellow officer in Vietnam who has been stationed in Iran where he helped man a listening post to monitor the Soviets. He told me many interesting tales about the place and life under the Shah.) Still, Carter reviled any unChristian-like behavior and allowed his Biblical imperatives to drive diplomacy.
If you want to know more, you can listen to the PJTV broadcast. I recommend it. I also recommend reading T.E. Lawrence's The Seven Pillars of Wisdom (that's Lawrence of Arabia) and The Devil We Know: Dealing with the new Iranian superpower, by Robert Baer (a former CIA operative stationed in Iran).
It helps to keep the frustration at bay if you have some background about the situation.
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