Do we need to shift efforts In Iraq?

2015-06-10T06:59:48-04:00

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/obama-said-to-consider-more-us-troops-to-train-iraqi-forces/ar-BBkTrkC

They are spending their efforts in the wrong way. Contrary to popular belief, Ramadi didn't fall because of poor training. They held it for 17 months. It fall because they ran out of ammo. They don't need to train more troops when there isn't enough ammo for the troops that they have. And now they want to train the Iraqi tribes? Where are they going to get their ammo? Ridiculous!

I suppose that we do still need to train more troops there, but what they really need to do now is to send more supplies along with some higher level advisors to oversee the Iraqi command and control, logistics and the use of equipment that we supply. This will not only keep them from misusing it corruptly, it will give us a certain measure of control over our investment, since those trainers will help them, monitor usage, and be a stipulation to further supplies.

The other area we really need to improve in is intelligence. What was a total failure about Ramadi, is the fact that it completely blind sided us. Now this is where the tribes can really come in. Start training some of them to collect intelligence for us along with some of the more reliable ISF as supervisors. Eventually they can pick up the program where we left off. The key here is to have a good intelligence exchange. Give them intelligence that only U.S. SIGINT and air can produce (along with the support above), in exchange for HUMINT from the tribes. To start we are going to have to stop being penny wise and pound foolish about our own intelligence spending.

Obama said to consider more US troops to train Iraqi forces

The Pentagon is preparing recommendations to send hundreds more U.S. troops to Iraq to speed training of the country’s military forces in response to a request from the White House, two U.S. officials said.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jun 10 at 2015 7:29 AM

2015-06-10T07:29:56-04:00

So what you're saying is that the Iraqi Army is sufficiently trained, they need ammo and supplies to continue the fight.

Response by MSgt Mike Brown; MBTI-CP; MA, Ph.D. made Jun 12 at 2015 5:28 PM

2015-06-12T17:28:00-04:00

If we are on a mission creep, lets be real and call it what it is...Either eliminate the evil forces of Isis, or suffer multitudes of consequences.

Response by SSgt Brian Stauff made Jun 19 at 2015 2:04 PM

2015-06-19T14:04:52-04:00

No more troops with tied hands in combat areas!