Military Strategy or Politics? US military official outlines plan to retake Iraqi city of Mosul

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Feb 2015 21:32:49 -0500

Is it wise to announce our major military offensives before we conduct them? This is reminiscent to announcing the "Surge" strategy to help stabilize Afghanistan while simultaneously announcing the withdrawal timeline.

Do you think this was a military mistake, a political narrative to promote the White House, or is the nature and scope of the information released general knowledge, as some critics have asserted? Of course, Iraq wants to regain control of Mosul from Da'ish fighters. But did everyone need to know the size of the proposed assault force and a timeline for the operation?

I just hope we didn't set our own military and our partner force military up for failure. What are your thought?

Showing our hand? US military official outlines plan to retake Iraqi city of Mosul

U.S. military officials on Thursday outlined plans to retake the key Iraq city of Mosul from Islamic State terrorists as early as April -- an unusual move that immediately drew criticism from two U.S. intelligence officers.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2015 9:54 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 09:54:19 -0500

I saw a commentator on TV mention that this is being done to try and clear civilians out of Mosul and to try scare off the timid fighters in the Da'ish ranks. Time will tell if the tactic works, but that is the most coherent explanation I have heard for the early release of this information.