Posted on Sep 19, 2014
President Obama moves to counter ISIS with free Syrian Army
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Just last week, President Barack Obama made an announcement on expanding the military campaign against ISIS, the Islamic State extremist group. About 40 countries have already agreed to provide military support to the U.S. in this campaign in Iraq and Syria. He hasn’t named the countries yet. Obama has stressed he is not looking to put troops on the ground. Our soldiers in Iraq will soon amass to 1,600, but were not sent to fight. Announcements will continue into the next week in New York at the United Nations General Assembly.
We will see how other countries’ support will move the military campaign forward. What’s concerning as the president moves forward with announcements is the divide between him and some lawmakers and military leaders.
The Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, says he might eventually recommend deploying ground troops in Syria if airstrikes were not sufficient to defeat the Islamic State extremists. But Obama clearly does not want to deploy combat troops. General Dempsey may have been talking about a possible contingency plan and some leaders may think the U.S. needs to be more aggressive with strategy, but the lack of alignment is an issue. Obama seems to be focusing on avoiding putting troops on the ground, and some are concerned the focus on eliminating the enemy isn’t strong enough.
Recently, the Senate authorized arming and training Syrian rebels to combat the Islamic State group. Obama says the vote shows the country is united in fighting ISIS and Americans don’t give in to fear.
No one can deny our country being united on fighting terrorism, but the president and some leaders still don’t quite see eye to eye on how to destroy our enemies. Obama says U.S. airstrikes against Islamic State targets will continue, but he stands strong at not allowing U.S. troops to have a combat role on the ground in Iraq or Syria.
Before the vote, the proposal faced two points of criticism. One was concerns with arming a group whose loyalties are uncertain. It could add to the conflict. Two was the group may not be aggressive enough to counter ISIS. Plus, the public in general is skeptical and afraid of another long conflict in the Middle East.
What do you expect to come from the recent approval? Will training and equipping the Free Syrian Army be an aggressive enough strategy? How can the president, lawmakers, and military leaders move forward and become aligned?
We will see how other countries’ support will move the military campaign forward. What’s concerning as the president moves forward with announcements is the divide between him and some lawmakers and military leaders.
The Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, says he might eventually recommend deploying ground troops in Syria if airstrikes were not sufficient to defeat the Islamic State extremists. But Obama clearly does not want to deploy combat troops. General Dempsey may have been talking about a possible contingency plan and some leaders may think the U.S. needs to be more aggressive with strategy, but the lack of alignment is an issue. Obama seems to be focusing on avoiding putting troops on the ground, and some are concerned the focus on eliminating the enemy isn’t strong enough.
Recently, the Senate authorized arming and training Syrian rebels to combat the Islamic State group. Obama says the vote shows the country is united in fighting ISIS and Americans don’t give in to fear.
No one can deny our country being united on fighting terrorism, but the president and some leaders still don’t quite see eye to eye on how to destroy our enemies. Obama says U.S. airstrikes against Islamic State targets will continue, but he stands strong at not allowing U.S. troops to have a combat role on the ground in Iraq or Syria.
Before the vote, the proposal faced two points of criticism. One was concerns with arming a group whose loyalties are uncertain. It could add to the conflict. Two was the group may not be aggressive enough to counter ISIS. Plus, the public in general is skeptical and afraid of another long conflict in the Middle East.
What do you expect to come from the recent approval? Will training and equipping the Free Syrian Army be an aggressive enough strategy? How can the president, lawmakers, and military leaders move forward and become aligned?
ISIS
Barack Obama
Command Post
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 21
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ISIS; What's In A Name?
They aren't new, they have gone by various names over the past decade plus. Very few people heard of that acronym until a few months ago. We have heard of AQI, IS, ISIL, et als......and those are just some of our names. They go by many other names that are started by one faction and then when that leader gets killed, it gets rolled up into a different faction with different goals. The common goal is that it is awesome to kill anyone who doesn't think like they do, and anyone who believes something different than they do. When Americans and other infidels are present, they have a common enemy. When infidels are not obvious, they inflict their insanity on their own kind. These are the kinds of people that God wanted stomped out in the Old Testament.
Lets talk finances........
In mid-2014, Iraqi intelligence extracted information from an ISIS operative which revealed that the organization had assets worth US$2 billion,making it the richest jihadist group in the world. About three quarters of this sum is said to be represented by assets seized after the group captured Mosul in June 2014; this includes possibly up to US$429 million looted from Mosul's central bank, along with additional millions and a large quantity of gold bullion stolen from a number of other banks in Mosul. However, doubt was later cast on whether ISIS was able to retrieve anywhere near that sum from the central bank,and even on whether the bank robberies had actually occurred. "Show Me The Money!!!"
We are now raising a coalition to destroy ISIS. How do we determine victory when we have been down this road once or twice before? Do we just kill anyone who hides their face like the true cowards that they are? I understand that 100 militants peeking through a slit in their covered faces holding RPG's and RPK's, PKM's, AK's, and cruising around in Bongo trucks is a tasty target for a drone, but sooner or later, the spooky face wraps aregoing to be around their necks and the AK's will be under the floor mats in the "neighbors" hut. Is that a victory? When it is no longer cool to be called ISIS and the mentality remains the same, do they just change the name 4 years later? I didn't study Middle East political affairs so I learn my names and get my theories from the media. The uncorruptable, unbiased, uninfluenced media. I wore a uniform with pride and did everything my country asked of me. I'd put it right back on if they would let me and join the coalition. As a veteran, who is allowed to engage in free speech, I only ask the question of how we will determine victory this time?.?. Just because someone tells me that combat operations are over, that doesn't mean that we accomplished the mission. In no way do I mean this rant to be construed as not engaging in a course of action. These insane people are the bain of humanity. They are incredibly funded, battle hardened, and threaten all humanity, not just American interests. We get spooled up by the media into wanting to "Kill Em All!' and then the same media shows the "Attrocities" of military intervention and leaders are pressured into having scapegoats (and no, I won't go into specifics). Again, for the clarification of my own ignorant ass, what will we do differently THIS time? I wish I was in military intellignce or studied political science. I am of typical intellect of those who must fight in my stead. God help us all.
They aren't new, they have gone by various names over the past decade plus. Very few people heard of that acronym until a few months ago. We have heard of AQI, IS, ISIL, et als......and those are just some of our names. They go by many other names that are started by one faction and then when that leader gets killed, it gets rolled up into a different faction with different goals. The common goal is that it is awesome to kill anyone who doesn't think like they do, and anyone who believes something different than they do. When Americans and other infidels are present, they have a common enemy. When infidels are not obvious, they inflict their insanity on their own kind. These are the kinds of people that God wanted stomped out in the Old Testament.
Lets talk finances........
In mid-2014, Iraqi intelligence extracted information from an ISIS operative which revealed that the organization had assets worth US$2 billion,making it the richest jihadist group in the world. About three quarters of this sum is said to be represented by assets seized after the group captured Mosul in June 2014; this includes possibly up to US$429 million looted from Mosul's central bank, along with additional millions and a large quantity of gold bullion stolen from a number of other banks in Mosul. However, doubt was later cast on whether ISIS was able to retrieve anywhere near that sum from the central bank,and even on whether the bank robberies had actually occurred. "Show Me The Money!!!"
We are now raising a coalition to destroy ISIS. How do we determine victory when we have been down this road once or twice before? Do we just kill anyone who hides their face like the true cowards that they are? I understand that 100 militants peeking through a slit in their covered faces holding RPG's and RPK's, PKM's, AK's, and cruising around in Bongo trucks is a tasty target for a drone, but sooner or later, the spooky face wraps aregoing to be around their necks and the AK's will be under the floor mats in the "neighbors" hut. Is that a victory? When it is no longer cool to be called ISIS and the mentality remains the same, do they just change the name 4 years later? I didn't study Middle East political affairs so I learn my names and get my theories from the media. The uncorruptable, unbiased, uninfluenced media. I wore a uniform with pride and did everything my country asked of me. I'd put it right back on if they would let me and join the coalition. As a veteran, who is allowed to engage in free speech, I only ask the question of how we will determine victory this time?.?. Just because someone tells me that combat operations are over, that doesn't mean that we accomplished the mission. In no way do I mean this rant to be construed as not engaging in a course of action. These insane people are the bain of humanity. They are incredibly funded, battle hardened, and threaten all humanity, not just American interests. We get spooled up by the media into wanting to "Kill Em All!' and then the same media shows the "Attrocities" of military intervention and leaders are pressured into having scapegoats (and no, I won't go into specifics). Again, for the clarification of my own ignorant ass, what will we do differently THIS time? I wish I was in military intellignce or studied political science. I am of typical intellect of those who must fight in my stead. God help us all.
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SFC (Join to see)
MSG Kent Holmes, it'll be interesting to see how those progress and the impact it has on Assad's hold in Syria...
V/R
SGT Mullet
V/R
SGT Mullet
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SSG Jacob Wiley
SFC Mark Merino Very, very well written. I quoted you and shared else where. Wish there was more people choosing to live without their heads in the sand.
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SFC Mark Merino
SSG Jacob Wiley You just stay safe, hero. If my time in the 101st taught me anything, it's that they don't know what dwell time is. God bless our military past, present, and future.
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SGT Mark Sullivan
Isis was worshipped as the ideal mother and wife as well as the patroness of nature and magic. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isis
Isis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Isis (/ˈaɪsɪs/; AncientGreek: Ἶσις IPA:[îː.sis]; original Egyptian pronunciation more likely "Aset" or "Iset"[1]) is a goddess from the polytheistic pantheon of Egypt. She was first worshiped in Ancient Egyptian religion, and later her worship spread throughout the Roman empire and the greater Greco-Roman world. Isis is still widely worshiped by many pagans today in diverse religious contexts; including a number of distinct pagan religions,...
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PEOPLE IM NOT A MILITARY TACTICIAN IM A HIGH SCHOOL DROP OUT WITH SOME COLLEGE BUT I THINK IN MY HUMBLE UNEDUCATED SELF THAT WE THE UNITED STATES MILITARY OUGHT TO HIT ISIS JUST LIKE THE MARINES AND ARMY DID IN THE PACIFIC AND AT NORMANDY IN WORLD WAR 2 ASSAULT FROM THE DESERT BY TANKS AND AIRBORNE AND REGULAR INFANTRY EVERYTHING IN FRONT OF US WE KILL AND MAKE A PARKING LOT OUT OF IT SO WE NEED BOOTS ON GROUND AND TAKE THE GLOVES OFF...
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SGT Steve Oakes
"It is well that war is so terrible, otherwise we should grow too fond of it." Gen. Robert E. Lee. We have forgotten this basic truth. We strive to completely avoid collateral damage, so we pass up targets we should hammer. Our politicians worry more about the political fallout of a course of action. Instead of it tactical necessity. We bind the hands of our Generals and field commandeers, then blame them for not getting the job done. Others here have said it and I agree. If we are to wage war. We need to wage war in all its terrible, bloody, horrific splendor. Those who would harm us need a reminder of what this country is capable of!
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SSG Maurice P.
MAJ Young you hit the nail on the head (we our leadership civillian mostly and military dont wont to win)the terrorists want not only to win
he wants to kill you what doesnt the leadership understand...
he wants to kill you what doesnt the leadership understand...
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SGT Mark Sullivan
What we have in DC is not leadership, it's cut and run, it's the popular kids in school on steroids. The leaders from our recent past, The Pattons, The Nimitz's, The Halsey's, the Wainright's, the Bradley's, The Burkes. All understood what needs to be done, those are the leaders that lived the True Spartan Life and Warriors Creed. They knew to give our enemies such an ass kicking they would lose their taste for battle. Such as Leonidas did, ironically, to the Persians at Thermopylae.
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SSG Maurice P.
Thank you SGT SULLIVAN for mentioning majgen wainright HE WAS A TRUE BONAFIDE WARRIOR......
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Just unleash Mad Dog Mattis and lets do this right. We had Marshal Law 2003-2006 in that shit hole and unleashed the hounds of hell. The streets got real quite real fast. I know I witnessed it first hand. These pansy ass Americans we fight for need a reminder of how this great nation became a super power in the first place. And these cowards we have been fighting the last 13 years have been exploiting our weakness (known as the liberal party).
I do not want to go to any more memorial services over a weak government who will not let us do what we are trained to do.
That is all.
I do not want to go to any more memorial services over a weak government who will not let us do what we are trained to do.
That is all.
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