Posted on May 29, 2015
What does "airstrikes struck land features denying ISIL a tactical advantage" really mean?
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For a few weeks at least the DoD News service emails have included the phrase "airstrikes struck land features denying ISIL a tactical advantage" usually associated with attacks against small tactical units. I understand how occupation of land or the short-time potential of bringing direct or indirect fire limits the use of terrain [that implies real time observation]; but, I am not certain what the phrase means or how long the tactical advantage will be retained after the aircraft depart the AO.
[5/29/2015 update to question] The phrase seems to be focused on denying ISIL offensive capabilities.
May 28 - Near Tal Afar, Iraq an airstrike struck land features denying ISIL a tactical advantage.
May 14 - Near Asad, Iraq two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and occupied land features, denying ISIL a tactical advantage
May 11 - Near Mosul, Iraq two airstrikes struck an ISIL fighting position and struck land features denying ISIL a tactical advantage.
May 5 - Near Ar Raqqah, Syria three airstrikes struck land features, denying ISIL a tactical advantage.
Contrasted with -- May 5 - Near Mosul, Iraq seven airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL vehicle, two ISIL staging areas, two ISIL excavators and an ISIL defensive position.
I certainly am hopeful for the strategic and operational defeat of ISIS. I hope the use of the phrase means something tangible and is not merely part of an information or deception campaign.
[5/29/2015 update to question] The phrase seems to be focused on denying ISIL offensive capabilities.
May 28 - Near Tal Afar, Iraq an airstrike struck land features denying ISIL a tactical advantage.
May 14 - Near Asad, Iraq two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and occupied land features, denying ISIL a tactical advantage
May 11 - Near Mosul, Iraq two airstrikes struck an ISIL fighting position and struck land features denying ISIL a tactical advantage.
May 5 - Near Ar Raqqah, Syria three airstrikes struck land features, denying ISIL a tactical advantage.
Contrasted with -- May 5 - Near Mosul, Iraq seven airstrikes struck two ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL vehicle, two ISIL staging areas, two ISIL excavators and an ISIL defensive position.
I certainly am hopeful for the strategic and operational defeat of ISIS. I hope the use of the phrase means something tangible and is not merely part of an information or deception campaign.
Tactics
Military History
11A: Infantry Officer
Edited 9 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 28
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Unfortunately, it's a load of crap. It's the worst political-media bullshit talk, and it doesn't mean a thing. A bridge at best. It's what they say when they don't know if we killed a bunch of bad guys or just blew dirt in the air.
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LTC Stephen F.
Thanks Col Joseph Lenertz, I suspected the insertion of the phrase this past month was to give an impression that the limited air power campaign was making significant strides without having to back it up. When you mentioned crap, it reminded me of the acronym I developed while working in the Pentagon for many years - CRAP is the acronym for Critical Requirements and Programs. It usually got a chuckle but most of the time somebody on the staff was talking about competing crap the acronym fit very well.
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Bombs dropped. Bombs hit the ground.
'Struck land feature' translate into, "The bombs did hit the ground and there was nothing there." 'Denying a tactical advantage' translates in "If they were really trained in Land Combat they would have put people there because it would have been a good position...except for us bombing it."
Remember gravity is not only a really good idea, it is a law.
'Struck land feature' translate into, "The bombs did hit the ground and there was nothing there." 'Denying a tactical advantage' translates in "If they were really trained in Land Combat they would have put people there because it would have been a good position...except for us bombing it."
Remember gravity is not only a really good idea, it is a law.
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LTC Stephen F.
MSG Brad Sand, I jokingly tell friends that I am resisting gravity and generally suffering the consequences. Speaking of bombs dropped and gravity, for some reason today Road Runner and Wyle E. Coyote and their frequently ignoring and rebelling against gravity and common sense. ACME products may be useful in inflicting some damage on ISIS. It would be great if a cartoon similar to Road Runner could be developed with minimal language and good animated action targeted towards ISIS wannabes.
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LTC Stephen F.
To be honest, MAJ Bryan Zeski I was thinking of killing those leaders with unique capabilities such as finance, information system, recruiting and web strategy, etc. Those leaders are hard to replace.
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MAJ Bryan Zeski
True, but I doubt those things are being destroyed by airstrikes on land features. =)
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LTC Stephen F.
Yes, MAJ Bryan Zeski, unless they were "unfortunate" enough to believe they were indestructible and were forward deployed into a targeted area. Hopefully friendly SOF are involved in targeting.
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MAJ Bryan Zeski
I think that, if they have any common sense, which I suspect they do, they have those resources dispersed in countries and areas that are more connected to the rest of the world and not anywhere near the front-lines.
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