Posted on Apr 5, 2016
Iraq Army's Mosul offensive stalls in face of fierce fighting, desertions
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The U.S. Coalition supporting the Iraqi Army says, the operation is going according to plan but others question the ability of the Iraqi army to remain on task. This is because of their previous performance when they fled from ISIL fighters. It will take a long time and a lot of effort for them to turn their reputation around.
Coalition officials said such criticism is premature. “We believe that the Iraqis have performed according to the plan that they've set,” said coalition spokesman Col. Steve Warren. “The Iraqi army, we believe, is improving every day.”
Michael Knights, an authority on the Iraqi military at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, agreed, calling the Iraqi army's inauspicious start nothing more than a “wobble.”
“It is worth remembering that the Peshmerga (Kurdish fighters) were completely driven out of this area in the late winter of last year," Knights said. "Now the Iraqi army is facing the same challenges trying to push forward into the same terrain.”
The Iraqi army “had some tough fighting,” said Knights. “Give it some time for these units to gain their balance.”
When the operation began Thursday, soldiers from the Iraqi army and Sunni tribal fighters advanced to retake three villages held by the Islamic State with air support from the coalition, artillery fire by U.S. Marines and logistical support from the Kurds.
Coalition officials said such criticism is premature. “We believe that the Iraqis have performed according to the plan that they've set,” said coalition spokesman Col. Steve Warren. “The Iraqi army, we believe, is improving every day.”
Michael Knights, an authority on the Iraqi military at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, agreed, calling the Iraqi army's inauspicious start nothing more than a “wobble.”
“It is worth remembering that the Peshmerga (Kurdish fighters) were completely driven out of this area in the late winter of last year," Knights said. "Now the Iraqi army is facing the same challenges trying to push forward into the same terrain.”
The Iraqi army “had some tough fighting,” said Knights. “Give it some time for these units to gain their balance.”
When the operation began Thursday, soldiers from the Iraqi army and Sunni tribal fighters advanced to retake three villages held by the Islamic State with air support from the coalition, artillery fire by U.S. Marines and logistical support from the Kurds.
Iraq Army's Mosul offensive stalls in face of fierce fighting, desertions
Posted from militarytimes.com
Middle East
Warfare
Mosul
ISIS
Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR)
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 8
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"Give it some time for these units to gain their balance"....it might just be me, but 10 years wasn't enough time?
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SSG Warren Swan
MCPO Roger Collins - No disrespect Master Chief, but at this point, it doesn't matter. They've had 10 years, better equipment than they've ever had, and better and more realistic training than they've ever had short of when they were using "training" on their own people. If we walked out of Iraq tomorrow and said "call us when you're ready", that call would never come if they were honest with themselves. We saw how the "Mother of all Battles" worked the first time, and the second. That should've been a hint for things to come. I'm not speaking for ANYONE else but me, but I'm damn sure tired of us dying in a country that could give ZERO fucks about any one of us, as long as we're willing to shoulder their load and spend millions on bullshit they don't care to take care of. Well it's time we allowed them the ability to either sink or swim while we get a break from the deployments and redeployments to Iraq. Afghanistan isn't much better, but there is a legit reason to be there and to me that's wearing thin now. I'd go back tomorrow if I could. I'm not joking. I'd go with a purpose in mind, a little wiser in regards to them and their customs, and if I was a mentor again, I'd let them know clearly that if I catch you slacking, grabassing, or not holding up your end, I'm taking my guys back to the trucks, and back to the FOB. COB, or Firebase. I'm here to help YOU, not the other way around, so plan it well. Do sandtable training. Walkthrough training, hell By The Numbers if that's what's needed, but you'll only fool me once. I'm going home with ALL of my Joes ALIVE. F*ck you, and this country if YOU are not willing to fight for it yourself.
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MCPO Roger Collins
SSG Warren Swan - I think we passed each other again. Without checking out the actual time for the battle plan for Mosul, I believe it was stalled for months to be prepared for the mission. Now it seems they aren't ready. Basically, it sound s like a resupply for ISIS. Your post describes exactly how I feel.
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It's sacrilege to call the Iraqis similar to the Kurds who only had a few hundred rifles and militiamen.
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