The Day After Mosul: Lessons from Kirkuk

Laurie, thank you for sharing, because this needs to be known by those that are still serving, more so because I am sure as a retired Civil Affairs Operative we will be there, and the NG will be there as our force protection.

Greg - my opinion -- they do not want to walk away. I am seeing something else entirely by their actions - and I think whoever it is that is their commander in Mosul - may well be a better general than those against him who vastly underestimated him. He figured out how to almost neutralize CAS and artillery...

LTC Eric Udouj - ISIS should not slip away, the truth is that ISIS should be destroyed all the way down to their roots, I certainly hope that once some one ID vehicles leaving with armed individuals that those vehicles once a safe distance away are blown up.

Pedro - unlike the recent fights - the only thing that may be leaving is civilians through the vast open area that has not been closed off. We may get set up yet again by IS and find ourselves attacking such convoys form the air without knowing what it is..... and then find out. A couple times - and no one leaves that way. But for IS to run out... do not think so. They think they can win this fight - and that makes them more dangerous than ever because with a good leader and a plan.. and a divided enemy - perhaps that may not be far fetched.

LTC Eric Udouj - Eric, you are correct on your assessment of who has the most qualified commander in this tough fight. This is going to be real ugly with ISIS employing all the nasty type of tricks to slowdown and defeat the Iraqi military.