ISIS Airstrikes in Syria

2014-09-22T21:41:13-04:00

US pilots reported to be involved in air strikes against ISIS targets in Syria (Sep 22). No word yet on details.

RP, thoughts?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 22 at 2014 9:42 PM

2014-09-22T21:42:09-04:00

Let's get it on!!!!

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Sep 22 at 2014 9:50 PM

2014-09-22T21:50:12-04:00

About freaking time......

Response by SSG Kevin McCulley made Sep 22 at 2014 9:54 PM

2014-09-22T21:54:38-04:00

Mine has more information.. kill this one. Why did you lock it? That is stupid

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 22 at 2014 10:05 PM

2014-09-22T22:05:00-04:00

20-25 targets, with planes from 5 Arab countries participating. Those countries were not overtly named, but I am sure we could all guess.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 22 at 2014 10:12 PM

2014-09-22T22:12:53-04:00

I wonder as to the effects this will have on our geopolitical disposition in the region.

I'll keep my comments to myself for the time being.

Good share SFC Private RallyPoint Member!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 22 at 2014 10:14 PM

2014-09-22T22:14:54-04:00

Let them have it, MOABs, Tomahawk, Hellfires, thrown in some Spectre gun ships :)

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 22 at 2014 11:38 PM

2014-09-22T23:38:07-04:00

This is long overdue. We have to strike ISIS at their stronghold, or capital. If successful we have cripple the support and logistics of their fighters in Iraq. It is also good to see other countries step up. I am really curious to see the role of Jordan in this. They are neighboring two war torn countries.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 22 at 2014 11:42 PM

2014-09-22T23:42:57-04:00

Congress goes in to recess for two months so they don't have to debate it or authorize it.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 22 at 2014 11:49 PM

2014-09-22T23:49:09-04:00

Lord, make our bombs accurate and devastating.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Sep 23 at 2014 12:15 AM

2014-09-23T00:15:25-04:00

I am sure our Shia 'friends' will not cause any blowback in their attacks on these Sunni monsters.

Next, WHY would we support the 'Free' Syrian Army...future terrorist...when we have Peshmerga just begging for help? The Kurds have been willing to help us for DECADES! They help us...and we turn our back on them. They help us again...and we leave them to be massacred. They have always stood by us, so why stand by them?

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Sep 23 at 2014 6:31 AM

2014-09-23T06:31:12-04:00

I saw the "Special Report" during "The Voice" last night. We knew it was coming BUT we still have no solid plan with our alleged allies for ground support.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2014 8:08 AM

2014-09-23T08:08:45-04:00

Time to take action. It's about time in my opinion.

Response by SSgt Jacquemon Wildy made Sep 23 at 2014 8:26 AM

2014-09-23T08:26:40-04:00

GETEM COACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Sep 23 at 2014 10:55 AM

2014-09-23T10:55:07-04:00

Does any more need be said??

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 23 at 2014 7:04 PM

2014-09-23T19:04:45-04:00

Our A-10's will be releasing some "Freedom Farts"...............

http://youtu.be/tZQsXxeWxuo

A-10 WARTHOG GUN TEST

Cockpit The single-seat cockpit is protected by all-round armour, with a titanium 'bathtub' structure to protect the pilot that is up to 3.8cm thick. The coc...

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2014 9:34 AM

2014-09-25T09:34:43-04:00

I have two opinions on this:

First: GO GET 'EM!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously. Our Aviation and standoff missile capabilities are unmatached. Between the Navy, USMC, and Air Force pilots conducting this campaign, plus the Tomahawk missiles, they can not compete against this. I wish we could lump some Army Apache pilots in on this, but that is an unneeded risk to these aircrews. Hopefully, they can affect their ability to continue to expand.

However....

Second: You can't eliminate the threat on airpower and standoff alone. You can not conduct a COIN/Stability excercise from 15,000ft. This is a very organized insurgency. They are also able to expand in manners which do not involve direct mobilized action. The murder of the French hostage in Algeria is proof of this. ISIL was not in Algeria, but can expand through the spread of their ideology to sympathetic audiences. Heck, Nidal Hassan declared his allegiance to ISIL from Leavenworth. That right there shows you that we can not eliminate this threat by air strikes. True and proper COIN operations take at least a decade and must remove a portion of the ideological intrigue and the threat to the local populace.

I am proud of those who are taking the fight to these extremists. They are seriously doing an amazing job. However, it is all going to be for nothing if a coalition to operate on the ground is not developed. I am not neccessarily saying US boots on the ground, but at the same time: who has the size and experience needed for this? The Iraqi Army is dramatically ill-equipped for this fight and it's their land! France has some experience but may be spread a little thin with their operations in Africa. Other ISAF partners are our best help here, plus those that have a more localized influence, such as Turkey and Jordan. Overall, it's not an easy fight and it's going to be complex at the least. The ultimate complicating factor is the Syrian geopolitical climate: there are groups we support, ISIL, and the seated government. The rebels we support and ISIL both want to overthrow the Syrian government. We want the seated government eliminated as well. How do you find the right allies while not supporting the government or arming your enemies? How can we possibly operate here without countering other operational or political objectives? It's one of those places where ISIL can almost certainly maintain a strong foothold due to the fact that the asymmetric environment does not work as smoothly with Western objectives. I am afraid that they Syrian public is in for a long, painful ride.