|
|
Post by Sailor on Feb 20, 2015 15:30:28 GMT -8
Showing our hand? US military official outlines plan to retake Iraqi city of MosulA U.S. military official on Thursday outlined plans to retake the vital Iraq city of Mosul from Islamic State terrorists as early as April -- an unusual move that swiftly drew criticism that the Pentagon was revealing too much information to the enemy. A senior U.S. Central Command official said the "shaping" for the battle is currently underway, and the Iraqi military hopes to begin operations in the "April, May timeframe." The goal is to retake the city before Ramadan begins on June 17. The official said five Iraqi Army brigades will be used in the fight, as well as several smaller brigades, composing a total force of up to 25,000 Iraqi troops. Three brigades of Kurdish Peshmerga fighters will participate as well. But the details, disclosed at the close of a White House summit on combating violent extremism, raised some concerns. More here: www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/02/20/us-military-outlines-plan-to-retake-iraqi-city-mosul/INT WTF Over.
|
|
|
|
Post by 101ABN on Feb 21, 2015 13:39:11 GMT -8
Nothing like telegraphing your punches. What a collection of total fucking idiots!  |
|
|
|
Post by Sailor on Feb 21, 2015 16:05:35 GMT -8
I can think of a number of reasons for leaking this information
1) Disinformation in an attempt to distract from the true target (i.e. Overlord)
2) To cause the roaches to gather for the convenience of the exterminator
3) To give innocent civilians a chance to shag ass out of the city before the hammer falls
4) An "enlightened good guy" trying to toss a wrench in the military planners works
5) Breathtaking incompetence and disfunction within the administration
|
|
|
|
Post by 101ABN on Feb 23, 2015 7:28:55 GMT -8
Somehow, I'm leaning toward #5.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sailor on Feb 23, 2015 9:06:27 GMT -8
Me too.
|
|
|
|
Post by warrior1972 on Feb 24, 2015 16:28:23 GMT -8
You'll have to wait and see.
Remember General Schwarzkopf in the Iraq War, and how he sold the press (and MOST of us, for that matter) on the amphibious invasion, then his armor swung around in the desert, and cut off the Iraqi Army?
GAWD, I LOVED that.
You'll have to wait and see.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sailor on Feb 25, 2015 7:31:13 GMT -8
Warrior, remember that this is the same crew who telegraphed in the open press the withdrawal schedule from Iraq in the first place. IIRC that wasn't a disinformation effort. I don't think this is either.
Yes, I remember Schwarzkoph's "Hail Mary" or "Statue of Liberty" play in Desert Storm. I had a boatload of very pissed off Marines once they realized they weren't going to hit the beach in Kuwait or Iraq, even an administrative landing after the ceasefire.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sailor on Feb 25, 2015 7:31:29 GMT -8
Warrior, remember that this is the same crew who telegraphed in the open press the withdrawal schedule from Iraq in the first place. IIRC that wasn't a disinformation effort. I don't think this is either.
Yes, I remember Schwarzkoph's "Hail Mary" or "Statue of Liberty" play in Desert Storm. I had a boatload of very pissed off Marines once they realized they weren't going to hit the beach in Kuwait or Iraq, even an administrative landing after the ceasefire.
|
|
|
|
Post by youngstown on Feb 25, 2015 10:38:31 GMT -8
Reminds me of a live feed by Dan Rather (be dumb) when he was broadcasting Scud hits in Israel. The perfect forward observer for the terrorists.  |
|
|
|
Post by warrior1972 on Feb 25, 2015 15:56:18 GMT -8
Warrior, remember that this is the same crew who telegraphed in the open press the withdrawal schedule from Iraq in the first place. IIRC that wasn't a disinformation effort. I don't think this is either. Yes, I remember Schwarzkoph's "Hail Mary" or "Statue of Liberty" play in Desert Storm. I had a boatload of very pissed off Marines once they realized they weren't going to hit the beach in Kuwait or Iraq, even an administrative landing after the ceasefire. As I said, you'll have to wait and see. The withdrawal from VIETNAM was broadcast live and in color, under both Johnson AND Nixon, and in some cases it was LIVE, practically from start to finish. (Come to think of it, the whole WAR was, or at least the parts that the media thought would boost ratings).
To be honest, I don't particularly care for arguments about military strategy based on which Administration is running the show, and their military or political goals. I've done so, and I can play Devil's Advocate for either political side, and for any war. (remember Mikoformiko?) In hindsight, the more I learn, the more amazed I am at both our successes AND our failures.
The problem is that we don't have access to the same information that Administrations do, and we don't always know the motivations behind it. At least, not until it becomes hindsight. However, I will always have an extremely strong admiration for Schwarzkopf, Powell, and company, however, right on up the chain of command to Bush I. Man, what a "game" that crew played. |
|
|
|
Post by Sailor on Feb 26, 2015 8:17:55 GMT -8
That they did shipmate. Disinformation to back a brilliant tactical strategy.
|
|
|
|
Post by 101ABN on Feb 28, 2015 11:42:45 GMT -8
|
|
|
|
Post by 101ABN on Mar 2, 2015 7:31:25 GMT -8
Sounds like they've begun an offensive targeting Tikrit.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sailor on Mar 2, 2015 17:12:51 GMT -8
Listening to the news this evening it seems that not only are more than 25k Iraqi troops moving against ISIS in Tikrit but a buttload of irregulars are lining up with them.
I wish them good luck and good hunting.
|
|
