Posted on 04/09/2016 11:36:22 AM PDT by Mariner
The U.S. Air Force deployed B-52 bombers to Qatar on Saturday to join the fight against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, the first time they have been based in the Middle East since the end of the Gulf War in 1991.
U.S. Air Forces Central Command said it last flew the long-range bombers operationally in the region in May 2006 as part of the war in Afghanistan, and during a U.S.-led military exercise in Jordan in May 2015.
"The B-52 demonstrates our continued resolve to apply persistent pressure on Daesh and defend the region in any future contingency," said Air Force Lieutenant General Charles Brown, commander of U.S. Air Forces Central Command.
Daesh is the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State militant movement.
Lieutenant Colonel Chris Karns, spokesman for the Central Command, said he could not provide the exact number of B-52 bombers to be based at Al Udeid Air Basein Qatar due to "operational security reasons."
Washington's decision to deploy its powerful B-52 bombers to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar came as the U.S. military stepped up the fight against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
Brown said the bombers would be able to deliver precision weapons and carry out a range of missions, including strategic attack, close-air support, air interdiction, and maritime operations.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Are equipment shortages this severe?
“Strategic bombers being used for...close air support?”
That caught my eye as well.
Always say QAAA TAAR . Never say “gutter”
If they actually use them I would expect them to drop bombs on Assad’s forces in support of Isis.
Obama supports Isis IMO... it’s his proxy army.
And he’s in love with the Muslim Brotherhood.
Same thought here. This is the same PR crap that has them announcing, “The US flew 24 sorties against ISIS today,” while the Russians were flying hundreds.
Now comes the carpet bombing.
These planes are 50 years old. What are we going to do with them?
you are wrong
cuhtter is more correct to rhyme with gutter
The airframes are 50. The avionics and weapons are much more modern.
L
General “Buck” Turgidson: “If the pilot’s good, see, I mean if he’s reeeally sharp, he can barrel that baby in so low... oh you oughta see it sometime. It’s a sight. A big plane like a ‘52... varrrooom! Its jet exhaust... frying chickens in the barnyard!”
B-52s in close air support, there you are.
Any actual effective O attack on his Islamonazi friends and comrades will be purely accidental.
Uh Oh Carpet bombing!!! Go Ted Go!!!
We did it in Vietnam.
Carpet bombing?
That was my first thought...Raaqa and Mosul with 500lb iron bombs...80,000lbs at a time.
Alas, probably just wishful thinking.
Islamic State ?
WTF?
“Can’t we all just get along?”
I know, we should send in “John Kerry” to negotiate for “Peace”.
I mean, like, after all, Hillary has left everything in turmoil and everything “misunderstood”.
An Islamic State.
Who would have thought?
Operation Linebacker – B-52’s over Hanoi
The 11 Days of Christmas - December 1972
498 sorties – 15 losses
884 SAM’s fired – 24 hits
10 crashed inside North Vietnam
5 “ “ “ outside “ “ “ “ “
Will be used to drop high tonnage of bombs on yet more non strategic ISIS targets, so Obama and his generals can say they are dropping a lot of bombs on ISIS.
Doesn’t matter what platform you use to drop the bombs, if the air campaign is flawed, you’re just doing more of the same.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.