Posted on 03/22/2017 12:44:18 PM PDT by elhombrelibre
Washington (CNN)Fighters in Syria have begun a major ground offensive, backed up by US forces, to retake a vital dam near Raqqa, Syria, from ISIS, a US official told CNN Wednesday.
Tabqa Dam is located 25 miles west of Raqqa, ISIS' self-declared capital, and supplies electric power to a wide area of Syria, according to the US.
The area has been under ISIS control since 2013. Retaking the dam is considered a vital step in the further isolation of the area around Raqqa and eventually retaking the city.
(Excerpt) Read more at edition.cnn.com ...
The US armed forces are nothing more that mercenaries in Syria. The same of it is how little they get paid.
Yes, they're all a bunch of lowbrows not up to your egghead standards.
Air Assault!
First use of air mobile operations. Suddenly, the SDF is South of the river, has secured the Tabqa Dam, and can put direct fire on the ISIS Garrison in Tabqa.
Surprise!
The article reports that the Marines supported this assault with their artillery. Maybe they sent some guns on a raid, but likely they have established a new firebase to continue to pound the garrison in Tabqa - no more quiet nights for them.
Let’s see if the ISIS leadership in Tabqa suddenly gets called away for a meeting downriver (with their families and valuables) - if they are even still there.
That’s a pretty despicable way to characterize our military forces! I completely disagree with you.
Thank you sir, you express my feeling so well.
I so love it.
It is not “just” SDF these are Kurds own Special Ops.
We should bomb the dam and flood Raqqa.
Well said.
Dissing America and our military is pretty standard now - even from the right - and there is no penalty, none!
But also the power switch for Raqqa City and Tabqa Airbase are now in SDF hands. If the power is cut, ISIS could run generators until they run out of fuel, but most water pumps would come to a halt.
It is also possible that some of the local leadership might have bedded down inside the dam, thinking it would not be bombed.
“these are Kurds own Special Ops.”
Classic Special ops raid. Seized the initiative, secured a strategic asset, and achieved operational surprise.
ISIS will be reeling to react. Probably launch all their suicide vehicles in waves, send all the kids and foreigners to counterattack, while key leaders withdraw.
Until that town is cleared of ISIS, that bridgehead is at risk.
“Mercenary” is harsh and contemptible. My issue is deploying the military with constitutional scrutiny and outcomes that benefit America and are of national security vital. In my estimation, Obama used the American military as something that can be seen as mercenary because he used them to further goals other than America and outside the Constitution. I want to know what the “end game” to this Mideast folly is. We need to look from 9/11 to the present and see where we are and where we are going in the Mideast. Meanwhile Afghanistan loses ground to the Taliban. We have not declared war since WWII and we should not be doing anything to further Saudi Arabian or Iranian foreign policy objectives let alone Syria. If we help destroy ISIS it is worth it but I am skeptical that this will be done and most of the leadership escapes like cockroaches.
Leadership matters.
The political powers that be, have turned the finest military in the world into mercenaries in Syria. There is not any achievable military goal.
They should at least receive the same incredible pay that mercenaries receive.
I have nothing but the highest respect for you men and women in uniform.
We do not belong in Syria at all.
I apologize for the mis-post.
It’s as if we’d sent a Battalion of Rangers - RLTW.
I understand and appreciate the Constitutional concerns as valid. However, anyone who thinks our men and women in uniform are mercenaries probably never served, or they don’t know that mercenaries kill and fight without regard for any principles.
I’m pretty confident that our forces are reasonably safe and that ISR is on site 24/7. Prayers are always beneficial, and if ever there was a war that met the Christian Just War theory this one is it.
Like I said, I know you won't like it, but these reasons I stated are why we don't do what you suggest. I'm not saying I'm not sympathetic to your preference. It's just not going to happen.
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