Posted on 10/07/2014 12:28:58 PM PDT by keat
BAGHDAD (AP) -- After two months, the U.S.-led aerial campaign in Iraq has hardly dented the core of the Islamic State group's territory. The extremist fighters have melted into urban areas when needed to elude the threat, and they have even succeeded in taking new territory from an Iraqi army that still buckles in the face of militants.
In neighboring Syria, days of airstrikes have been unable to stop militants on the verge of capturing a strategic town on the Turkish border.
The limited results show the central weakness of the campaign: There is only so much that can be done from the air to defeat an extremist force that has swept over much of Iraq and Syria. The Islamic State fighters have proven elusive and flexible, able to reorganize to minimize the blows. And more importantly, there are almost no allied forces on the ground able to capitalize on the airstrikes and wrest back territory from the militants.
The exception: Iraqi Kurdish fighters, the most effective forces in Iraq, have made some modest gains the past week.
That only highlights how others have proven unable to do the same. The Iraqi military is undermined by corruption and command problems. A new Iraqi government has being trying to woo support from more Sunni tribesmen, whose fighters are seen as vital against the Sunni extremists, but so far there has not been a flood of support. In Syria, rebels supported by Washington are in no position to move against the extremists, and Syria's Kurds are not as well armed as Iraq's.
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
OH, I reckun there’s a few chickens that won’t be laying eggs for awhile.. Some goats may have fainted too..
that’s what happens when you only bomb targets at night to minimize casualties.
Just no clue how the world works.
In 2001, the Northern Alliance made rapid gains against the Taliban, thanks to US airstrikes.
Barry can’t even “Wag the Dog” without it being a failure.
Did it help Obama’s poll numbers?
We all know that was the only reason for doing it.
The generals were right and Obola was wrong..........again............
Poor Jimmy Carter. That was the only distinction that he had.
At least Jimmy is still the Worst President of the 20th Century.
The Taliban and ISIS are two different entities..........
Similar results to Clinton’s 1998 bombing campaign of Bosnia where he ordered planes to bomb from high altitude only.
When you bomb empty building, what can you expect
Operation Aid and Comfort.
They aren’t meant to achieve anything, other than provide cover for Ayatollah Obola.
My guess is they're trying to get Iraqi Sunni Arabs to fight ISIS, but not giving them either money or weapons. Given the danger involved, this was never going to work. The US risked a great deal to arm and bankroll the Sahwa, and they repaid this faith by risking (and in many cases, losing) their lives to suppress al Qaeda in Iraq. Maliki's sectarianism has flushed this goodwill down the drain. I thought Maliki's plan in easing Americans out of Iraq was to give himself the opportunity to carry out Saddam-scale massacres of troublesome minorities. Instead, the guy sat on his butt while IS metastasized.
Oh this is so upsetting.
The daily polls seem to indicate no.
This is just a “flim/flam” show from Obama & his Obamabot, Democrat Party!!! Obama has no intention of destroying ISIS, his beloved MUslim Brotherhood, Hamas and al Qaeda!!! Shucks....folks Obama is with them, not the USA!!!
Hint: Destroy the entire Democrat Party, politically on election day, Tuesday, November 4, 2014!!! Do it!!!!
It was never supposed to produce results, just make it look like President Empty Suit was doing something.
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