Posted on 02/14/2015 4:01:30 PM PST by rey
If you are a student of ancient military history — or actually an action movie buff — you know the significance of the number 300. It is a number associated with a brave stand made by Spartan warriors led by their king, Leonidas. They stood against a numerically superior force but wrought much violence and death against the invading Persian Army of Xerxes, until they were betrayed. Could it be a modern day episode of the brave 300 playing out before our eyes?
In case you haven’t heard, unlike the characterization of President Obama on Wednesday, ISIS is not on the defense and their morale is certainly not low. ISIS has taken a western Iraqi town of al-Baghdadi not far from Ramadi. Nearby al-Baghdadi is an Iraqi base, al-Asad, where 300 Marines are training Iraqi forces.
(Excerpt) Read more at allenbwest.com ...
Let's hope the marines put the lawyers on point by telling them "Obama's favorite golf course is just beyond that ridge".
West is right though, just the insult that they are operating openly within 10-15 miles of a US base means they should be mercilessly attacked from the air.
But as I said, Obamas state dept created them, and is eyeballs deep with them, so he is very reluctant to hurt them. They might talk about the Benghazi smuggling op to send weapons and missiles through Turkey to them. They have fine blackmail on him and they know it. That’s why they know they can never really go “too far”.
Doesn’t anybody wonder why ISIS could become cannibals in live TV and nobody seems interested in going after them?
Chesty Puller would have a great response to that situ.
“Pentagon says no big deal”
It’s no big deal because these are U.S. Marines, not Iraqi military forces or any other 3rd rate Arab forces that can’t even conquer Israel. I fully expect they will kick ass and take names.
It’s hard to wrap my mind around all this. I was with the 3rd Marines did my boot during the days of Full Metal Jacket. Surrendering weapons to the bad guys? A Pentagon that is now playing Public Relations. Everything is so cockeyed.
I’m not one bit hesitant about the fighting will and capacity of US Marines in a fight against ISIS. Ain Al-Asad airbase is 25 square miles of desert comprised of hills, plateaus and wadi’s. it is a substantial distance into the base through valley. (I was in and out a few times on security escorts providing supplies to the Marines in 2005.) So, there certainly are defensible positions. The Marines have helicopter air support and fixed wing on demand. The place is known for frequently obnoxious sandstorms, which provide some level of concealment for an attack although certain smart bombs can see through. A sandstorm, depending upon the severity can keep the rotor-craft on the ground..depends. According to various regioal reports the ISIS attacked Al-Baghdadi, the nearby village, with armored vehicles and some tanks. I think the marines will be just fine knowing the exceptional quality, performance, spirit and grit. However, there would be likely some losses, which I don’t like to think of. As a retired marine used to quip on less serious matters, ‘You’ve got to expect a few losses in a big operation.” I hope it does not come to that..
As long as the Marines have plenty ‘o beans and bullets, and I’m sure they do, they’ll be fine. I just wonder if we are sending any supplies or reinforcements, or does the Pentagon not care? Do they not think this could go Benghazi in a bad way, or don’t they want to learn from their mistakes? Just seems callous, but OTOH they shouldn’t telegraph upcoming future moves. IDK. Could be ISIS ain’t gonna fall for it and give them a wide berth, 300 Marines ain’t a bunch of spastic, poorly-armed camel humpers whose only battle tactic is to run from the first loud fart.
We have you surrounded...
US Marine: Poor bastards.
We have so many assets that we can maintain in the air, we can land the 82nd, we have Tomahawks, the existing Marines and Iraqi elements in place are already strong, and ISIS is not a great fighting force anyway.
There is no Soviet Union or Red China threatening us or inhibiting whatever options are available to us and limiting the assets that we can commit, or the violence of the protective bubble that we can put over the Marines, or what we can move into to attack ISIS from another direction.
I wouldn’t think this is a very serious threat and it sure isn’t a last stand.
As far as I know, we have enough control that we can still have access to our area and move in men and materials.
ISIS has taken a western Iraqi town of al-Baghdadi not far from Ramadi.
Baghdadi is about 10 miles from the front gate of al Asad and Ramadi is about an hour away.
But there is no debate that ISIS has been successful in seizing al-Baghdad…
The international press is reporting on 15Feb that Iraqi and local forces have recaptured the center of town.
Pentagon says no big deal. The Pentagon continues to maintain that the Marines are safe. For now.
With all due respect to Col West, I doubt with regard to the USMC's safety, the Pentagon said “no big deal” or “for now”. More likely that was a reference to the attacks not being a big deal relative to the defenses in place.
As for the rest of the article, West’s war plan sounds exactly like what America would like to see. It has paid enough in terms of blood, grief and sorrow to have earned the eternal gratitude of that region.
“Oh yeah babe, I’m on it! Reggie and I do ‘faggy-iest poses’ like this when we role play! Heh! I win every time! Reggie likes to watch from behind when I do ‘jumping jacks!”..........
(((Ping)))
My gosh, he is such a fag.
not sure I buy any of that .. but whatever
ISIS has obviously never heard of Chosin or Khe San. Oh, well...have fun, Marines!
Remember Chosin!
Well, I think it IS a big deal.
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Agreed. It is a mighty big deal. Anytime you have the enemy on your perimeter and you are not doing anything to eliminate the threat you have become captured prey. If they leave these troglodytes swarming around the perimeter, this will not end well. As West says, they need to bring in heavy air to level the ground immediately around the base. If they have not done this by now, something very treasonous is afoot. It is intolerable to let this situation fester when you have the wherewithal to deal with it. If they do not forthrightly deal with this dangerous situation, we are in another Benghazi situation where the Marines are on their own.
http://www.commdiginews.com/politics-2/the-crisis-of-isis-in-iraq-was-america-the-midwife-19968/
Yeah, we created ISIS. We were supplying the opposition and Obama was ready to bomb on their behalf before he was stopped.
They claim they gave them to the good jihadi Syrian opposition, but not the bad ones. McCain was there being photographed with them. We were giving them anti tank rockets and manpads before we admitted it.
Now its bit us because it turns out there never really was a difference between the moderate rebels and the jihadis.
These militant Muslim Cretans believe that they will show the supiority of Allah when they defeat our forces because Allah wills it. That is why they are committing atrocities and baiting our military to engage them so their victory will show the world Allah’s power, and their power as soldiers of Allah.
This is why we should unload a big fat nuclear weapon on that cesspool and wipe them out. We could do it, and that is what Obama is trying to prevent by insisting we don’t have to fight them because ISIS is the JV team and Al Queda is defeated . He is buying time until Iran has their nuclear weapons ready to checkmate ours. Think about where we will be then.
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