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Air Force general lashes out at ISIS strategy critics
Washington Examiner ^ | June 5, 2015 | Andrew Tilghman

Posted on 06/05/2015 8:53:30 PM PDT by LeoWindhorse

Finding Islamic State militants to kill is not easy, the top U.S. commander overseeing the air war in Iraq and Syria said.

Air Force Lt. Gen. John Hesterman says U.S. pilots are hitting as many targets as they can find, and to suggest otherwise is simply wrong.

"The thought that we are observing large numbers of Daesh terrorist and not killing them anywhere is fiction," Hesterman said Friday in a rare briefing for Pentagon reporters from his headquarters in Qatar.

"That is patently false," said Hesterman, the commander for U.S. Air Forces Central Command.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Syria
KEYWORDS: hesterman; isis; usairforce
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To: Norm Lenhart
The U. S. military forces are not “fellow travelers.” Nor are they keyboard warriors.

The constraints on this military come from the Executive Office. If you think otherwise, try making your insipid remarks face-to-face with a military man or woman.

41 posted on 06/06/2015 8:33:32 AM PDT by mtntop3
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To: LeoWindhorse

The Air Planning system was invented, quite meticulously, by the 8th Air Force to carry out strategic bombing on the Continent of Europe. It was perfect for attacking strategic targets like rail centers, oil refineries, and ball bearing factories. The system is very methodical, comprehensive, and SLOW. Especially when considered the advances in modern aircraft, intelligence systems, and command and control capabilities. But, the Air Force still seems to quite enamored with their system. Those on the ground who expect air support have never been as big a fan, arguing that the Air Force system is cumbersome, inflexible, lacks agility, and SLOW. Did I mention its SLOW?

Johnson added another step in the planning process for attacks on North Vietnam, requiring his personal approval. The Air Force didn’t like that, but that step fit perfectly into the Air Force system and we set a precedence that endures to this day, White House oversight and control of air operations. The degree of control has varied depending on the operation and the desires of the President, but all of them have done it. Its the way we wage politics these days.

What we are seeing is that Obama’s control is off the scale, and his goals have nothing to do with any military strategy, or even founded in national interests. He has a partisan political agenda and he has just turned the Air Force into just another branch of ACORN and their affiliates. This general can stand up and say these things because the Air Force is following their procedures. It doesn’t to matter that if he approves the targets, or if Susan Rice approves them. They bomb all the approved targets, that’s what they do. We’ve turned war into another version of White House fabricated talking points, and economic reports. It’s all good.


42 posted on 06/06/2015 9:14:45 AM PDT by centurion316
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To: BBell

we need to be ripping them to Hell , every time they pop their heads up . ZERO convoys should be able to be formed .

There is only one reason this is not happening ; orders
from the WH limiting air strikes .

This has to change


43 posted on 06/06/2015 12:26:32 PM PDT by LeoWindhorse
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To: circlecity

Lt. General DOES still mean something ...IN THE MARINE CORPS


44 posted on 06/06/2015 12:31:25 PM PDT by LeoWindhorse
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To: mtntop3

” If you think otherwise “

You are right . I know , or have known , enough of them , face-to- face , that I can personally attest to what you say .
From USMC LCPL’s to Army CPT’s and WO’s . All the way up to LTG’s I have tremendous respect for Gunnys and CSM’s Some great LtC’s and full Birds . All the true war fighter warriors . Not the pencil pushers .
ALL are awesome and ALL their votes should be counted 2-3 x’s over an civ vote . These folks are the salvation of this nation . They need to get off the damn leash and take the gloves off . There is not a minute to lose . America can’t wait and time’s up .


45 posted on 06/06/2015 12:39:03 PM PDT by LeoWindhorse
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To: LeoWindhorse

Hooya!


46 posted on 06/06/2015 12:39:43 PM PDT by circlecity (')
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To: circlecity

I got to meet Jim Conway once

Now THERE is a leaders leader .

We need a President Conway , not a President Obama

and if libtard , corrupted , Americans voters can’t deliver
such a true leader ; f um .
We have thrown our most precious pearl to the swine and now
the swine think they run the whole show . They don’t


47 posted on 06/06/2015 12:59:15 PM PDT by LeoWindhorse
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To: mtntop3

I do regularly. I come from a family going back a few generations thats filled with them.

And they all, to the last living active duty one of them, agree with me wholeheartedly. In fact, it is THEY that formed MY opinions.


48 posted on 06/06/2015 5:56:17 PM PDT by Norm Lenhart
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To: LeoWindhorse

I don’t think the objective is to beat ISIS. We do that and Saudi Arabia would be swallowed up by Iran/Iraq Shiites in 2 weeks. ISIS right now is acting like a buffer to keep Iran at bay. ...till the industrial modern world figures out what the hell to do, since they can’t rely on U.S., ANYMORE....well not since odumbi’s Red Line Retreat.


49 posted on 06/08/2015 11:17:53 PM PDT by TomasUSMC (FIGHT LIKE WW2, WIN LIKE WW2. FIGHT LIKE NAM, FINISH LIKE NAM.)
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To: TomasUSMC

the Commander in retreat ....


50 posted on 06/09/2015 4:11:12 AM PDT by LeoWindhorse
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To: LeoWindhorse

Four US Presidents have been bombing Iraq pretty much continuously since 1990...Air power alone is not the answer in Iraq. My solution? Give arms and ammo to both sides...kill em all but 9. Six pallbearers, two road guards, and one to count cadence.


51 posted on 06/09/2015 4:20:13 AM PDT by csmusaret (Will remove Obama-Biden bumperstickers for $10)
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To: Timber Rattler

“This...
...should look like this...

Why doesn’t it, general?”

Because it’s an old photo which predates US air operations against ISIS?

Cue the WND articles claiming ISIS is an Obama-CIA creation.

I understand the general’s frustration. Westerners occupy a propaganda-delusion bubble by their own choice. The hype is tailored to serve their delusions.


52 posted on 06/09/2015 4:53:28 AM PDT by Justa
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