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 ...
“Alas, probably just wishful thinking.”
Ah, wistful dreams of WWIII.
The BUFs started working Vietnam in ‘65.
Sometimes dropping bombs within 100 yards of friendlies.
and the pilots are modern too some half the age of the plane I say bomb the piss out of the whole middle east
Yep. Just something else the gutless, complicit GOPe should have impeached him for.
Yeah, but chickens don't have anti-aircraft missiles.
Sounds fishy to me. Could they be going to Qatar for something completely different?
Yes they are old but are continually being upgraded and refitted with the latest avionics and other gee whiz accountremonts. Latest airframe improvements will permit usage of this plane until 2040.
“And now, for something completely different.”
;^)
The Russians probably have a similar situation with their TU-95 Bears, I imagine.
Just because they are long in the tooth doesn't mean they're not effective. A great design is a great design.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
Absurd on its face. Pure theater.
ISIS/ISIL/Daesh is CIA. Putin had no problem finding them or dealing with them.
No I’m right. I know many Qatarians and they never say “gutter” or “cutter”. I don’t know who came up with that? It is pronounced correctly “KA TAAR”.
ArchLight the bastards
In the last 11 days, all Israelis and all U.S. military dependents have been ordered to evacuate Turkey.
seems symbolic of our slide into third world.
Probably because the damn Strike Eagles are just plain worn out.
>Probably because the damn Strike Eagles are just plain worn out.
That’s a really dangerous spot to be in for us. Obama’s wreaked the US military.
Probably not.
B-52s can carry massive numbers of JDAMS and have the crew size and endurance to stay on station for hours and hours while FACs and FAC(A)s identify and designate successive targets to attack. B-52s are also useful for the less sophisticated types of attack such as ARCLIGHTS (if that mission term is still in use) when big concentrations of enemy combatants need attention as in, say, Mosul and Raqqa.
Moving the bombers to Qatar eliminates the present considerable transit times to/from other locations. Every gallon of fuel not carried aloft is another seven pounds of payload that can be carried into the fight.
However, being based in an Arab country exposes them to ground attack by ISIS or its sympathizers. Hope the ground security plan to protect these strategic assets is air tight.
If only Bill Clinton could have refused to bomb Serbia, in favor of Bin Lauden’s KLA, we may have developed a better relationship with Russia. By bombing their Christian ally we really proved to be an untrue friend.
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