Iraq getting even...or "The battle has begun"

[VictorG]

For those of you who don't follow Iraq closely it may be of interest to you that Iraq started their offensive to recapture their occupied cities and eliminate as much of "DAASH" as possible from their country on 6/1/2015.

There have been lots of articles (non-US media) but here is one you might find interesting. The translations can be tough to read sometimes and of course accuracy is always in question but it's interesting anyway. Last I heard there were about 6,000 US troops back on the ground, possible more. The majority are working as base security, advisers, trainers and now starting this week, advanced "spotters" for air and artillery strikes. There are also thousands of troops from other allied countries in similar roles. Many of the bases abandoned when US troops left the country have been reopened and the PX's are even back in operation. This doesn't even count the support groups needed for the in country US air power operations. BTW 2 squadrens of the "Wart Hogs" were redeployed to Iraq a few months ago...

anyway, here is the article translated....


Announced nujaba Movement, on Tuesday, killed 300 militants in "Daash" and the destruction of 40 vehicles and armored bombed Iraqi Air western Anbar province, while suggesting to the destruction of the organization of training camps. The group said in a statement, "it was the killing of hundreds Aldoaash in a wider air attack by Iraqi aviation the largest convoys Daash between regions and Pomegranate Bagoz spend based (350 km west of Ramadi), where he was coming from Syria to support the terrorists fighting in Anbar "

The statement added that "preliminary information estimated the number of dead at more than 300 terrorist, and the destruction of more than 40 vehicles and armored vehicles were destroyed to Daash training camps in the regions of Anah and Rawah west of the province,"

Considering these operations as "the largest of its kind in the Iraqi military aviation history and formed surprise shocked Aldoaash where Iraqi forces have come to rely on the intelligence its own information isolation from the international coalition advisers misinformation." It is said that the Iraqi Army Aviation and Air Force and the international coalition the daily implementation of missions air to collect information on the movements and the headquarters of the organization "Daash" or carry out air strikes directly against elements of the organization. SOURCE

http://burathanews.com/news/267984.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[VictorG]

Here is a translated article from 6/2. I don't have the link but it is also interesting.

(IraqiNews.com) Baghdad- the commander of the armed forces, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced on Monday, the start of mobilization operations to liberate the city of Mosul from ISIS control, stressing his determination to expel the organization from every inch of Iraq.

Abadi said in a televised speech delivered before his departure to the French capital Paris to attend the International Conference of the Alliance against ISIS organization,”The past few days have seen the achievement of important victories in Baiji, Tharthar, Hamrin mountains, Anbar and Ramadi itself,” indicating that, “the victories have been achieved in all the fronts. ”

“We have started mobilization operations in Mosul to besiege the enemy from everywhere and everywhere,” vowing to “expel them from every inch of ground in Iraq,” Abadi added.

The Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi went earlier on Monday to the French capital Paris to attend a conference of foreign ministers in the international coalition against ISIS.

[CID1990]

Someone isnt familiar with Baghdad Bob or whatever his name was

or the penchant for Arab bravado

the Iraqis are currently experiencing that oh so full feeling you get when there is a size 13 boot stuck up to the "check oil" line in your ass

[VictorG]

This one is great!

US Air Force Targets and Destroys ISIS HQ Building Using Social Media



by MIKE HOFFMAN on JUNE 3, 2015


Much has been made about the ability of ISIS to master social media to recruit and broadcast their victories. But the U.S. Air Force is turning the militant group’s eagerness to share on social media into that intelligence that produces targets.


Air Force Gen. Hawk Carlisle, head of Air Combat Command, described Monday how airmen at Hurlburt Field, Florida, with the 361st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group, recognized a comment on social media and turned that into an airstrike that resulted in three Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) missiles destroying am Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) headquarters building.


“It was a post on social media to bombs on target in less than 24 hours,” Carlisle said. “Incredible work when you think about.”


Carlisle was careful not to share all of the Air Force’s secrets to include the location of the building but this is how he told the story at the recent breakfast meeting in Washington D.C. hosted by the Air Force Association.


“The guys that were working down out of Hurlburt, they’re combing through social media and they see some moron standing at this command. And in some social media, open forum, bragging about the command and control capabilities for Daesh, ISIL. And these guys go: ‘We got an in.’ So they do some work, long story short, about 22 hours later through that very building, three [Joint Direct Attack Munitions] take that entire building out.”


The vignette on how this airstrike came to be offers a broader picture into the intelligence gathering being done by Air Force intelligence specialists back at home and stationed forward. Many observers have questioned how the U.S. is producing targets in Iraq and Syria for coalition fighters and bombers with few boots on the ground. Carlisle offered a window into at least part of the process.


The story also offered a view into the Air Force’s updated intelligence organization.


In February, the Air Force stood up the 363rd ISR Wing at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., — a new wing that provides “cross-domain targeting and analysis” that produces targeting products. The wing is subordinate to 25th Air Force, which had been the Air Force ISR Agency before it became a Numbered Air Force under Air Combat Command. The airmen assigned to the 361st in Hurlburt have fallen under the 363rd since it was stood up.


Air Force intelligence officials have said their collection efforts must utilize a wide network of tools to include social media in order to keep up with the enemy. It appears these re-organization efforts are producing targets.


Carlisle also used the vignette to highlight how the Air Force doesn’t need to deploy as many airman as it may have in the past. Of course, many have discussed how many Air Force pilots are flying MQ-1 Predators and MQ-9 Reapers out of U.S. bases like Creech Air Force Base in Nevada.


But Carlisle pointed out how that also can extend to intelligence units. He said the Air Force still needs a presence in deployed locations, but maybe not as large a footprint as the service required in the past.


“It’s about how can you build that system for the future?”


However, he warned that wars and conflicts in the future won’t allow the U.S. military as much freedom to pass on intelligence like the social media tip collected in Florida as easily in the future. Carlisle suggested that satellite communications will be a target for more advanced enemies and militaries in future conflicts.


Until then, it appears the Air Force is happy to collect intelligence on ISIS militants in Florida and turning that into targets in Iraq and Syria.

Read more: http://defensetech.o....#ixzz3c1wsZxzI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Defense.org

http://defensetech.o...g-social-media/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;?

[kalm]

I quoted a Greenwald piece in another thread that we have launched 4200 missions against ISIS and killed 12,000 members. It would seem the fact they're able to withstand this and keep fighting makes them a legit concern.

[YoUDeeMan]

I quoted a Greenwald piece in another thread that we have launched 4200 missions against ISIS and killed 12,000 members. It would seem the fact they're able to withstand this and keep fighting makes them a legit concern.

The body count during the Vietnam war was a hoot. I think we killed 425,000,000 VC bad guys during our time there.

[VictorG]

I quoted a Greenwald piece in another thread that we have launched 4200 missions against ISIS and killed 12,000 members. It would seem the fact they're able to withstand this and keep fighting makes them a legit concern.

Iraq had a meeting with the UN this week and was pledged more support from other countries to stop the flow of recruits for ISIS. Interesting meeting as there was give and take on both sides. Iraq is attempting to pass laws which would work toward eliminating sectarianism, provide for national defense and other issues to provide equality and fairness to all Iraqis, regardless of religion. The US agreed to work harder toward drying up ISIS money supply.

[SDHornet]

I quoted a Greenwald piece in another thread that we have launched 4200 missions against ISIS and killed 12,000 members. It would seem the fact they're able to withstand this and keep fighting makes them a legit concern.

Iraq had a meeting with the UN this week and was pledged more support from other countries to stop the flow of recruits for ISIS. Interesting meeting as there was give and take on both sides. Iraq is attempting to pass laws which would work toward eliminating sectarianism, provide for national defense and other issues to provide equality and fairness to all Iraqis, regardless of religion. The US agreed to work harder toward drying up ISIS money supply.

Yeah, sure.

Thank God Obama got our troops outta there...oh wait...

[kalm]

Iraq had a meeting with the UN this week and was pledged more support from other countries to stop the flow of recruits for ISIS. Interesting meeting as there was give and take on both sides. Iraq is attempting to pass laws which would work toward eliminating sectarianism, provide for national defense and other issues to provide equality and fairness to all Iraqis, regardless of religion. The US agreed to work harder toward drying up ISIS money supply.

Yeah, sure.

Thank God Obama got our troops outta there...oh wait...

So your in the "let them kill each other camp" and if ISIS wins so be it?

[travelinman67]

Yeah, sure.

Thank God Obama got our troops outta there...oh wait...

So your in the "let them kill each other camp" and if ISIS wins so be it?

Look...Saudi Arabia and Quatar are funding ISIS. Let them take out Assad and surround Bagdad, then carpet bomb them into dust.

I said this back when ISIS first took Mosul: Start the assault on a Thursday night, during a 3-4 day weekend. Erase ISIS' foundation using extreme, excessive force. End the campaign on Tuesday morning. Tell the press it was just a "routine" campaign.

By the time the global observers figure out what had REALLY taken place, the press cycle will have moved on to Kim Kardashian's latest fashion faux pas.

[CitadelGrad]

I quoted a Greenwald piece in another thread that we have launched 4200 missions against ISIS and killed 12,000 members. It would seem the fact they're able to withstand this and keep fighting makes them a legit concern.

When Obama referred to them as the JV team, the official administration estimate of their numbers was 10k -12k. It looks like we killed some of them fuckers twice.

[kalm]

I quoted a Greenwald piece in another thread that we have launched 4200 missions against ISIS and killed 12,000 members. It would seem the fact they're able to withstand this and keep fighting makes them a legit concern.

When Obama referred to them as the JV team, the official administration estimate of their numbers was 10k -12k. It looks like we killed some of them fuckers twice.

True, but in his defense they've probably grown a little and we're talking about U.S. Intelligence here.

[CID1990]

Yeah, sure.

Thank God Obama got our troops outta there...oh wait...

So your in the "let them kill each other camp" and if ISIS wins so be it?

I don't know about SD but I sure as hell am

Iran's most dangerous enemy is ISIL

why are we helping Iran?

[SDHornet]

Yeah, sure.

Thank God Obama got our troops outta there...oh wait...

So your in the "let them kill each other camp" and if ISIS wins so be it?

Yes. ISIS controls a bunch of sand. Unlike what the politicos say on camera, they are not a threat to the US and anyone with a bit of common sense knows this.

[ASUG8]

We'll "advise" the Iraqis and bomb ISIS until they retrench a bit.

Then we'll pull out, leaving the Iraqis on their own again.

And ISIS or some other faction will once again move into Iraq.

Then we'll advise, and bomb, and exit.

etc.