Or, just a way for Obama to run out the clock to make it his successor’s problem. It’s just that now running out the clock takes more of a commitment than he bargained for.
Or maybe the advisers are going to get advice on how to fight without resorting to buying off your enemy with pallet loads of fresh $bills.
I’m sure after all the duplicitous puppeteering stretching over decades, what Kurdish fighters need right now is just a little more patroning from the White House.
So, you think this is going to be the factor that results in the destruction if Da-esh?
Why does it matter whether it’s the factor? It probably isn’t. It is certainly a positive factor in the weakening and eventual defeat of ISIS.
You should view it as one of many factors that will help propel ISIS toward defeat. More important than these advisors would be (1) either getting a significant force of Arab partners fighting as effectively as the Kurds or getting a more significant military involved, and (2) getting all neighboring countries to effectively stem the flow of supplies to ISIS.
This is happening in your head, right? Like in the video games.
paging “Arab partners”
Are you thinking of the 16 times Obama said there would be no boots on the ground in Syria?
Our first attempt at training an Arab force in Syria did not work. Our government revised their strategy. We’ll see if it works. I don’t think it is particularly clever to point at something that is still developing and say “See! it doesn’t work!”.
My level of optimism has declined a bit because the AKP just won back their majority in the Turkish parliament. Since they are basically sympathizers with ISIS, my guess is our chances of seeing victory has declined a bit or been prolonged further into the future.
On the other hand, joint Arab/Kurdish/American forces are going on the offense in Syria and the recapture of Ramadi is going forward. Forces cooperating with us have lost no territory to ISIS while having taken their territory. If that pattern continues, Eastern Syria and Ramadi will be freed of ISIS in the coming months.
But don’t let my analysis stop you. Feel free to continue ascribing a video game mentality to my beliefs about the situation in Iraq and Syria.
Aren’t you supposed to ask the incumbent government before placing troops in it’s territory ? Like, international law and stuff ?
LOL. Brilliant comment. I suppose the logic of gunboat diplomacy is, if you’re willing to bomb the fuck out of somewhere, you might as well invade the territorial integrity as well: in for a penny, in for a pound.
It’s at times like this we’re reminded of the pointlessness of the UN, and the bogus bullshit sometimes referred to as ‘international law’, or exceptionalism law, or somethng …
And so
Even the use of domestic law looks rather odd.
Very broad scope
That’s just great news; another US invasion of territorial sovereignty in the Middle East - what could possibly go wrong.
But gee, won’t those Kurds be so grateful to draw on the wisdom and success of the US in ground fighting over that’a ways.
It’s not like it’s an incentive or anything to the opposition; doesn’t touch on core ISIS rationale, won’t remotely work as a recruitment sergeant, absolutely not a red rag to a bull.
But it’ll sure work for the Democratic Party in the elction campaign.
I am not a fan of the americans sending their troops into the region, or this action. But to be reasonable and not political, it is possible the american forces will have utility in training the Kurdish in coordination for calling on the airstrikes. This would not be something the Kurdish fighters are skilled in.
of course it is also to mention that the Syrian Kurdish, unlike the Iraqi Kurdish do not have several decades of the fighting organization experience. Just being a Kurdish does not give one genetic abilities…
but I prefer the americans and the russians both keep out.
We get it, the US is terrible at everything that it does, and you would like an echo chamber to reinforce that.
I agree, I don’t quite understand how people can be impatient and expect instant results of US bombing campaigns, whilst ignoring the fact that ground forces need to be built up to able to sustain an offensive capability, this somehow translates into US failure.
I also believe that the Kurdish region in Syria could act as an incubator for Arab groups genuinely working towards a democratic government. We’re seeing an embryonic example of this, with Arabs and Kurdish groups cooperating in building up a force to retake Raqqa and some Arab groups supporting the YPG in Kobani and Hasakanah.
In the time of the apricots…
Are the Kurds getting attacked by the US backed rebels ?
The Democratic Forces of Syria is a joint force of Arab militia, YPG, and American advisers and air support.
Filmishmish?
Oh how poignant, a phrase produced to invoke the wisdom of your ‘knowledge’ and the foolishness of my optimism.
Here’s a proverb for you
One hand doesn’t clap.
The friend of my friend is not necessarily my friend. And sometimes spongecake is not as bad as it seems!