Ramadi

[Silver]

Opium if the fucking Afghans have their way.

Religion is the opium of the masses, after all.

[Minimalist]

http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/arti...-in-ramadi

A summer of stalemate in the effort to reclaim the Iraqi provincial capital of Ramadi, despite U.S.-backed Iraqi troops vastly outnumbering Islamic State fighters, calls into question not only Iraq's ability to win a test of wills over key territory but also the future direction of Washington's approach to defeating the extremist group.

The Ramadi standoff, with no immediate prospect of an Iraqi assault on the city, drags on even as the U.S. prepares to overhaul its approach to countering IS in Syria and congressional Republicans cite Ramadi as evidence of a failed American strategy. Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, a leading critic, says it's clear the U.S. is not winning, "and if you're not winning in this kind of warfare, you are losing."

Poor Mccain.  Just chomping at the bit for more wars to gt into.


Although, this Ramadi farce is taking on the trappings of a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta.

[Minimalist]

As predicted, while Ramadi dies of old age, Afghanistan is going down the shitter.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/01/world/...=5043&_r=0

Shaken by Taliban Victory in Kunduz, Afghans Flee Another Provincial Capital

Accounts from the neighboring province of Baghlan on Wednesday showed that the collapse of government forces in Kunduz against less numerous Taliban forces was prompting a crisis of confidence in the neighboring province of Baghlan, where wealthier citizens and those with government connections have begun to leave for the relative safety of their hometowns.

In the midst of one of the gravest moments for the American-backed government in Kabul, military leaders spoke for a third day about launching a decisive counterattack against the Taliban in Kunduz. But it was becoming clear that most of the reinforcements for such an attack had been waylaid in Baghlan.

[Minimalist]

I feel better.  At least someone else has noticed.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/04/world/...=5043&_r=0

Billions From U.S. Fail to Sustain Foreign Forces

With alarming frequency in recent years, thousands of American-trained security forces in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia have collapsed, stalled or defected, calling into question the effectiveness of the tens of billions of dollars spent by the United States on foreign military training programs, as well as a central tenet of the Obama administration’s approach to combating insurgencies.

You cannot rely on mercenaries.

[Wyrd of Gawd]

I feel better.  At least someone else has noticed.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/04/world/...=5043&_r=0

Billions From U.S. Fail to Sustain Foreign Forces

With alarming frequency in recent years, thousands of American-trained security forces in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia have collapsed, stalled or defected, calling into question the effectiveness of the tens of billions of dollars spent by the United States on foreign military training programs, as well as a central tenet of the Obama administration’s approach to combating insurgencies.

You cannot rely on mercenaries.

Sometimes you just have to go Old Testament.

[Minimalist]

Russkis better get closer before they shoot.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34479873

Four Russian cruise missiles fired at Syria from the Caspian Sea landed in Iran, unnamed US officials say.

It was unclear whether the missiles caused any damage, they said.

Whoops.  Wonder if they hit a hospital, too?

[Minimalist]

One stupid idea bites the dust.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34486572

US to abandon training for Syrian rebels

While it will make no difference on the ground in Syria defense contractor stocks will take a hit.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Finally.

[Minimalist]

We should start a pool on how long it takes ISIS to start setting off bombs in Moscow.

[Minimalist]

Oh FFS....back to "training?"


http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/...asics.html

The long-stalled push in Iraq to retake Ramadi from ISIS has underlined the need for re-training the Iraqi army in the tactics of conventional warfare, according to Army officials.

"We trained and built a counter-insurgency [Iraqi] army, and this is much more of a conventional fight" against the defenses thrown up by ISIS, Army Col. Steve Warren, a spokesman for Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, said in a briefing to the Pentagon from Baghdad last month.

Every time ISIS shits in the road we are going to have to re-train these fucks.  They love to train.... it's fighting that scares the piss out of them.