I'm talking military strategy, Abaris, not political strategy. We've had time to evaluate the effectiveness of air strikes in Kobane. Kobane, which was strategically pointless, was made to seem like some important symbolic target and the end result was that the Kurds kicked their asses with significant aerial support.
Mosul could be the same on a much larger scale. It is strategically important and having taken it ISIS cannot afford to lose it without looking like losers. Looking like losers is bad for recruitment. However, when they had their successes it was by showing up and quickly overrunning their opposition. Being tied to a static war in defense of a position does not seem to be their thing. They are not equipped for it.
Think of the 6th Army at Stalingrad. I'm sure we have officers who have read Clausewitz and Sun Tsu for that matter:
Somebody has an idea, here.
Mosul could be the same on a much larger scale. It is strategically important and having taken it ISIS cannot afford to lose it without looking like losers. Looking like losers is bad for recruitment. However, when they had their successes it was by showing up and quickly overrunning their opposition. Being tied to a static war in defense of a position does not seem to be their thing. They are not equipped for it.
Think of the 6th Army at Stalingrad. I'm sure we have officers who have read Clausewitz and Sun Tsu for that matter:
Quote:“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”
― Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Somebody has an idea, here.
