Normally, I'd Think This Was The Dumbest Move Possible

[abaris]

Were I commanding ISIS, I would order a phased withdrawal after filling the town with booby-traps and leave a small force of dedicated fanatics to die in defense of the town. What would you do?

Well, that may just be on the menu. See the whole of post invasion Iraq for references.

And Obama may not be as stupid, but there's already a queu of stupid lining up to replace him come 2017.

[Minimalist]

Mosul will be a burned out smudge on the map by 2017.

[Minimalist]

End game in Tikrit:

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/03/iraqi...in-tikrit/

Iraqi forces pound besieged Islamic State jihadists in Tikrit

Iraqi forces Friday battled Islamic State jihadists making what looked increasingly like a last stand in Tikrit, but the group responded by vowing to expand its “caliphate”.

Thousands of fighters surrounded a few hundred IS holdouts, pounding their positions with helicopter and artillery strikes but treading carefully to avoid the thousands of bombs littering the city centre.

Note earlier prediction about booby-traps and a handful of fanatics. The Iraqis are letting Arty do the work.

[Heywood]

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2015...his-spring

U.S.: Major Offensive Planned Against ISIS In Mosul This Spring

Telling the enemy where and when you are coming is usually frowned on.

“The backbone of surprise is fusing speed with secrecy.”

Carl Von Clausewitz

But, here, I wonder if it is not a ploy to draw ISIS into a battle of attrition that they cannot hope to win?

If they bugger out of Mosul, they will lose their shining rep among the more violent camel-fuckers and, if they mass to fight, they will be slaughtered in droves.

If they retreat from Mosul in any kind of numbers we will slaughter them anyways.

[Creed of Heresy]

End game in Tikrit:

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/03/iraqi...in-tikrit/

Iraqi forces pound besieged Islamic State jihadists in Tikrit

Iraqi forces Friday battled Islamic State jihadists making what looked increasingly like a last stand in Tikrit, but the group responded by vowing to expand its “caliphate”.

Thousands of fighters surrounded a few hundred IS holdouts, pounding their positions with helicopter and artillery strikes but treading carefully to avoid the thousands of bombs littering the city centre.

Note earlier prediction about booby-traps and a handful of fanatics.  The Iraqis are letting Arty do the work.

The Iraqi Army is fighting rather effectively now that al-Maliki and his cronies are out of power, aren't they?  It's almost like it was being hamstrung by infighting and private political agendas before.

---

If they retreat from Mosul in any kind of numbers we will slaughter them anyways.

Yeah, ISIS got a little big for its britches.  Pity they don't know anything classical literature...

Icarus' crime was to fly too close to the sun...

[dyresand]

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2015...his-spring

U.S.: Major Offensive Planned Against ISIS In Mosul This Spring

Telling the enemy where and when you are coming is usually frowned on.

“The backbone of surprise is fusing speed with secrecy.”

Carl Von Clausewitz

But, here, I wonder if it is not a ploy to draw ISIS into a battle of attrition that they cannot hope to win?

If they bugger out of Mosul, they will lose their shining rep among the more violent camel-fuckers and, if they mass to fight, they will be slaughtered in droves.

Hm.... that actually would work strategy wise its smart. Just tell them when and were you are striking and use that to lure them out.

to not be so suspicious use a decoy if they go after you strike hard and fast and they wont know what hit them.