Syria airstrikes need boots on the ground, AF officer says (CIA triples IS estimate)

[morningfog]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/09/11/is-obama-bomb/15463535/

U.S. special operations forces will be needed on the ground in Syria to make the expanded air war President Obama has ordered there more effective, a senior Air Force commander told USA TODAY.

The spy planes flying missions over Iraq and Syria can develop a list of potential Islamic State targets, said the commander who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe what the war might look like. But it's "absolutely crucial that pilots are talking to an American on the ground" who can verify that the target is legitimate.

The CIA said Thursday evening that a new intelligence assessment estimates the Islamic State can muster between 20,000 and 31,500 fighters across Iraq and Syria, up from a previous figure of 10,000. CIA spokesman Ryan Trapani said the new assessment is based on a review of intelligence reports from May to August, the Associated Press reported.

Obama has said he is not sending traditional ground combat troops to Iraq or Syria. However, there will be teams of about 12 American troops advising and assisting Iraqi forces.

[NYC_SKP]

1. For all the griping, no member on this board has suggested an alternative.

.

Bush started this shit, you break it, you bought it, or so they say.

What is the alternative here?

Shall we simply pull out of every effort in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and just let it go all to hell?

Something in between?

Serious question.

[Scootaloo]

2. Several of us have, actually

I've outlined a better solution several times in fact. it always seems to get ignored by the same people who keep asking the question.

I wonder why that is

[NYC_SKP]

5. A link would help. I don't read every post and reply on this board. nt

[Scootaloo]

8. I'll just outline it

1) Diplomatic pressure to Saudi Arabia to cut funding to IS. Same goes for Jordan, Kuwait, whoever else is funneling money. We certainly have the evidence of this eschange, bring it out and be like "stop, now."

2) Rather than isolating iran and Syria, bring them in. Encourage cooperation between Syria, Iraq, and iran. it's these nations' backyards, not ours. We back them up with intelligence and when asked by the respective governments air support. Continue providing arms to the Iraqi military.

3) Halt our destabilizing program to overthrow Assad. It's not going to work, it's a waste of our resources, Syrian lives, and will just lead to a new boogeyman when ISIS is down (if it's down). yes sadly this does mean that a dictator will "get away with it," but frankly, we're endorsing al-sissi's coup, armed the Emir of Bahrain against his people, and then all the money we hurl at the oppressive regimes of Israel and Saudi Arabia, it's not like the bad guy 'getting away" is anything new for us.

Perfect solution? probably not. But then there is no perfect solution. However, mine is better than the one the president outlined... assuming the goal is putting IS into retreat and eventually dissolving it entirely.

Which i am not sure is actually the president's goal.

[NYC_SKP]

10. Thank you.

It's the first alternative set of strategies I've seen described.

Sounds pretty solid.

[Autumn]

4. I've seen several. Some of them quite good.

[JEB]

3. We're gonna have us a big ol' mess of profiteering. Freedom isn't free.

[Union Scribe]

6. It almost sounds like dropping a few bombs and going home

won't really solve anything. Imagine that!

[bullwinkle428]

7. They'll have to deal with a genuine Syrian air force - their foreign minister

said the U.S. would HAVE to coordinate their attacks with them, or they may very well end up engaging with Syrian jet fighters.

[Puzzledtraveller]

9. USAF 1991-1997, first Gulf war

"air strikes" are not a minor action, but it sounds clean and easy, and of course, we always hit the bad guys don't we?