U.S. Warplanes Strike ISIS Oil Trucks in Syria

[jpak]

Source: New York Times

ISTANBUL — Intensifying pressure on the Islamic State, United States warplanes for the first time attacked hundreds of trucks on Monday that the extremist group has been using to smuggle the crude oil it has been producing in Syria, American officials said.

According to an initial assessment, 116 trucks were destroyed in the attack, which took place near Deir al-Zour, an area in eastern Syria that is controlled by the Islamic State.

The airstrikes were carried out by four A-10 attack planes and two AC-130 gunships based in Turkey.

Plans for the strike were developed well before the terrorist attacks in and around Paris on Friday, officials familiar with the operation said, part of a broader operation to disrupt the ability of the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, to generate revenue to support its military operations and govern its territory.

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Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/17/world/middleeast/us-strikes-syria-oil.html?_r=0

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the weakness that is Obama

not

[misterhighwasted]

1. ISIS sent out invitations & I see the response has been

..overwhelming.
About time.
This one's gonna hurt

[jpak]

2. They dropped leaflets to make sure the drivers weren't attacked

they got the message

yup

[George II]

3. Better this than commit a hundred thousand troops to the fight. We may not be destroying them.....

....as fast but no Americans are losing their lives.

Even after ISIS is destroyed in Syria and Iraq, I'm afraid we'll still see things like the attacks in Paris for a long time.

[tabasco]

4. Warthogs.

"nuff said.

[bemildred]

10. +1. nt

[misterhighwasted]

18. A-10 "WARTHOG"

http://m.military.com/equipment/a-10-thunderbolt-ii

A-10 "WARTHOG"
Why it is so effective.

Affectionately called the “Warthog” for its aggressive look and often painted with teeth on the nose cone, the A-10 Thunderbolt II is the U.S. Air Force’s primary low-altitude close air support aircraft. The A-10 is perhaps best known for its fearsome GAU-8 Avenger 30mm gatling gun mounted on the nose. The GAU-8 is designed to fire armor-piercing depleted uranium and high explosive incendiary rounds.

The A-10 Thunderbolt II has excellent maneuverability at low air speeds and altitude, and is a highly accurate and survivable weapons-delivery platform. The aircraft can loiter near battle areas for extended periods of time and operate in low ceiling and visibility conditions. The wide combat radius and short takeoff and landing capability permit operations in and out of locations near front lines. Using night vision goggles, A-10 pilots can conduct their missions during darkness.

Thunderbolt IIs have Night Vision Imaging Systems, or NVIS, goggle compatible single-seat cockpits forward of their wings and a large bubble canopy which provides pilots all-around vision. The pilots are protected by titanium armor that also protects parts of the flight control system.
MORE..

[uawchild]

5. "United States warplanes for the first time attacked hundreds of trucks..."

"United States warplanes for the first time attacked hundreds of trucks on Monday that the extremist group has been using to smuggle the crude oil it has been producing in Syria, American officials said."

For the FIRST time? wtf?

So, until Paris, we really didn't think it worthwhile to disrupt ISIS's sale of oil that it uses to finance it's terrorist state? I mean, isn't bombing/strafing hundreds of oil trucks like one of the first things you would think we would do if we were really serious about crippling ISIS... oh wait...

[uppityperson]

13. As the article says "because of concerns about causing civilian casualties".

[uawchild]

20. Ok, thank you.

Strafing ISIS oil trucks around the general population should be done carefully, I am sure it was done carefully now.

Thank you for reminding me that civilian casualties should be a concern when the US exercises military power, especially after the lack of concern exhibited when we strafed the Doctors Without Borders hospital. Thanks again for making me think for a moment about the regular people caught up in this war. My dislike for ISIS and suspicions about US policy got the better of me there.

[uppityperson]

21. Indeed! Complain when something is done carefully because another time it wasn't.

[uawchild]

22. Was my apology not clear enough?

Again, thank you for pointing out that civilian casualties ARE something the US should strive to avoid, as they tried to do so in this case.

But, in all honesty, wasn't there opportunities to act in a similar fashion before now? Do we care less about civilian casualties _now_ after the Paris attacks? Is that the justification for change of policy in our willingness to target these oil tankers now? It appears so from a distance.

[uppityperson]

23. I read it as sarcasm. My apologies if it wasn't meant so.

[Sunlei]

6. What country did they smuggle the crude oil to? must also need lots of refined fuel for vehicles.

[DhhD]

7. And the US will be looking into how and with whom ISIS will try to get new trucks from.

Will Saudi Arabia provided the funding or the trucks since Levant Oil theft will be stopped?

A few weeks ago, Americans were asking where ISIS was getting hundreds of new pick-ups from, to carry their ground forces in.

[DetlefK]

8. Finally. I've been waiting for this strategy forever.

Send in AC-130 gunships and blow up everything that looks like a car, a truck, a gas-station, a gas-tank...

ISIS is essentially a cavalry-army: cars and machine-guns.
And the iraqi territory of the IS is basically just two thin lines of towns and villages. Strategically it's a really bad situation. Only the fast and flexible army of ISIS is keeping this territory together.

No gas and no cars and ISIS will be picked clean by the Kurds and the Iraqis.

[misterhighwasted]

16. + 10000 This ^

Cut off a very big source of their money supply.
Ever try to drive a car with no gas?
Seriously, this is huge way to stop the movement & purchase power.

Guess we'll find out who steps in to assist ISIS.

[Doctor_J]

9. I like the prompt, measured response. Very presidential compared to the clowns in the car. BUT...

I still don't see the endgame here. How will we know when it's over?

[Francois9]

11. Oil.

That is what it is all about. For France, too. The Baathists nationalized Compagnie Française des Pétroles a long time ago, and French capitalists have never gotten over it. Hence France's willingness to help the US in Syria. The Brits never had any oil holdings there, so they don't give a damn, and refused to help.

[independentpiney]

12. I can't understand why this is the first time

Seems to me they should have been a priority target as soon as air assets were committed.

[uppityperson]

14. As the article says "because of concerns about causing civilian casualties".

[independentpiney]

15. Yes, I read that

but thought it sounded like a bullshit excuse. I'd be equally or more concerned about civilian casualties targeting c&c facilities and camps in or adjacent to cities and villages, than a 1000 tanker convoy on a desert highway. I think more likely it's because it would have created problems for whoever is on the purchasing end.

[uppityperson]

17. I find it ironic to read this, then on the threads of other bombings the strong opinion that

they should not bomb anywhere because of the potential for civilian casualties. Not by you but others, I mean.

I am glad to not have to make the decisions, and so glad we have the Pres we have right now.

[misterhighwasted]

19. Agree. 1000+. We pick our poisons, in this case ISIS needs to go.

Thank you Pres Obama.
I certainly respect his decision as well as the difficulty of his position.
Thats why he's Pres & I am gladly not.

Great OP jpak, btw

[ladjf]

25. I knew that until the U.S. brought in the A10's , they werent' serious

about hurting them.

[Turbineguy]

26. Aptly named.

The Hog of Steel