Islamic Fighters Advance In Syria Despite U.S. Strikes

[Purveyor]

Source: REUTERS

(Reuters) - U.S. planes pounded Islamic State positions in Syria for a second day on Wednesday, but the strikes did not halt the fighters' advance in a Kurdish area where fleeing refugees told of villages burnt and captives beheaded.
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Washington and its Arab allies killed scores of Islamic State fighters in the opening 24 hours of air strikes, the first direct U.S. foray into Syria two weeks after Obama pledged to hit the group on both sides of the Iraq-Syria border.

However, the intensifying advance on the northern town of Kobani showed the difficulty Washington faces in defeating Islamist fighters in Syria, where it lacks strong military allies on the ground.

"Those air strikes are not important. We need soldiers on the ground," said Hamed, a refugee who fled into Turkey from the Islamic State advance.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/24/us-syria-crisis-idUSKCN0HJ1H120140924

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We will have 'boots on the ground' within 60 days. Bookmark this thread.

[Autumn]

1. It won't take 60 days, you are right on. I give it 30 days, if that long.

Rec

[ladjf]

2. Send in 50 A-10 warthog aircraft. The Islamic fighters will not be able to

move down their roads in the pickup trucks. For reasons unknown to me, the air force doesn't want to use the A10's. Might be because we already have them and they are cheap to operate. They are designed for low level strafing and things like that.
Their winds are loaded to several heavy caliber cannons plus several rocket racks. I think we have about 400 of these sitting around idle. None have been used since we pulled out of Iraq.

[geek tragedy]

3. They could get shot down. nt

[ladjf]

5. Some would be lost. But the rain of lead spewing from their wings at varying altitudes and angles

would be a difficult target of machine gunners sitting the back end of pickup trucks.

We also have some Hercules gun ships that we used in Viet Nam that operate from a higher level. Lastly, we've got cluster bombs that could be released from even higher level.

My point is this, I think our attacks are being totally centered on buildings rather than the fighters. It's important to interfere with their supplies . But, we could interfere with the fighters themselves whenever they are on the move. Unlike Viet Nam, there is nowhere to hide once you exit the buildings.

[ballyhoo]

4. Course they'll all just put up their shields when

IS uses their Saudi purchased SAMS and other new technology. Why do you think the US brought over the F-22?

[TwilightGardener]

6. CentCom calls the shots (not the Air Force)--they are positioning some A-10's near Iraq

as of now--but they might be tougher to use in Syria because it's a hostile airspace with anti-aircraft systems and launchers.

[ladjf]

7. I was mainly thinking about the environment in Iraq were there is almost no air defense.

The ISIS fighters seem to mainly transport in pickup trucks with machine guns, moving along either unprotected roads or cross the desert like terrain.

I'm glad to hear that some A10's are being positioned.

I know that Cent Com calls the shots but I also know that the air force has been trying to get rid of the A10 for several years. Not sure why.

[TwilightGardener]

8. I think it's because most of the A-10 fleet is pretty old, cracking apart structurally, have

to be refurbished and updated soon, and there are other aircraft they have been using for close air support in Afghanistan that can serve multiple roles or aren't as vulnerable, is what I've read. I think the A-10's were originally for anti-tank, as well, and we probably have other stuff for that too, by now--or we're not planning on engaging in big-time tank warfare anytime soon. Contrary to what everyone says, I don't think it's because the Air Force hates the A-10 or its mission. I think it's because they have budget pressures and are always looking for new multi-taskers.

[ladjf]

9. Thanks for the information. Helps me better understand the decisions being made by the military.

Like so many Americans, I just about lost faith with most of what I read and hear in the media.

[PeoViejo]

10. AC 130

[TwilightGardener]

13. That's a cool photo.

[quadrature]

11. blowing up empty building at night, will never do it.

28 more months of war.
just effin wonderful.

[geretogo]

12. I still remember the relatively peaceful days in the Mid East before Bush and Chaney war criminals

stole the presidency and declared war on the American economy and the entire mid east .
We are still in near depression conditions and the near east in flames . The Neocons feel they should have
total control and finish the total destruction of our world that they desire above any thing else , then Jesus
will return and we will all live in a free market Paradise forever .