Monthly Archives: April 2016

“Syrian, Iraqi armies launch joint campaign to defeat ISIS: analysis” – TTG

Posted on April 30, 2016 by walrus

The Syrian and Iraq armies are no strangers to war; but, they have never coordinated with one another, despite their shared interest in defeating the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS). However, this changed in April of 2016 when both the … Continue reading →

Posted in Iran, Iraq, Syria, The Military Art, TTG | 30 Comments

Open Thread – 30 April 2016

Posted on April 30, 2016 by Andrei Martyanov

A couple of things: The US armed forces seldom criminalize error or failure.  We do not shoot commanders for failure or for ineptitude.  That is not to say that we do not punish error and failure.  In a system that … Continue reading →

Posted in Open Thread | 105 Comments

R+6 should complete taking Aleppo City ASAP.

Posted on April 29, 2016 by Andrei Martyanov

There seems little doubt that the R+6 has made up its mind to capture the rest of Aleppo city from the menagerie of jihadi and other rebel groups that hold the remaining parts of the city outside the area of … Continue reading →

Posted in As The Borg Turns, Syria | 16 Comments

McRaven does not know his place…

Posted on April 29, 2016 by Andrei Martyanov

  "In an unusually blunt column published Sunday in the Tampa Tribune, William H. McRaven, a retired four-star admiral, former Navy SEAL and former commander of the secretive Joint Special Operations Command, blasted members of Congress for a “disturbing trend … Continue reading →

Posted in government | 43 Comments

TERROR ATTACKS IN PARIS AND BRUSSELS: Going after the masterminds (1)

Posted on April 28, 2016 by Patrick Bahzad

By Patrick BAHZAD Five months ago, Paris was hit by a series of simultaneous terror attacks the likes of which it had not seen before. Initial reactions by the French government were characterized by a long forgotten belligerent tone, which … Continue reading →

Posted in France, Intelligence, Middle East, Syria | 14 Comments

Trump’s FP speech?

Posted on April 27, 2016 by Andrei Martyanov

Fire away.  pl http://www.peoplespunditdaily.com/policy/2016/04/27/donald-trumps-america-first-foreign-policy-speech-full-transcript/

Posted in Politics | 185 Comments

Where’s Waldo? – A Followup to Special Forces in Rojava

Posted on April 26, 2016 by walrus

The France24 film I linked to yesterday documented the presence of “Western special forces” at the battle of Shaddadi. Upon closer examination I have concluded that the bulk of the helmeted soldiers caught on film are an Air Force Joint … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Affairs, Syria, The Military Art, TTG | 40 Comments

Special Forces in Rojava – TTG

Posted on April 25, 2016 by walrus

For two years the strategic town of Shaddadi, in northeastern Syria, was a stronghold of the Islamic State (IS) group jihadists. In February, 5,000 fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a coalition of Kurdish and Arab militias, encircled the … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Affairs, Syria, TTG | 87 Comments

Syria, Obama and the Nature of Wars.

Posted on April 24, 2016 by Andrei Martyanov

  "The long-awaited Aleppo offensive recently took a backseat to the much needed Palmyra-Deir Ezzor assault after the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) threatened to retake the ancient city of Palmyra (Tadmur) just two weeks after it was … Continue reading →

Posted in As The Borg Turns, Current Affairs, Iran, Iraq, Middle East, Russia, Syria, The Military Art | 29 Comments

Bacevich on force levels and policy.

Posted on April 22, 2016 by Andrei Martyanov

  "To fulfill its self-imposed obligations as sole superpower, the United States would need a citizenry that subscribes to the cwarrior-patriot’s code: Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori. How sweet and fitting it is to die for one’s country. … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, As The Borg Turns, History, Iraq, Middle East, Policy, The Military Art, Vietnam | 128 Comments