Iraq and Syria diary - 27 June 2014

  

"Jets from Russia and Belarus will hopefully make a key difference in the fight against ISIS in Iraq, the country’s Prime Minister Nouri Maliki said. He expressed regrets over Iraq's contract with the US, saying their jets are taking too long to arrive.

"God willing within one week this force will be effective and will destroy the terrorists' dens," he toldBBC Arabic.

Meanwhile, Maliki criticized the process of purchasing US jets as “long-winded,” adding that the radicals could have been repelled if Iraq had proper air defense."  RT

----------------------------

"... could have been repelled if Iraq had proper air defense."  Really?  How?   This is magical thinking.  Contrary to delusions created by advocates of air power, you must have; staff planning capacity,  sound maintenance and actual targeting to make air power effective against ground forces or any other forces.  

Who is going to fly these jets?  Russians, Belorussians, Iranians?  The Mahdi's Army?  Who is going to do the maintenance, run the supply chain and do the targeting?  Who?

The rebel coalition is also seeking to arm itself with captured aircraft, mainly helicopters.  they have several advantages in this process.  1- A lot of the helicopters are of Russian manufacture.  The old Iraqi army men who make up the real military capability of the rebel coalition include a lot of helicopter pilots and mechanics.  2- the airbases north of Baghadad are treasures filled with spare prts and ordnance.  3 - It's a lot easier to vector helicopters in CAS than to target fast movers (jet fighters).

http://rt.com/news/168744-russia-jets-iraq-maliki/

*****************

 "Kent Conrad’s phone hasn’t been ringing very much over the past few weeks, as Iraq, and the debate over America's future in the country, has once again dominated the news.

The architects of the Iraq war are back in TV studios and on op-ed pages, as are journalists and pundits who promoted the Bush administration’s ultimately bogus case for invading. But Conrad, a former senator who was one of only 23 to vote against authorizing the war in October 2002, hasn’t heard from CNN, MSNBC or any other TV outlet. "Not once," he said, when asked if anyone in the press had reached out regarding the current crisis in Iraq.  Huff Post

----------------------

I have been called several times in the last week and have declined.  So this is not "sour grapes."  I prefer to leave the whoring after network money to those who desire it and who have been well briefed by the US government.  The same guys were on the TV payrolls and the briefing list in 2003.  Major exceptions to this blanket condemnation are; Jack Jacobs and Andrew Bacevich.  

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/27/iraq-war-critics-tv-bookers_n_5534549.html

*****************

 "The Obama administration has proposed escalating US involvement in the Syrian civil war, asking Congress for $500m for the US military to train and equip "moderate" Syrian rebels.

The request to Congress on Thursday, heralded by Barack Obama's vow, made during a speech at West Point military academy, to step up assistance to a beleaguered Syrian force, comes as the administration searches for effective alternatives to the jihadist army that has carved out massive swaths of Syria and Iraq for an Islamic state."  The Guardian

---------------------------

Why?  Why?  The Free Syrian Army (FSA) is one of the smaller and weaker elements in the galaxy of anti Syrian government forces. They have had their asses kicked by the SAG, al-Nusra and ISIS.  They will continue to have their asses kicked.  The SAG' armed forces have become a much stronger force and the notion that the FSA will somehow be transformed into the winners of  the Syrian jug f--k is amusing.

Bashar Assad wants to be taken in from the cold, just as Qathafi wanted the same thing.  

From the time we relented about Qathafi until we chose to get rid of him, Qathafi was not a problem for the US.  Why will we not listen to the Syrian government?  pl  

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/26/obama-seeking-500m-training-moderate-syrian-rebels

Comments

[turcopolier]

Jim T

I have zero confidence in the integrity of the MSM. On the other hand, if the US government were to offer me an advisory position as on the PFIAB I would accept. pl

[Jim Ticehurst]

I wish doubt that will happen Half the Current Ones are Attorneys..The rest are Politically Correct and worked for George Tenent or helped cover up 9/11...

[Jim Ticehurst]

Even Wolf Blitzer just challenenged a State Department on the Wisdom of Assisting The "Moderate" Rebels ability to secure Weapons and Resources if we provide them 500 Million Dollars of Taxpayer money..Hell, We cant even secure our OWN Borders..

[Jim Ticehurst]

Come on Col..Put on your Green Beret and take One more Jump..POT-US(R)would never listen to you ..on the PFIAB
that's all political..Put Yur Boots on..Go Public and use the Best Forum available..Everyone will Listen..I can hear the Bugles now... It stirs up my Virginia DNA Now..

[Ryan]

"The "moderate" rebel claim is a convenient fallacy to justify doing the the wrong thing."

True, and tonight the Fox News All Stars (of David) did just this. Stephen Hayes and Charles Krauthammer were moaning that if we had simply supported the "moderates" 18 months ago none of this mess today would have happened. Despite this, both of these criminals called for spending this money. Krauthammer admitted it probably wouldn't do any good, but damn the torpedos, full speed ahead. It's a "three sided war", you know and we have to hope some of the "moderates" survive and take over so we have some friends in Syria. Of course, never are the course of action they recommend are to blame, but others' failure to appreciate the brilliance of these masters of the universe.

Krauthammer did make one interesting comment. Any training of the "moderates" should take place outside of Jordan. Jordan isn't to be put at risk. I suppose even someone as demented as Krauthammer has his moments of lucidity.

A.B. Stoddard was here as well. Her contribution was that Hagel had doubts the US could tell the "moderates" from the terrorists.

[Highlander]

PFIAB …… what is it exactly? A spooky advisory board?

[turcopolier]

highlander

Yes, but it would give me a license to reave. pl

[turcopolier]

Jim Ticehurst

Tell you what. I will post an announcement that I will take them on free of charge or briefings and I will never decline again. pl

[alba etie]

Presidents Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board according to the Wiki _

[Ryan]

President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board

[John]

I agree. The good Colonel's voice needs to be heard!

[Fred]

Matthew,

Spying on our enemies is exactly what our spies should be doing. We shouldn't be asking Maliki's permission and if he doesn't think everyone and their brother is doing the same in his country he's a darn fool.

[Fred]

Col.,

"sauve qui peut", God help us if it comes to that.

[Ryan]

Colonel,

I'd like to see you take them up on their offers.

Col. David Hunt needs reinforcements. Of all these folks on cable the only one who is arguing against going back in is Hunt. The rest of them are the same sorry crew who caused the problem in the first place. The other night Hunt was arguing with Bill O'Reilly. O'Reilly, of course, is hell bent for leather to start bombing and lord knows what else. He asked Hunt what he thought. Hunt told him "let it burn".

[robt willmann]

Highlander,

PFIAB = President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board.

Apparently, president Bush jr. renamed it the President's Intelligence Advisory Board in 2008--

http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/piab/history/

Notice the troubling language explaining why Bush jr. renamed it: "... to reflect the fact that national intelligence doesn't begin or end at our nation's borders". In other words, domestic spying by the federal government; this Freudian slip describes the new policies adopted by Bush jr. and Cheney, exemplified by the Department of Homeland Security, the first secret, domestic, nationwide internal security organization, something not contemplated or authorized by the U.S. constitution.

As originally created when people were thinking in terms of a federal government somewhat limited in scope, the FBI was a very narrowly tailored organization, limited to law enforcement of federal crimes, which back then were largely based on interstate activity and espionage by foreigners.

[eakens]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=PFIAB

[Bandolero]

All

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has a plan. Quote AP:

Kerry: Syrian Moderate Rebels Could Help in Iraq

Secretary of State John Kerry signaled on Friday that the U.S. hopes to enlist moderate Syrian opposition fighters that the Obama administration has reluctantly decided to arm and train in the battle against militant extremists in neighboring Iraq.

...

Al-Jarba thanked the Obama administration for requesting the $500 million, but said his rebels want even more foreign aid to fight two fronts: a bloody insurgency and their so-far unsuccessful effort to oust Assad.

"We still need greater assistance," al-Jarba said, speaking through a translator. "We hope for greater cooperation with the U.S." He said General Abdullah al-Bashir, the head of the military wing of the Syrian opposition, "is ready to cooperate with the U.S. side."

...

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/kerry-syrian-moderate-rebels-iraq-24335746

Meanwhile in Turkey... Quote Daily Star/AFP:

Syria opposition sacks rebel command over corruption

... A statement by the opposition government said that its chief Ahmad Tohme "decided to disband the Supreme Military Council and refer its members to the government's financial and administration committee for investigation."

The decision came amid widespread reports of corruption within the ranks of the FSA, which is backed by Western and Arab governments in its battle to overthrow the regime of President Bashar Assad.

The government in exile said that it was also sacking FSA chief of staff Brig. Gen. Abdel-Ilah Bashir.

It called on "revolutionary forces on the ground" to set up within a month a new defense council and to fully restructure the rebel army's command. ...

Source: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/Jun-27/261814-syria-opposition-sacks-rebel-command-over-corruption.ashx

However, hours later came a reversion. Quote AFP:

Decision to Sack Syria Rebel Command Reversed

A decision by Syria's opposition government to sack the military command of the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) over corruption allegations has been reversed by the National Coalition chief. ...

Source: http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/decision-to-sack-syria-rebel-command-reversed-549325

If that was a hollywood movie, I'ld probably criticize it as being kind of too unrealistic.

[turcopolier]

bandolero

"If that was a hollywood movie, I'ld probably criticize it as being kind of too unrealistic." And IMO that would be a realistic criticism. pl

[turcopolier]

Ryan

Hunt is right. We broke and set it on fire. We were so sanctimonious about this... We broke this emerging state. For shame. For shame. Hunt is right. Let it burn. There is nothing left to do but that. pl

[Highlander]

As an old bomb dropper, forward air controller, and naval gunfire observer, just how would Mr Keane purpose, we know just exactly which group of crazies we are bombing.?

[Highlander]

One more reason both Bushie and Darth Vader should be put in a damn penitentiary some place, preferably a very very hot place.

You add up all the nation's and constitution's previous enemies and the total doesn't add up to the damage these two vicious clowns have done.

[samuelburke]

Col Lang, there must be something to the strategy the U.S seems to be implementing all over the middle east. Gen Wesley Clarke told this story about "seven countries in five years", these plans he mentioned must have been well thought off at the time and must have had some strategic importance to what the neocons consider the U.S national interest because we are still going strong over there.

I am torn between believing that our gov't does not know what they are doing and are a bunch of bumbling imbeciles but, the plan Gen Wes Clark mentioned sits there like a splinter in my brain causing me to believe there is more afoot here than just a bumbling bunch of tools.

Chaos is a tool.

[robt willmann]

Here is an interview on 27 June of Gen. Martin Dempsey on National Public Radio about the Iraq situation. NPR unfortunately hopped on the "main stream media" bandwagon years ago and has now gotten so frilly and fluffy it is almost impossible to listen to. But at least they gave Gen. Dempsey 10 minutes--

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/06/27/326179051/in-iraq-coordination-with-iran-not-impossible-gen-dempsey-says

[turcopolier]

samuelburke

We have to remember that the concept Clark talks about did not originate in DoD. pl

[fanto]

yes, how catastrophically wrong were they - and yet Wolfowitz, Cheney, Rice, and who'm else I forgot to mention - they are parading on the main tv channels; it is either disgusting or maybe it is the sneaky way to show the culprits ... who knows