"It's Going To Take Years": US Air Force Calls For Ground Troops To "Occupy And Govern" Iraq, Syria

Tyler Durden's picture




 

One thing you might have noticed of late is that Washington seems to be preparing the US public for the possibility that the Pentagon is going to put “boots on the ground” in Syria and by “boots on the ground,” we mean more than 50 “advisors.” 

Indeed, it’s the same story in Iraq and as we noted after the release of helmet cam footage depicting an ISIS prison raid in the northern Iraqi town of Huwija late last month, releasing battlefield GoPro shots is probably i) an effort to convince whatever partners the US has left in the Mid-East that Washington is still effective at “fighting” terror, and ii) a prelude to stepped up ground ops. 

That assessment was confirmed when the Pentagon suggested it would send Apache gunships and their crews to Baghdad. Of course Iraq poured cold water on that idea when spokesman Sa'ad al-Hadithi told NBC News that "this is an Iraqi affair and the government did not ask the U.S. Department of Defense to be involved in direct operations. We have enough soldiers on the ground."

Yes, enough Iranian soldiers, and so, as we noted earlier this month, the US will either need to go through Erbil to get more US boots in Iraq or else just shift the focus to Syria where putting combat troops into battle risks lining up American soldiers to enter into direct combat with the Quds and Hezbollah and may even risk an “accident” whereby Russia bombs an American position because the Pentagon lied to The Kremlin and said the US wouldn’t be operating near Aleppo. 

Well, on Tuesday, we got the latest hint that a large scale (not to mention prolonged) ground operation is in the offing as the  U.S. Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James told reporters that air power alone cannot “defeat ISIS.” Here’s Bloomberg

The U.S.-led military coalition fighting Islamic State militants is weakening the group’s hold in Iraq and Syria even after Gulf Arab allies scaled back airstrikes, though ground forces are needed to retake territory, senior U.S. Air Force officials said.

 

The coalition’s air campaign has killed thousands of fighters, including key leaders, and pushed back militants by hitting control and training centers as well as equipment and storage areas, U.S. Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James told reporters Tuesday. Occupying or governing land will require “boots on the ground” including the Iraqi army, Syrian opposition fighters and Kurdish forces, which the U.S. is trying to train and equip, she said.

 

"It’s going to take years" to fight Islamic State, James said at the Dubai Air Show. "Ultimately, this area requires a political solution as well."

 


 

The coalition has recently targeted Islamic State’s revenue sources, including oil facilities, Lieutenant General Charles Q. Brown Jr., commander of the U.S. Air Forces Central Command, told reporters at the air show. The U.S. has moved A10 jets from Kuwait and tankers from Qatar to Turkey’s Incirlik Air Base to help in the campaign, he said.

And more, from AFP:

"Ultimately it cannot occupy territory and very importantly it cannot govern territory," she told reporters at the Dubai Airshow.


"This is where we need to have boots on the ground. We do need to have ground forces in this campaign."


James cited the "Iraqi army, the Free Syrians and the Kurds" as forces to support in the fight against IS.

Ok so first - and we're not going to go into the whole story here because we've covered it exhaustively - these two things are not compatible and someone in The Pentagon needs to explain the contradiction:

  • The U.S. has moved A10 jets from Kuwait and tankers from Qatar to Turkey’s Incirlik Air Base 
  • James cited the "Iraqi army, the Free Syrians and the Kurds"

You can't fly from Incirlik in support of troops fighting with the Kurds. It won't work. Erdogan will lose his mind. Someone in Washington needs to explain why the US thinks that's feasible. 

But more importantly, note that James mentions "occupying [and] governing territory." 

Who said anything about "occupying and governing"? Does the US now intend to "occupy and govern" Syria even as the Russians and Iranians expand their campaign? 

Finally, what's this about "years"? 

It seems to us that James is saying the US needs to invade Syria in an Iraq-style takeover bid. We're that will go splendidly, but again the silver lining is that starting World War III will be a boon for the MIC, which means the economy will rebound in short order.

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Tue, 11/10/2015 - 12:38 | 6772580 Temporalist
Temporalist's picture

Team America: World Police!  Fuck Yeah!

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 12:43 | 6772613 Shizzmoney
Shizzmoney's picture

We can't Occupy Wall St, but we can always Occupy Iraq for like the 50th time!

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 12:48 | 6772649 SMG
SMG's picture

I am so sick of this crap. I used to think public executions were too extreme, now not so much.   F-you bankster warmongers! 

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 12:52 | 6772659 Supernova Born
Supernova Born's picture

Maybe the unemployed Syrians of Europe could get first dibs on all the new jobs?

But I guess that would be kind of weird, you know, Syrians administering Syria.

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 12:53 | 6772676 greenskeeper carl
greenskeeper carl's picture

This could take years, she said.

How about we just leave those people to their own devices. Not our fucking concern. If Russia wants to deal with Syria, let them do it. Nothing over there is worth anymore blood or treasure.

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 13:05 | 6772760 TahoeBilly2012
TahoeBilly2012's picture

Who is this bitch and what hole did she crawl out of? And bitch, who's "we"? How come we never run into these people on the streets to have a quick chat with them about how the see fit running our Country?

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 13:06 | 6772769 Bumpo
Bumpo's picture

Not your country - GTFO

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 13:23 | 6772820 Supernova Born
Supernova Born's picture

Not even her branch.

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 13:38 | 6772955 Pinto Currency
Pinto Currency's picture

 

 

Did not see an invite from the Iraqi or Syrian govs.

This will lead to global war.

Oh ya, this idea came from a group of central planners who've never operated an enterprise apart from .gov.

Everything looks like a nail.

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 13:59 | 6773073 BeansMcGreens
BeansMcGreens's picture

http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/612778

 

Here read all about how the Secetary of Defense is making it so easy for everyone to have a chance to fight, women, trannies, homosexuals, no one will be exempt from the upcoming draft, except the unborn and the elderly, and Dr. Emmanuel has plans for them.

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 14:15 | 6773194 JLee2027
JLee2027's picture

Who is this bitch? Just some unqualified bimbo who wants to send men into battle for years? Get the fuck out of here.

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 14:35 | 6773353 Theosebes Goodfellow
Theosebes Goodfellow's picture

~""It's Going To Take Years": US Air Force Calls For Ground Troops To "Occupy And Govern" Iraq, Syria"~

Yeah, the way you plan to do it. If you do it the proper way, by executing all male Islamists where you find them, then it shan't take long at all, assuming you have the stomach for it.

By the way, that is the ONLY way you will "solve" the problems of Iraq, Syria or any other Muslim country. If you think this is too "brutal" a methodology, you might wish to inspect what the Muslim males have planned for you. Can you spell "Dhimmi"? Start in Europe and work outward.

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 15:08 | 6773547 CheapBastard
CheapBastard's picture

Worse then Vietnam and a heck of alot more expensive.

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 17:33 | 6774282 Theosebes Goodfellow
Theosebes Goodfellow's picture

The word is THAN. It idicates CHOICE. The word THEN indicates a different TIME period.

This THAN that is one selected over the other.

This THEN that is one AFTER the other.

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 15:16 | 6773588 MalteseFalcon
MalteseFalcon's picture

LOL.

A draft?

LOL.

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 13:41 | 6772982 TrafficNotHere
TrafficNotHere's picture

Obama first over threw Gaddafi and Lybia when from a stable country to a hell hole of instability.

Then Obama helped overthrow the eygyption government. It went from a stable country to chaos until the people said enough and threw out his puppet government.

Then Obama tried to over throw the gov in Syria. They trained "rebels" and the training and supplies lead to the creationof ISIS. Thousands of Christians have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced. Again from a stable county to chaos and now they want to take it over?

This Nobel Peace Prize winner has overthrown at least two governments, handing control to islamists and is responsible for the creation of ISIS as he attempts to overthrow a third.

I am actualy cheering the russians as they back assad, hopfully they can return the country to stablity.

Why isn't impeachment on the table?

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 14:35 | 6773300 Manthong
Manthong's picture

Because the entire Congress is bought and paid for by the trans-national banks and corporations who are calling the shots and have a vested interest in acquiring the spoils left from the chaos.

They f'd up in Ukraine but they have done pretty well in the 30 or so other "interventions" the US has been involved in over the last 50 or more years.

Have a banana and relax.

The Russians are an impediment to the evil plan.. that is why I am a bit worried about a real war.

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 14:43 | 6773403 caconhma
caconhma's picture

This Nobel Peace Prize winner, his domestic & international team, and his Banking Mafia puppeteers are just incompetent POS. They behaves and think like neighborhood hoodlums. That is  no planning, no understanding and soundly analyzing a situation.

Now, US geopolitical policies are in a direct and arrogant confrontation with Russia and China in spite of neither one of them were looking for a confrontation. Now, US policies are leading to military confrontarion the USA neither cannot afford nor win.

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 13:43 | 6772992 Baby Bladeface
Baby Bladeface's picture

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu: "It's going to take years to fight foreign terrorists. Russian Air/Space Forces cannot occupy and govern Vichy DC. This where we need to have boots on ground."

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 14:34 | 6773345 Oldrepublic
Oldrepublic's picture

re: Russian defense minister,Sergei Shoigu, a very interesting person of mixed Mongolian-Russian background, said to speak 9 languages and very popular among his soldiers.

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 15:41 | 6773721 JohninMK
JohninMK's picture

And on his way to the top

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 12:53 | 6772677 nuubee
nuubee's picture

LOL, these people sound like shady car repairmen who refuse to give back the car they keep taking apart.

"It's worse than we thought, we'll need more money and more time."

"How much time? How much money?"

"Well, remember last time we had this conversation? Just double it, it seems while trying to put your transmission back together, we broke the laws of physics, it's gonna take a miracle and lots of money to put them back together."

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 13:18 | 6772850 J Jason Djfmam
J Jason Djfmam's picture

The enemy is USUS.

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 12:53 | 6772682 BKbroiler
BKbroiler's picture

we can always Occupy Iraq for like the 50th time!

You're not a real US president until you've invaded Iraq.  It's like a right of passage.

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 12:57 | 6772667 knukles
knukles's picture

Where's Curtis LeMay when we need him?
He'd have never given into this kind of namby pamby half baked surrender monkey no-can-do lack of exceptionalism attitude

So are we officially at "It's Obama's fault" yet or do we have another few weeks?

In any case, the USAF can't do everything when manpower is greatly curtailed from combat missions due to diversity and white privilege training.

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 13:48 | 6773010 bigkahuna
bigkahuna's picture

The prez has a very magical persona. Nothing wrong is his fault. That makes him rather inconsequential.

 

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 13:01 | 6772725 Sergeiab
Sergeiab's picture

Yeah, they should have read Goebbels more closely:

"The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie"

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 14:54 | 6773461 lolmao500
lolmao500's picture

And by then its too late for the people when your country is bankrupt, destroyed and the ruskies invade and rape ya.

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 12:43 | 6772614 KnuckleDragger-X
KnuckleDragger-X's picture

The Air Farce's vast experience with ground combat is confidence inspiring......

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 13:23 | 6772724 Supernova Born
Supernova Born's picture

 

 

Hudson: Oh yeah, sure! With those things runnin' around? You can count me out.
Hicks: Yeah I guess we can just count you out of everything, Hudson.
Bishop: [speaking under Hicks] I'll go.
Hudson: Hey, why don't you go, man!
Bishop: [more loudly] I'll go.
Ripley: What?
Bishop: I'll go. I mean, I'm the only one qualified to remote-pilot the ship anyway.
Hudson: Yeah right, man, Bishop should go.  

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 12:45 | 6772629 pods
pods's picture

I would say it is CONgress' responsibility to declare war but I won't hold me breath.

Cancerous lot, to a person in that enclave.

Don't forget your green lights tomorrow, the gov will be keeping score!

pods

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 12:46 | 6772638 Sudden Debt
Tue, 11/10/2015 - 12:47 | 6772641 Surviver22
Surviver22's picture

It's the greatest threat global security has ever faced.

All the weapons in the world won't matter once ISIS army kick into gear!

http://motivationdose.com/electromagnetic-pulse-attack-emp-blackout-usa-...

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 13:21 | 6772866 Sudden Debt
Sudden Debt's picture

yeah... imagine... imagine your iPhone and status updates would suddenly stop...

that would bring America to it's knees in a second....

 

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 12:54 | 6772684 Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill's picture

Aren't all the Syrians now in Europe ?

Lets bomb the shit out of Belgium, and call it operation Belgian Freedomo.

Must be savages eating fries with mayo, and statues that piss.

Time to chew up and spit out some Flem.

Just kidding.

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 13:21 | 6772862 Sudden Debt
Sudden Debt's picture

GO AHEAD!!! if you can find it on the map that is... :)

http://zapatopi.net/belgium/

 

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 13:23 | 6772869 813kml
813kml's picture

The real Axis of Evil (Israel/USSA/SA) is in a race against the clock as they know their window of opportunity will quickly close once Russia/Iran/Iraq militias finish sweeping out ISIS and secure borders.

Expect a flurry of stupidly desperate actions by USSA, even more than usual.

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 13:06 | 6772765 HowdyDoody
HowdyDoody's picture

I prefer the original name - Operation Iraq Liberation. It had a certain degree of honesty aboout it.

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 12:47 | 6772640 booboo
booboo's picture

So in all likelyhood your child (future conscripted warrior) will be killed by a Syrian Christian trying to protect his homeland and beliefs from a bunch of crazy head chopping mooslims hell bent on over throwing their country under the canopy of american air power and american boots on the ground cheering them on. This democracy thing sure has a violent aura around it.

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 12:48 | 6772645 Supernova Born
Supernova Born's picture

Fiat imperialism is the best imperialism.

Wed, 11/11/2015 - 02:50 | 6776119 conscious being
conscious being's picture

Why not? Its all free. Hit a wall? Print some more. Voters won't approve? Print some more. Congress won't appropriare? We can find that money. Print some more. Remember, what goes on in the cabal stays inthe cabal.

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 12:56 | 6772681 Kirk2NCC1701
Kirk2NCC1701's picture

If the Syrian Government does not officially declare that "NO FOREIGN TROOPS OR AGENTS ARE ALLOWED INTO SYRIA, WTHOUT THE OFFICIAL PERMISSION OF THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT", and if Russia does not enforce that decree on behalf of the Syrian Gov't, then  Russia will have its Afghanistan 2.0.  Guaranteed.  Only a military moron or traitor would claim otherwise.

E.g. As Freddie pointed out yesterday...  [Mon, 11/09/2015 - 18:36 | 6769948  Freddie]

"Endless ISIS convoy entering Syria from Iraq has US Apache helicopter flying air cover"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFFb5E22TvE

"USA is ISIS.  Share this with everyone.  Why the Russians were not bombing the shit out of this convoy is beyond me.  Apache seen at 1:40 and 2:51."

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 13:07 | 6772773 HowdyDoody
HowdyDoody's picture

Dude, white Toyotas are so last year. This year's color is shitbrown.

 

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 13:58 | 6773075 bigkahuna
bigkahuna's picture

If the US is escorting ISIS convoys - it is only a matter of time before the Ruskies start wasting one of these escorted convoys and the US will either turn and run from it - or start shooting at the Ruskies. If we turn tail - it will not be reported. If air to air shooting ensues, that is where things will get complicated.

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 15:28 | 6773653 Blankone
Blankone's picture

Re: from Kirk - Why the Russians were not bombing the shit out of this convoy is beyond me.  Apache seen at 1:40 and 2:51."

That is a question.  And all possible answers now need to be considered.  Even that Putin is part of the game and part of the plan.

If Putin is not party to the plan then you have to ask if it might be Putin who players checkers to their chess.

Of course it could be a trap.  But it would seem if it is a trap by Putin then he has to go all in and actually take down NATO aircraft and troops.  But he has to act soon or the areas will be fortified agian by ISIS with US troops acting as protectors and new higher tech system deployed.  Once the US starts hitting Hezbolah the game changes again.  Or Putin is in on it.

If Putin ever planned a nofly zone he was a fool for not doing so at the same time he started bombing ISIS.   

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 17:12 | 6774184 Canadian Dirtlump
Canadian Dirtlump's picture

There is no telling where this convoy was, or when the video was taken. My bet is that it was in iraq, where russia isn't operating, and may well have been before they even deployed their assets to syria.

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 13:35 | 6772948 stant
stant's picture

Check point Charlie 2.0, we need a rooskies zone , a yanky zone , a limy zone and a frenchy zone.

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 13:38 | 6772967 sun tzu
sun tzu's picture

Anyone in the military these days is an idiot

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 14:12 | 6773183 Oldrepublic
Oldrepublic's picture

well paid ones!

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