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Re: US Airstrikes Under Way in Syria
It seems like we're throwing some very expensive Tomahawks at empty buildings. All the advance talk and Congress authorization and going on TV to say that we would pursue targets in Syria, just allowed ISIS to hide and merge with the local population, so that the strikes only minimally damaged them (some check points and training camps hits paid off more, but most command and control centers in urban areas that we hit were already empty, with the terrorists having moved elsewhere such as into civilian apartment buildings).
Airstrikes alone may not defeat Sunni militants
I mean, I really don't understand all the advance notice. What we should have done:
We should have reacted to the two beheadings of journalists and other ISIS atrocities and progression, with vague statements just condemning what they were doing and saying we were studying the situation. Some vague statements not by the President himself but by other officials should indicate that "we understand that public opinion in America is weary of long military commitments in the Middle East." ISIS fighters would be happily celebrating their advances and their command and control centers would be filled to the brink with happy militants.
Then we should suddenly strike with all the Tomahawks, bombers, and jet fighters unleashed simultaneously in Syria and Iraq against ISIS positions; in day time (while these command and control centers were populated, rather than waiting for the militants to go back to the places where they sleep).
So, what's up with tipping one's hand to the enemy?
This is one of the problems with the freaking idea that Congress declares war and needs to be consulted.
I think the President should be the one declaring war and taking immediate action. Or at the very least, if there is Congress consultation it should be absolutely secret and behind closed doors.
In war, the element of surprise is very important and is only possible once - so, the first strike was the time to kill the maximum number of ISIS high level commanders and important personnel.
By engaging in our endless and paralyzed political process, we gave to the enemy all the time to hide and avoid our bombs.
Great. We're spending millions in Tomahawk missiles to take down some empty buildings. What a smart strategy! :doh
It seems like we're throwing some very expensive Tomahawks at empty buildings. All the advance talk and Congress authorization and going on TV to say that we would pursue targets in Syria, just allowed ISIS to hide and merge with the local population, so that the strikes only minimally damaged them (some check points and training camps hits paid off more, but most command and control centers in urban areas that we hit were already empty, with the terrorists having moved elsewhere such as into civilian apartment buildings).
Airstrikes alone may not defeat Sunni militants
I mean, I really don't understand all the advance notice. What we should have done:
We should have reacted to the two beheadings of journalists and other ISIS atrocities and progression, with vague statements just condemning what they were doing and saying we were studying the situation. Some vague statements not by the President himself but by other officials should indicate that "we understand that public opinion in America is weary of long military commitments in the Middle East." ISIS fighters would be happily celebrating their advances and their command and control centers would be filled to the brink with happy militants.
Then we should suddenly strike with all the Tomahawks, bombers, and jet fighters unleashed simultaneously in Syria and Iraq against ISIS positions; in day time (while these command and control centers were populated, rather than waiting for the militants to go back to the places where they sleep).
So, what's up with tipping one's hand to the enemy?
This is one of the problems with the freaking idea that Congress declares war and needs to be consulted.
I think the President should be the one declaring war and taking immediate action. Or at the very least, if there is Congress consultation it should be absolutely secret and behind closed doors.
In war, the element of surprise is very important and is only possible once - so, the first strike was the time to kill the maximum number of ISIS high level commanders and important personnel.
By engaging in our endless and paralyzed political process, we gave to the enemy all the time to hide and avoid our bombs.
Great. We're spending millions in Tomahawk missiles to take down some empty buildings. What a smart strategy! :doh