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US Syria missile strike

Rogue Valley

Lead or get out of the way
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From these analytic BDA (bomb damage assessment) images, 44 ground targets were struck from a reported volley of 59 cruise missiles (75% success rate) launched from two US Navy destroyers in the Mediterranean.

The two operable runways at Shayrat airfield were apparently not struck at all. It is unknown if this result was intentional or can be ascribed to the 15 missing Tomahawk detonations.

It is also notable that no C&C facilities or military personnel barracks were struck. BDA conclusion: Strike degraded but did not terminate operations at this airbase.



C81HiYJXsAAPpuz.jpg



US_Syria.jpg



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I think the point was to send a message, not kill personnel or cause permanent damage to a facility that may need to be used for further proper anti-ISIS military activities.

IMO it is clear that Trump does not want to start a new war with Syria, but rather to let Assad (and the diverse rebel groups) know two things:

1. That the US can use surgical strikes at military targets at will, while causing as few casualties as possible.

2. He has the will and capability for use of direct and proper action in pursuit of his foreign policy goals.

I think that his military advisors met the task admirably, since most of the missiles seemed to do exactly what they were meant to...show we can hit what we aim for so don't piss us off again.
 
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I think the point was to send a message, not kill personnel or cause permanent damage to a facility that may need to be used for further proper anti-ISIS military activities.

IMO it is clear that Trump does not want to start a new war with Syria, but rather to let Assad (and the diverse rebel groups) know two things:

1. That the US can use surgical strikes at military targets at will, while causing as few casualties as possible.

2. He has the will and capability for use of direct and proper action in pursuit of his foreign policy goals.

I think that his military advisors met the task admirably, since most of the missiles seemed to do exactly what they were meant to...show we can hit what we aim for so don't piss us off again.
I really hope you're right...
 
As pointed out in another thread, hitting runways doesn't have all that much effect. They can be quickly repaired.

If one wants to make a strike to hurt, operational infrastructure is the more worthy target.

Refuelling facilities, hangars, those aircraft that happen to be there, re-arming stations, those sort of things.

There've been reports of planes landing and taking off there again, but they won't be equipping for any missions there for some time to come.
 
As pointed out in another thread, hitting runways doesn't have all that much effect. They can be quickly repaired.

If one wants to make a strike to hurt, operational infrastructure is the more worthy target.

Refuelling facilities, hangars, those aircraft that happen to be there, re-arming stations, those sort of things.

There've been reports of planes landing and taking off there again, but they won't be equipping for any missions there for some time to come.
I generally agree. But much critical infrastructure remains intact and the base is operational. The strike in-toto seems a bit ... half-assed to me.

An $89 million strike package doesn't buy what it used to ;)
 
I generally agree. But much critical infrastructure remains intact and the base is operational. The strike in-toto seems a bit ... half-assed to me.
Who knows where some of the tomahawks went? :mrgreen:

OTH the planes reportedly seen moving there now could well be Russian (Khmeimim is a stone's throw away where jets are concerned). As a deterrent against further strikes, what with nobody wanting a direct US-Russian confrontation.

The Russians did put a lot of effort and money into that strip, even if it is/was primarily for Syrian use.

But yeah, speculations.

An $89 million strike package doesn't buy what it used to ;)
Well, I'm just glad my house wasn't the target. Economically speaking that wouldn't even justify a Reaper's weapons load.:mrgreen:
 
I generally agree. But much critical infrastructure remains intact and the base is operational. The strike in-toto seems a bit ... half-assed to me.

An $89 million strike package doesn't buy what it used to ;)

Scorched earth wasn't the objective.
 
If the intention is to send a message, it's one who's meaning isn't clear.

Further escalation into conflict with Syria would certainly bring Russia and the United States into a direct confrontation. That doesn't seem like something the Trump Administration wants.
 
My bet is that ISIS is quite satisfied with the results of the attack.
 
I generally agree. But much critical infrastructure remains intact and the base is operational. The strike in-toto seems a bit ... half-assed to me.

An $89 million strike package doesn't buy what it used to ;)

Efficiency has increased since WW2.

To conduct this mission, we'd have sent 1000 planes, each one with a crew of about 9 people and a ground crew to deliver about 6000 pounds of bombs.

The labor costs alone would have been devastating!
 
From these analytic BDA (bomb damage assessment) images, 44 ground targets were struck from a reported volley of 59 cruise missiles (75% success rate) launched from two US Navy destroyers in the Mediterranean.

The two operable runways at Shayrat airfield were apparently not struck at all. It is unknown if this result was intentional or can be ascribed to the 15 missing Tomahawk detonations.

It is also notable that no C&C facilities or military personnel barracks were struck. BDA conclusion: Strike degraded but did not terminate operations at this airbase.



C81HiYJXsAAPpuz.jpg



US_Syria.jpg



1024x1024.jpg

Yeah. We should praise President Trump for being honest about his campaign promises.
 
the dog has been wagged

watch him launch a strike on syria.jpg
 
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