Ping
The fact is, ISIL is the new nation to be bombed.
Syria that was is no more.
Dealing with Assad in the matter is pretty much irrelevant fiction.
Does Assad have billions in gold stashed away? Obomba will drop bombs in a second if there’s some gold to be grabbed.
Now, why would Assad ever distrust us?
Seriously, everyone who isn't ISIS should be working together against them.
thats really stretching it. I guess Bush could simply claim the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan and Kurd Iraqi were the legit government, thus the invasion don’t need Congressional approval because we were working in concert with the legit government
The answer is simple:
Carpet bomb EVERY-SINGLE-PLACE that they rear their ugly heads, and continue until they either unconditionally surrender, or are all killed off.
For the west, it's either going to be death by jihad, or kill the heathens by crusade. There is no in-between compromise.
We’ve been over-flying Syria with drones for years. What is needed is airborne elint and joint operations AWACs, etc. for forward air control of the battle space.
Armed drones are very effective, but limited, we need Spectre gunships, forward bases for longer loiter times and maintenance. Lots of other air assets are being moved in place but it takes time.
No point projecting drones if you can’t follow on heavy. There will be many more teams inserting but they need overwatch and support.
There are many good choices for FOBs such as al Qaim and al Taqqadum. The 3rd MAW (Marine Air Wing) was at al Qaim and al Taq has a long runway for fixed wing. Both have excellent bunkered hangars and are very defensible.
The Pentagon was given the green light a month ago and they aren’t playing. We have learned a lot from Afghanistan.
The 11th MEU is coming, the Peshmerga is firming up. We will look and listen until we can go heavy.
If ISIL runs, we will see them, if they hide, we will see them. This won’t be like Iraq, we have all weather/24-7 surveillance now, everywhere.