Posted on 02/21/2015 7:47:30 PM PST by Jim Robinson
The new secretary of defense, Ashton Carter, said Saturday the U.S. may slow down the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan. Carter made the announcement during his first trip to Afghanistan as defense secretary.
On the flight there, Carter also discussed an impending battle against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, in Iraq - the battle for Mosul.
A senior Obama administration official told CBS News that neither Carter nor the White House knew about that briefing, where a military official also said the assault would include between 20,000 and 25,000 Iraqi troops backed by U.S. air power.
While the U.S. and Iraqis have been telegraphing a Mosul assault at some point, detailing war plans is rare. The disclosure drew strong criticism from Republicans, including Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham. The Mosul offensive is expected to be the U.S.-led campaign's most difficult and strategically important battle yet.
The Iraqi city is the largest held by ISIS, with a population of one million, occupied by an estimated 1,000 to 2,000 militant fighters.
A big question is how involved U.S. military advisers will get, like whether they will accompany Iraqi troops on the ground to call in airstrikes.
On his way to Afghanistan on Friday, Carter left open that possibility.
"I'm always open to advice from our military commanders about what the best way to achieve success is," Carter said.
But unlike another Pentagon official, who earlier this week told reporters that U.S. and Iraqi forces will try to retake Mosul in April or May, Carter refused to say when it would be.
"I think the important thing is that it'll get done when it can be done successfully. Even if I knew exactly when that was going to be, I wouldn't tell you," Carter said.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
This admin has never heard the expression about loose lips.
Home of al Dhouri
Clusterfark in the making.
Got to consider the possibility that it was disinformation. In Desert Storm they “leaked” plans for an amphibious assault that were bogus as misdirection. Could be something like that. Or not.
Not from this administration.
Gee, Wally…if they had a 2nd amendment in Sharia law the peaceniks in "the religion of peace" could protect themselves and defeat these hijackers of "the religion of peace".
Tweet the twits our Bill of Rights. Leave it at that.
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
Idiots deserve the conquerors they get.
“Tell the World what your gonna do, but show it first...”
Stay tuned for the upcoming FUBAR war, when the Pentagon’s United States Marines Corps takes on the Whtie House’s ISIL.
If the chains come off the Marines on rules of engagement, there will be no more ISIL/ISIS. When it is then proved that ValJar and Obola have been waging war against US Marine Corps heroes serving in Iraq, the stage will be set for regime change in the US.
To find Isis ? Follow the proverty, mayhem, death, poor were ever radical Islam is, hell follows.
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