Yep, just one year ago we were supporting them against Assad.
I’ve read that their numbers total approximately 15,000. That is approaching a division minus of the US Army.
IOW, one of our US divisions could wipe them out in a head to head conflict. But that’s not how they’d fight. They’d imbed in the population, the same as Hamas, the same as the insurgents in Fallujah and Samarra when we won those cities building by building.
What is the best way to draw them out and kill them, OR identify them and kill them? I’m in favor of IDing them and killing them. Because of that, I’d favor a very rigorous US air presence with native speakers leading the ground presence. These natives (Kurds + Iraqi government troops) would have the capacity to ascertain over time those who need to be killed without giving them one free shot in order to determine who the bad guys are. (Then there are the US ROEs, which I’m sure would prevent us from firing on anyone who isn’t personally found to have a family photo including al Baghdadi or al Zawahiri).
The US airpower + local fighters plan seems to be working with the Kurds around Mosul dam. Let’s see if it works with the Iraqi forces around Tikrit.
Some very good strategic ideas in your post #40. Would that the Golfer-in-Chief were paying attention.You are very correct in pointing out that the terrorists hide amid the populace. They don’t care how many “innocents” will die because they embed among them. Given this enemy strategy, collateral damage is unavoidable and should not dictate ROE.