As I write this, America is celebrating Thanksgiving and it is focused on family, food and football. The rest of the world, however, is not concerned with our holiday. In Iraq, ISIS forces are continuing an assault on the capital of Anbar province, the city of Ramadi. That city is being defended by local tribesmen together with some Iraqi military forces.
This is a battle of major importance. If the city falls, then the main outpost of resistance to ISIS in western Iraq will be gone. ISIS will have consolidated its hold on a huge territory that spans both Iraqi and Syrian territory. Even more important, this will be an enormous victory for the terrorists. ISIS would have made clear that even with American support, the Iraqi army still cannot stand up to the ISIS fighters in a fixed battle. Those Sunnis in the area who have thought about opposing ISIS will think twice before joining what seems to be the losing side.
In view of the great importance of this battle, one would think that the USA is going all out to support the Iraqi army with air power. That thought, however, would be completely wrong. According to reports, there have been three American air strikes in the battle zone since last Friday. That comes out to one plane dropping a few bombs every other day. It is an incomprehensible strategy. (I apologize for calling this a "strategy" since that word implies that someone thought about the subject.)
I realize that president Obama is busy touring the country to promote his immigration order, a task he interrupts only to make his daily speech about Ferguson. The national security team who work for Obama must all be on vacation or else they can't be bothered to pay attention to ISIS. Secretary of defense, Chuck Hagel was just fired, so my guess is that he cannot even get his phone calls returned at the White House. Nevertheless, someone better make sure Obama knows that we are facing a major disaster in Ramadi with ISIS. It will not be enough for Obama to tell us some time next week that he only learned about the fighting in Ramadi from watching television and he is mad as hell that the US military did not do more to stop ISIS.
Three planes striking ISIS over six days is just not enough when we are dealing with the most important battle against ISIS in many months.
This is a battle of major importance. If the city falls, then the main outpost of resistance to ISIS in western Iraq will be gone. ISIS will have consolidated its hold on a huge territory that spans both Iraqi and Syrian territory. Even more important, this will be an enormous victory for the terrorists. ISIS would have made clear that even with American support, the Iraqi army still cannot stand up to the ISIS fighters in a fixed battle. Those Sunnis in the area who have thought about opposing ISIS will think twice before joining what seems to be the losing side.
In view of the great importance of this battle, one would think that the USA is going all out to support the Iraqi army with air power. That thought, however, would be completely wrong. According to reports, there have been three American air strikes in the battle zone since last Friday. That comes out to one plane dropping a few bombs every other day. It is an incomprehensible strategy. (I apologize for calling this a "strategy" since that word implies that someone thought about the subject.)
I realize that president Obama is busy touring the country to promote his immigration order, a task he interrupts only to make his daily speech about Ferguson. The national security team who work for Obama must all be on vacation or else they can't be bothered to pay attention to ISIS. Secretary of defense, Chuck Hagel was just fired, so my guess is that he cannot even get his phone calls returned at the White House. Nevertheless, someone better make sure Obama knows that we are facing a major disaster in Ramadi with ISIS. It will not be enough for Obama to tell us some time next week that he only learned about the fighting in Ramadi from watching television and he is mad as hell that the US military did not do more to stop ISIS.
Three planes striking ISIS over six days is just not enough when we are dealing with the most important battle against ISIS in many months.
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