US warplanes continue to pound Mosul, the largest city in ISIS territory and the major prize Iraqi officials are constantly talking about retaking. Yet officials are heavily debating the timetable for retaking the city, and how difficult it will be.
ISIS has shown an ability to defeat Iraqi troops in head-on battles, even when backed by US warplanes, and the militants have had half a year to fortify Mosul, which they know is going to be attacked sooner or later.
US officials have downplayed the chances of Iraqi forces retaking the city on their own, and may be planning to use the importance of retaking it as an excuse to justify the use of US ground troops in direct combat.
The administration has repeatedly insisted they have no plans for ground combat, but Pentagon leaders have repeatedly said they may recommend a change under certain special circumstances. Mosul seems to be a tailor made circumstance.
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The Pentagon runs the country.
If the Pentagon says Mosul must be re-taken, and ground troops are required, the President, (who is putty in the hands of the Joint Chiefs), will…must…go along.
Sooooooo if Mosul is now a fortified city, we're looking at a potential mini Stalingrad-style street fight. Taking an objective like that needs about a 10:1 superiority in attacking troops, so that's a pretty hefty commitment of manpower someone's going to have to make. I don't see ISIS giving ground easily, and I have grave doubts that Iraqi troops- even backed by a nominal American ground force- can dislodge them. And, just like Stalingrad, when you bomb a building you create any number of new hiding places- ask the Wehrmacht veterans about Soviet snipers and then ask American vets about the near-mythical 'Juba'. It's not going to be pretty, no matter how you slice it.
"ISIS has shown an ability to defeat Iraqi troops in head-on battles, even when backed by US warplanes."
It is Peshmerga, not just ordinary Iraqi troops, who are surrounding ISIS in Mosul. US air support has helped defeat ISIS at Sinjar and Kobani.
You seem keen to talk up the military prowess of the ISIS monsters. It's reasonably clear where the sympathies of this 'anti-war' site lie.
"Sooooooo if Mosul is now a fortified city, we're looking at a potential mini Stalingrad-style street fight. Taking an objective like that needs about a 10:1 superiority in attacking troops."
Not necessarily anything like 10:1. Keep telling yourselves your heroes ISIS can win this, though – no doubt with the full backing of the minorities they have practised genocide against. Go, 'anti-war' 'left'…
"It's reasonably clear where the sympathies of this 'anti-war' site lie."
Reasonably clear to everyone but you, it seems.
Is that Senator John "McPAIN" I hear in the distance now singing an early 1930s Nelson EDDY song from ROSE MARIE…
Give me some men, who are stout hearted men, who will fight for the right they adore!
Start ME with ten, who are stout hearted men, and I'll soon give you ten thousand more.
Shoulder to shoulder, and bolder and bolder they grow as they go to the fore…
How many more US boys & girls in US uniform do you want to come back in body bags?
Ah McPAIN…where will YOU lead from…your office in DC????