Wednesday, October 19, 2016

U.S. Apache Helicopters Have Now Entered The Battle For Mosul

Two Apaches
Two AH-64E Apache helicopters prepare to land at Orchard Combat Training Center, Idaho, Sept. 29, 2016. Army photo by Capt. Brian Harris

DoD Buzz: Apache Helicopters Go into Action in Mosul Offensive

AH-64 Apache helicopter gunships have been flying combat missions in support of the Iraqi security forces in the advance from the south on Mosul, a U.S. general said Wednesday.

“They’ve been flying at night, supporting any nighttime operations that the Iraqis are doing” since the Mosul offensive started Monday, Army Maj. Gen. Gary Volesky said of the Boeing Co.-made helicopters in a video briefing from Baghdad to the Pentagon.

“That platform has a lot of capability to see a long range at night and use its weapons system in a stand-off capacity to strike targets, and that’s what they’re doing,” said Volesky, commander of Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command-Operation Inherent Resolve, as well as commander of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).

Read more ....

Update #1: US Army Apache helicopters enter Mosul battle, military says -- FOX News
Update #2: Apache Helicopters Begin Supporting Counter-Daesh Operation in Mosul -- Sputnik

WNU Editor: Another sign that resistance by the Islamic State Mosul is very strong, and that it is now forcing the U.S. to become more actively involved.

6 comments:

B.Poster said...

"....resistance by the Islamic State is very strong,...." Of course it is. ISIS is a very strong enemy and strong forces do strong things such as being hard to defeat. Surely US "Intelligence" is not so incompetent as to not know this. Of course given the general level of incompetence demonstrated in the past by these people it is certainly possible.

",,now forcing the US to become more actively involved." Iraq is a de facto Iranian colony. Why would we want to help Iran "death to America" solidify its control over Iraq? Furthermore with all of the dissension among the various participants there is a good chance this operation is going to fail in the short to mid term perhaps taking many long months or a year or more to succeed. Why do we want to get involved in this right now given that we will receive very little or anything in tangible benefits for our blood and treasure being committed? (The Iranians are certainly not going to allow the Americans any "spoils" from this and the Kurds aren't in a position to offer us anything.

These are good questions. Unfortunately no one seems to be asking them.

fazman said...

Isis is not strong at all, u.s definition of a strong enemy is anyone who doesnt run away and actually returns fire.
Thr apaches are needed because of the incompetence of the iraqis.

fazman said...

Isis is not strong at all, u.s definition of a strong enemy is anyone who doesnt run away and actually returns fire.
Thr apaches are needed because of the incompetence of the iraqis.

B.Poster said...

Actually ISIS is very strong. Denying this is a big reason why it got to be as powerful as it has. When this enemy first arose, it was compared to a "jay vee" team by POTUS. This happened largely two reasons. 1.)POTUS and his team were given bad intelligence on this enemy. Given the historic incompetence of US Intelligence services, this is certainly plausible. 2.)Team Obama wanted to present ISIS as a jay vee team. Hence they told him what he and his team wanted to hear.

If we still have not learned our lessons, this fight is going to be much tougher than it needs to be. This enemy is a VERY tough fighting force and needs to be treated as such.

This is not only an enemy that does not run away and returns fire but this a fighting force that when it arose it captured and held territory faster and more efficiently than the United States armed forces ever could have even when they were at peak ability before being worn down in fruitless conflicts around the world. I'm pretty sure the men actually doing the fighting on the American side are aware of this as are the military commanders. After all there lives are at stake and they simply cannot afford the delusion that "ISIS is not strong at all."

I think it easy to blame the Iraqis for incompetence, however, it misses the fact that they enemies they face are VERY, VERY tough. Saddam's military forces were among he best in the world. Hence they were able to keep much of this under control.

I'm sure they can use the apaches, however, why would we want to place our personnel at risk to help Iran "death to America" solidify its control over Iraq? As for the Kurds, while the cause appears noble, it is unattainable as other states in the region are not going to allow them to have a state of their own and their is little to nothing they can offer us. Why should we risk further blood and treasure for them? As stated previously, no one even seems to be asking the questions.

Unknown said...

No boots on the ground,

but boots in the air.


Did Obama require the helo pilots to wear Birkenstocks?

fazman said...

With respect l reiterate they ate not tough nor are they skilled in modern warefare.
The reason they established control so quickly was for 2 reasons 1 there brutality in subduing local populations and 2 the complete lack of any coherant organized proffesional opposition.
The iraqi militarily was a paper army and was experienced in ww1 style attrition and not withstanding certain tepublican guard divisions who fought well and with valour whilst hoplessly outgunned, quickly folded and was surrendering faster than they could be processed.
Isis is a high school team that made it to the NFL because only the cheerleaders turned up whilst the oppodition forfited the game.