Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Pentagon: Islamic State Has ‘Tactical Momentum’ But The Coalition Has The 'Strategic Momentum'

Smoke rises from the Syrian town of Kobani, seen from near the Mursitpinar border crossing on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province October 15, 2014. Credit: REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Military Chiefs: ISIL Has ‘Tactical Momentum’ -- Politico

The terrorists of the Islamic State have “tactical momentum on several fronts,” but the U.S. and its allies believe they have “strategic momentum,” the nations’ defense chiefs agreed Tuesday.

Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey and 21 of his senior counterparts from the coalition fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant also agreed that ISIL has been dangerously effective in its propaganda war, a military official said, and the allies must do more to counter it.

“We must be more effective in using these avenues to communicate facts and create awareness of ISIL’s activities and atrocities,” the official said. “The Arab members of the coalition in particular understand this aspect and are taking action.”

Read more ....

Update: US military admits Isil 'has tactical momentum' as jihadist siege of Kobane continues -- The Telegraph

My Comment: This is the Pentagon's way of saying that the Islamic State is presently winning the war .... but we are hopeful for the future.

What's my take .... the West and our allies in the Middle East will lose this war if current trends continue.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Many politicians, journalists (propagandists really) academics (also propagandists) really do not take no go zones in France, Sweden (Malmo) and other such areas seriously.

They think of ISIS as small, the seize if Iraq and containable. They studiously ignore the growing number of no go areas.

D.Plowman said...

"What's my take .... the West and our allies in the Middle East will lose this war if current trends continue. "

Question: How do you lose a war against terrorism?

Answer: It's a never ending fight and the war against terrorism or rather, ideology, is always ongoing.

You can only hope to dwindle it and push into an minority, nothing more.

D.Plowman said...

"What's my take .... the West and our allies in the Middle East will lose this war if current trends continue. "

Question: How do you lose a war against terrorism?

Answer: It's a never ending fight and the war against terrorism or rather, ideology, is always ongoing.

You can only hope to dwindle it and push into an minority, nothing more.

War News Updates Editor said...

How do I define victory .... your foe is vanquished to a few spots and/or locations where they get together and talk about what could have been .... and that is about it. And if they start to be assertive .... the state has the means and power (and the public's support) to just throw them into prison.

What's my definition for defeat in this conflict .... the Islamic State carves a region in the heart of the Middle East where they are dominant and where they can exert influence on their neighbors. Sadly .... this is what is happening right now.