Max Boot, Commentary: To Die in an Unserious War
Last week Delta Force staged a raid inside Syria along with Kurdish Peshmerga to free prisoners held by the Islamic State. The operation reportedly freed 70 hostages, but resulted in the death of Master Sargent Joshua Wheeler, one of Delta’s storied “operators.”
It was one of the few times in the past year that there was news of a Joint Special Operations Command raid against ISIS, coming after a May operation in which the “operators” (again, reportedly Delta) swooped into Syria to try to snatch an ISIS organizer and financier whose nom de guerre was Abu Sayyaf. That raid resulted in the target’s death, but did result in the capture of his wife and much intelligence that was said to be useful.
It is possible, indeed likely, that some other JSOC operations have taken place without attracting any press attention. (JSOC includes Delta, Seal Team Six, the Night Stalkers aerial regiment, and other top-tier units.) But, in all likelihood, not that many.
WNU Editor: Max Boot reflects on how past U.S. Special operations were conducted in Iraq .... and how it is being done (or not) today. What's my take .... he does have a point, the U.S. is fighting a low grade war of attrition against the Islamic State .... and after one year there is very little on the ground that shows progress.
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