FOX News: Pentagon: Only 5 percent of ISIS territory in Iraq recaptured in past 5 months
Despite pledges from the Obama administration to “accelerate” the war against the Islamic State and a top envoy claiming “this perverse caliphate is shrinking," the Pentagon admitted Monday it had retaken only 5 percent of ISIS-held territory in Iraq in the past five months.
President Obama announced at the Pentagon in December that 40 percent of ISIS-held territory in Iraq had been recaptured by Iraqi security forces backed by thousands of airstrikes from the U.S.-led coalition, a number officials repeated for five months.
But on Monday, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said 45 percent of ISIS territory had been taken back in Iraq, or a modest 5 percentage-point gain from December.
Cook said 16-20 percent of ISIS-held territory had been taken from ISIS in Syria, a similar estimate given in January.
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WNU Editor: I guess they are referring to the recapture of Ramadi .... a city that was once home to hundreds for thousands of Iraqis .... now reduced to complete rubble. If this is forward progress .... I hate to know what a setback looks like.
Update: Some are quoting a different percentage .... ISIS loses 45 percent of territory in Iraq, 20 percent in Syria (USA Today).
4 comments:
I also noticed that discrepancy. It seems like territory and # of strikes have become the "bodycount" of this era. Neither are the best measures of success.
What matters more, many square miles of rural areas, or Mosul and Falujah???
We have to keep in mind that most of the area is worthless and empty desert of no value.
If we capture 5% in 5 months, that's 1% a month. In 95 more months ISIS in Iraq could be irradicated. That would mean in one month prior of 8 years ISIS in Iraq is eliminated.
When ISIS first arose to power, jt captured and held territory faster and more efgiciently than the United States military ever could have even before it was worn down from continuing and fruitless operations around the world. This is a VERY tough enemy.
In fact, ISIS is a far greater threat to the United States than Nazi Germany or Imperial Japan ever were or ever could have been. The notion that this enemy could be defeated in a mere eight years sounds to good to be true. When sonething sounds to good to be true, it probably is.
Then again US leadership has a nasty bias of overestimating our capabilities while underestimating those of adversaries. As such, this kind of ridiculousness is hardly surprising. If ISIS could be defeated in Iraq in a mere 8 years with the current level of US comment, this would be AWESOME news. Unfortunately such ridiculous analysis should be rejected by serious people.
Even ISIS in Iraq is ultimately defeated, this means the current leading power in Iraq which is Iran "death to Ametica" only further solidifies it's hold. Why should our brave wzrriors fight for dear old Iran who wishes us harm? Why not redeploy to defensible positions along our borders that at least allow us a fighting chance to defend our country? Wouldn't it be far better to stand adide while mortal enemies of ISIS and Iran tell each other apart?
The idea that ISIS could be defeated in a mere eight years by America is ridiculous. Of course cspturing 1% of it's territory over a five month period is remarkable. Of course after a long time of overstating American capabilities, understating those of adversaries, and generally presenting the most ridiculous Pollyannish view possible regarding threats to America Americans have come to expect to much. Said leaders have actually only undermined themselves and only reinforced the vast level of anti-Americanism currently engulfing the world.
ISIS will be eventually defeated. The math simply doesn't work for them as they've acquired some very powerful enemies but this is a VERY tough enemy and it is going to be EXTREMELY difficult and costly to defeat them.
I also noticed that discrepancy. It seems like territory and # of strikes have become the "bodycount" of this era. Neither are the best measures of success.
What matters more, many square miles of rural areas, or Mosul and Falujah???
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