Today the Syrian Democratic Forces (QSD) began a lightning offensive on the city Manbij. By all accounts, this assault has been very successful. That’s because the preparations began last year. You should never believe words. Only weaponry will tell you the real story. This weaponry was photographed on the way to Manbij. The red arrow…
Purpose of American troops in the Middle East
May 20, 2016
US troops in the Middle East are part of Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve. Their purpose is to defeat the Islamic State. Nothing else. The reason I’m saying this is because of a tweet I saw. Azaz is where Syrian Kurds, Islamist rebels, the Islamic State, and Bashar al-Assad’s allies are all fighting…
Balloon has gone up. Last night and just now
April 21, 2016
How fitting! “The balloon has gone up” originated during World War I. Before a major operation, attackers raised observation balloons. The enemy would see and say, “Aw, crap! The balloon has gone up!” They knew that hostilities had commenced. Last night and just now, the balloon went up. A new phase in the liberation of…
Undisclosed versus covert versus clandestine
April 14, 2016
Military operations are classified as open, clandestine, covert, and undisclosed. Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom were open operations. A clandestine operation was Neptune Spear, the killing of Osama bin Laden by US Navy SEALs of DEVGRU. Though secret at the time, we admitted to it when it was over. Covert operations are actions that everyone…
Reading tea leaves in the Middle East
April 11, 2016
For me, reading the tea leaves in the Middle East is exciting. All I see is good news. Keep in mind, though, the caliber of the people who are reshaping the region. The leaders and the men carrying out combat missions are a new breed. It’ll take decades for the rest of us to catch…
Cutting the Gordian knot of Syria is beyond OUR power
March 18, 2016
The Gordian knot is a legend from antiquity used to symbolize what seems like an insoluble program. Gordias the peasant was made king of the Phrygians; his son Midas dedicated Gordias’s ox-cart to the Phrygian god Sabazios and tied it to a post with an intricate knot of cornel bark. In 333 BCE, Alexander the…
Ground invasion of Syria: Did it begin today?
March 3, 2016
Most people love bad news. They also love to be afraid. I spent most of my life being disappointed, angry, and fearful, so I’m grateful for every scrap of improvement that I see around me. I think the Muslim Anti-Terror Coalition ground invasion of Syria began today, which is very good news. It means the…