Kurds/Free Syrian Army closing in on Raqqa

| November 23, 2015

Isis

This is really great news all around, and some reason for optimism after what happened last week in Mali and Paris.  Sure, the lone wolf packs that did those attacks will still be able to do attacks, but capturing Raqqa would REALLY hurt ISIS in terms of both having lost their capitol which hurts their PR in terms of viability, and deprives them of a lot of resources.

First, from CNN:

Raqqa is now firmly in the sights not only of the U.S.-led coalition, but also the French and Russian militaries. And in a few hours along the front line, you can periodically hear distant thuds.

On the day CNN was at the front, they could have come from some of the four Russian missiles activists’ group Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently reported hit the town, or the four homemade Katyusha rockets they also reported were fired by ISIS. 
 
The CNN piece is really good, but choppy in terms of what I can use in snippets so you should read the whole thing.  Also, they have great video there, but they don’t have an embed code for me to put it up here.  Nonetheless, more from that article:
 

The move towards Raqqa will be difficult, given the open terrain between them and ISIS, but airstrikes will likely assist, if the Kurds ever decide to begin their advance.

Fighting with the YPG is a new alliance called the Syrian Democratic Forces, a collection of Kurdish fighters and other Sunni Arab Syrian armed units.

Many see the alliance as an American idea to try and secure Sunni Arabs as allies for the Kurdish units, so their advance into the predominantly Sunni areas ISIS currently holds is not seen as a land grab by Kurdish forces seeking to create their own homeland.

These forces are the recipients of Pentagon training and equipment and are said to be where the 50 American special forces are applying their training efforts.

Those would be the non-combat/combat forces that either are or are not boots on ground, depending on who you ask.

To be honest though, this video is phenomenal as well, and I have no idea who made it.  I’ve never heard of this media outlet, but it has some pretty high-speed combat footage of the Pesh moving in, and more so it shows just how close they actually are.

[NOTE: Apparently this video may be biased an inaccurate.  I’m not going to take it down to be accused of some ethical violation, and would ask that you watch the CNN report above.  I can’t vouch for that authenticity either, I’m just taking it at face value since I am roughly 30,000 miles from Raqqa.]

Category: Politics

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FatCircles0311

That combat footage looks fake as fuck.

Also thank you, Russia.

USMCMSgtRet

“Fake as fuck” like this:

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a29_1430268515

Former11b

Thank you Russia? Wow. Way to shit all over the hard work our Special Forces have done to get the Kurds as far as they are now.

Old Trooper

I don’t think he’s shitting on our SpecOps boys. I believe what he is doing is thanking Russia for doing what our President doesn’t have the cajones to do, which has done a whole lot to help the forces against ISIS move into position to take Raqqa

L. Taylor

False,

The US was not willing to support the Assad regime, Russia is. So Russia is facilitating efforts that strengthen Assad’s control over Syria, the US was not willing to do that.

But this particular effort is mostly being conducted by US and allied supported, not Russian or even Assad. These are due to the efforts of forces we are supporting with supplies, intelligence, special operators and other enablers.

Russia is helping Assad fight the free Syrian Army. And is striking Kurdish targets as well. So they are actually working against most of the forces who are closing in on Raqqa.

Russia has one agenda, and it is not to defeat ISIS; Russia wants to help Assad regain control of Syria. The free Syrian Army stands in the way of that objective. As do some Kurdish forces (though that could be worked out at a table instead of a battlefield).

To say Obama is some how afraid to engage ISIS is flat bullshit rhetoric. The authorizations of force against terrorists and Islamic militants under the Obama administration is more than all other presidents combined.

He does not want Assad to remain in power.

2/17 Air Cav

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________!

Flagwaver

Okay, chucklehead… Stop turning this into a Bernathian website. We don’t need no stinkin side-scrolling to see nothing.

2/17 Air Cav

It is not the way it looked in the box and was unintended but, I must say, I am not displeased at how it turned out.

MrFace

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Old Trooper

Look you stupid sonovabich; Russia and France are bombing targets that we knew about but did nothing to them. You can jump up and down about how many sorties our planes have flown, but when you’re bombing around the periphery of the heart and head, you are just wasting fucking ammo. Obama wasted a $3 million missile on jihadi John, who was a block from the ISIS HQ, instead of taking out said HQ; why? Also, we took out a oil convoy, just in the last day or two, but dropped leaflets ahead of the bombing in order to warn civilians to get out of the way. Don’t you think that ISIS was then thusly informed of our intentions? Obama hasn’t done shit. No wonder you didn’t last in infantry; you’re too much of a fucking pussy. You don’t defeat your enemies, or those wanting to kill you, by holding candlelight vigils, or having hashtag wars and especially not when you let the enemy know you’re gonna bomb them at 1:30 in the afternoon, coming from the North at 15,000 feet.

L. Taylor

BULL FUCKING SHIT YOU FUCKING LIAR.

Old Trooper

Prove me wrong, fucknuts.

You’re too stupid to be walking around unsupervised.

Old Trooper
L. Taylor

Idiot. Are you seriously so fucking stupid that you are pissed that we did not kill civilians?

Old Trooper

Are you so fucking stupid that you can’t face the fact that I was right while you were still trying to knock the sand out of your vagina?

Nice try with the not wanting to kill civilians bullshit. If you don’t want collateral damage, don’t go to war. Did Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin, or even Truman give a shit how many civilians were killed when Tokyo was firebombed? How about Dresden? Nuremberg? Berlin? You can’t win if your will is less than your enemy. War is ugly, that’s why you try to avoid it. You don’t have any will, but your enemy does.

L. Taylor

How the fuck were you right? NOTHING YOU SAID IN YOUR ENTIRE POST WAS ACCURATE.

I never disputed the leaflet drop itself. I was well publicized and already discussed on the board. I called the post lying bullshit because of the complete false spin of all the events.

It was a bunch of bullshit. And still is.

L. Taylor

WWII is a false similarity and the WWII strategic bombing assessment concluded that killing civilians had the opposite effect than had been intended. Instead of breaking the resolve of the population it increased it. It forged them in greater resolve and commitment to the war effort and inflated nationalism.

Advocating unnecessarily killing civilians is a sure fucking way to lose wars.

We did not need to kill the drivers so we didn’t.

Stop being an idiot. And you are a fucking idiot if you think sitting in you chair pissed off that we did not kill civilians makes you “tough”

Opposing killing civilians unnecessarily is not being a pussy.

In my mind the real pussy is the guy so afraid of ISIS that he want military forces, that do not include him, to kill civilians without reason so that he can feel safer and more tough.

Pathetic.

Old Trooper

Since it won’t let me reply, directly to you, Lars, I will do it this way. You really are a drama queen. WWII is the perfect example, because it shows the will to defeat your enemies, not give them a hug. I like how you put in there that I’m encouraging war that I won’t fight in? How do I know that you will? Where did I say I was afraid of ISIS or anyone else? No one likes civilian casualties, unless you’re savages like ISIS or any other extremist group. I’m merely pointing out that those of you that don’t want us to deal with them properly over there will be the first ones bitching when they are here. Don’t be pissed at me for pointing out that you’re a bleeding heart, whining maggot, progressive pussy.

NotBuyingIt

Like OT, I can’t reply to Lars’ comment, so I’ll post here. His assertions about the WWII strategic bombing assessment’s conclusions piqued my interest, so I took a quick look at the summary of one of them. Here’s part of what I found:

“The Survey has made extensive studies of the reaction of the
German people to the air attack and especially to city raids . These
studies were carefully designed to cover a complete cross section of
the German people in western and southern Germany and to reflect
with a minimum of bias their attitude and behavior during the raids .
These studies show that the morale of the German people
deteriorated under aerial attack. The night raids were feared far
more than daylight raids . The people lost faith in the prospect of
victory, in their leaders and in the promises and propaganda to
which they were subjected . Most of all, they wanted the war to end …”

So, I’m NotBuyingIt

Silentium Est Aureum

Methinks he doth protest too much.

L. Taylor

You don;t know a fucking thing about what we knew about that HQ and why we had not attacked it. You jump to the conclusion that supports you worldview; that Obama is a pussy. But you have no fucking clue. And no evidence of anything beyond your own bullshit assumptions.

We didn’t “waste” three million killing Jihadi John. It was money well spent, his value as an ISIS propagandist was huge.

We dropped leaflets 45 minutes prior to the bombing. . Because we wanted to reduce civilian casualties. Civilian casualties due to US involvement is a recruitment driver for ISIS, and it was not necessary to kill civilians so we didn’t. That is how war is best fought you fucking dipshit. ISIS gained no operational or tactical value from that leaflet drop. And we scored points in both the international war of public opinion in support of our efforts and on the ground with Syrians.

When have I ever defended our enemies? You lying piece of shit.

Didn’t last in infantry? Where the fuck did that come from? Being awarded the MOS does not mean I was ever on a 11A career track. And getting rated as an 11a does not necessarily mean my duties were 11A. My field does not have its own branch specific career training.

I have alot of infantry and small unit tactics training. I hold the MOS as a secondary/tertiary, I even have a few one off OERs as an 11A but I was never tracked in that career field.

Silentium Est Aureum

Obama IS a pussy.

Not opinion, fact.

Old Trooper

Hey, dumbass; when did I ever say you defended your enemies? There you go, again, reading in shit that was never said.

And, yes, Obama is a pussy, just like you.

A Proud Infidel®™

Whatsa matter this time Larsie-pinky, is your Kool-Aid not fresh enough? Just call 9-11111111 and a *WAAAHHH*mbulance will come to give you a group hug and some Kool-Aid while everyone sings “Kum-ba-yah”. I’d call one for you, but I DON’T GIVE TWO HOOTS OF A FLYING FUCK about you. kiddo!! 😀

2/17 Air Cav

Dobt Flag Thrown! Go to the replay!

It appears that the report is traceable to ANHA, Hawar News Agency which is based in Rojava which is also called Syrian Kurdistan or Western Kurdistan. The video includes old footage but it is not identified as such. I would not have poked around on this so much but for the CNN connection. This is more a wishful thinking, propoganda piece to me than it is news.

Skippy

Amazing how this is alleged out I’ll post a link on some good info if anybody needs non biased updates

Skippy

Here it is it seems to be a good link with daily updates even on the weekends
http://www.understandingwar.org/

Ex-PH2

They sure do have big flags.

Yeah, this looks a bit too carefully done, although I did find the bit about a more open, accessible route to be interesting.

Corn!

L. Taylor

Bullshit, Russia is working against the Free Syrian Army and the Kurds operating in Syria. This is not “thanks to Russia”. The forces involved in closing in on Raqqa are forces Assad and Russia oppose.

Russia is not involved to defeat ISIS, they are involved in supporting the Assad Regime in regaining control of Syria. The Free Syrian Army and Kurdish forces in Syria are standing in the way of that and Russia will help Assad defeat them.

Those cheering Russia are twits.

And the love so many “patriots” have for Putin is sick. It shows so many right wing jackasses are authoritarian personalities.

Hondo

There is a world of difference between “love” and respecting a potential adversary’s skill and nerve in protecting their country’s interests, Taylor. Perhaps if you’d take your nose out of the SCoaMF-in-Chief’s behind long enough you’d be able to perceive the difference.

It’s very dangerous to underestimate the ability of a potential adversary’s leadership. Sadly, most of the rest of the world hasn’t had to worry about underestimating the ability of US leadership since January 2009.

L. Taylor

First, Putin is not representing Russia’s interests. Russia is a sociopath (fact) and he only cares about his own interests.

Second, nobody is underestimating Putin. In fact he is one of the most predictable world leaders today. He is a high functioning sociopath which makes his actions very consistent and predictable; whatever increases his wealth, power, control, or prestige is the action he will take. You need only figure out the relative values he places on this outcomes and do that math.

And the ridiculous slight at Obama at the end is tiresome. He is an above average president and the disproportionate hate the right has for him is at lest partially racially motivated but it is mostly due to the massive political rhetoric machine by Fox news and hundreds of right wing propaganda sites the massive funding of available in the age of modern political finance makes avialable.

No president is going to always make the right choice, and no presidents choice will make everyone happy so there is plenty to criticize.

However, much of what is said about Obama is flat false. Empirically and unequivocally false. Saying he is weak on terrorist or even ignoring terrorism is a lie. And comments like these are constantly spouted. Pointing out that they are lies is not having my nose up his ass.

I am disappointed with the President for my own reasons, reasons most of the pro-police state fucks on this site would not agree with so I won’t bother explaining them.

I do not have my nose up his ass. I defend his when someone makes a false or idiotic comment.

Stop lying and I won’t defend him as much.

Hondo

Oh, so now you’re a Russian-speaking qualified psychiatrist competent to diagnose someone as a psychopath without ever meeting them. Got it.

Keep drinking the libidiot Kool-Aid, son. From that – along with the bowel gas fumes you’re inhaling with your nose stuck in the SCoaMF-in-Chief’s behind – you’re obviously staying pleasantly buzzed as well as made unable to accurately perceive reality.

L. Taylor

He is a sociopath.

Hondo

And you know this how, precisely? Are you professionally qualified to give a psychiatric diagnosis?

If not, you’re merely speculating and passing off said speculation as fact.

So, which is it?

L. Taylor

“Russia is a sociopath (fact) and he only cares about his own interests.”

should read

“Putin is a sociopath (fact) and he only cares about his own interests.”

A Proud Infidel®™

So says our self-declared intel anal-cyst.

L. Taylor

They do not “respect” his skill.

They admire him. They want a leader like him. They demonstrate clear authoritarian preferences constantly.

Hondo

And you know this how, precisely? Do you personally know those who you claim “want a leader like him”? Know them, as in “well enough to be certain of their motivations without possibility of error”?

If not, you’re merely inserting your own biases into a situation of which you know little to nothing. You do a lot of that, actually.

Poetrooper

Lars, I presume you mean like that right-wing jackass with the authoritarian personality, Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had this nation’s economic might dedicated to supporting Joseph Stalin, who, incidentally, made Putin look like a girl scout.

L. Taylor

So, in your mind the US became involved in WWII under Roosevelt’s order in order to support Stalin?

Or was it just a complete stretch to draw some sort of ridiculous and illogical comparison to Americans that support Putin?

Poetrooper

You don’t know your history sonny. Stick to analyzing.

Ex-PH2

Poe, don’t feed the carp.

Hondo

PT didn’t address FDR’s motivation in going to war, Taylor – only the fact that he dedicated a rather large fraction of this nation’s war production to supporting the USSR under Stalin. (Look up Soviet Lend-Lease.) As I recall FDR also made a number of public statements supporting and/or praising the USSR’s efforts against Germany during World War II.

PT’s unstated main point – which you were apparently too thick to perceive – was that per your comment above that makes FDR a “right wing jackass”. Even a fool like you should realize that is absurd.

You really do need to work on your reading comprehension.

L. Taylor

There is a difference to allocating material support to an Ally during a war that is an existential threat to other allies…

and frequently praising Putin, not an ally, for acting like a despot, because it is perceived as “strength” by someone with authoritarian presences.

I was not too think to understand his point. His point was terrible. I wrote it in a way that made it at least logically similar to the issue of support for Putin. But even then it was a terrible similarity.

It was flat fucking idiotic.

Hondo

I have one request, Taylor.

Would you translate your comment immediately above into comprehensible English? I don’t happen to speak borderline-illiterate drivel, and I’m reasonably sure most others who comment here don’t either.

L. Taylor

There is a difference in allocating material support to an Ally during a war that is an existential threat to other allies…

and frequently praising Putin, not an ally, for acting like a despot, because it is perceived as “strength” by someone with authoritarian preferences.

I was not too thick to understand his point. His point was terrible. I rewrote it in a way that made it at least logically similar to the issue of support for Putin.

It was still flat fucking idiotic.

Hondo

So, you’ve learned how to cut and paste. Congratulations.

Of course, what you cut and paste here was poorly-written drivel, bordering on illiterate. That fact – along with the fact that you apparently didn’t realize that – shows you need to work on your English skills across the board.

Let me rephrase my request. Care to rephrase that gobbledygook into something resembling standard, properly-written English with proper punctuation and grammar?

E-6 type, 1 ea

Google US-Russia Lend Lease. Then you can find out all about Studebaker trucks and the P-39 Airacobra.

L. Taylor

How the hell is that even remotely similar to Americans praising Putin?

Hondo

So, folks, there you have it. According to Taylor the Infallible, speaking respectfully of the skill of a potential adversary who happens to be temporarily on your side is WORSE than actually providing a potential adversary and mega-mass-murderer who happens to be temporarily on your side material assistance.

But only if the one doing the speaking is politically conservative. If the one giving the material support is a “progressive”, that’s very different – and is OK.

Now, why didn’t we all see that?

Ex-PH2

Want some minestrone, Hondo?

Hondo

Damn, and I already had lunch – so I’ll have to pass. I’m sure it’s better than what I had, too.

Thanks for the offer, though.

L. Taylor

Fucking idiotic. We supported an ally in war, and the land lease supported other allies as well. We did not support Stalin directly. Nor did we praise him. Or admire him. The war was an existential threat to several allies. Giving material support to allies as part of a war effort is not the same thing as morons in the US praising Putin. Putin is not an ally. Russia is not an ally. Russia is supporting Assad is fighting the forces in Syria we support. NOT THE SAME FUCKING THING. It appears that you idiots are bringing up Stalin because you assume because I am a progressive I am also a communist, and then must also be a admirer of Stalin. That is idiotic. There is no way I will ever get you to understand that the Soviets were not “progressives” because you are so steeped in idiotic labels and moronically simplistic propaganda that you cannot see anything beyond Soviets=Communists=Progressives. None of the terms are equal. None of them mean the same thing. None of them share the same ideological goals. I will try to explain this using the some simple labels you may understand. Progressives want change. Conservatives want to maintain the status quo. Reactionaries want to revert to a previous political/social/economic state. During the lat 19th century the writing of Marx was a major driver of the desire for change. But not the only one. However, since it was a major ideological foundation of many movements that were attempting to change the status quo the idea of “progressive” change became associated with a lot of Marxist ideas. However, it was not all Marxism and was not always Marx. Progressives prior to Marx were inspired by Locke, Rousseau, and other “progressive thinkers” in their era. Those ideals were still part of the progressive movement after Marx and not all progressives were influenced by or agreed with Marx. Economically many progressives actually were often much more in line with Adam Smith, in fact the term “economic LIBERAL” means someone that wants to move toward complete free unregulated markets. In Russia… Read more »

GDContractor

If a fly buzzes around a steaming pile of Phil Monkress, and no one gives a shit, does it make any noise? It’s a rhetorical question.

Ex-PH2

It’s hard to avoid correcting the carp, GDC, but IT WAS L-E-N-D LEASE, NOT L-A-N-D LEASE.
Oops! Dropped the popcorn right into the toilet bowl. 3..2..1….

Hondo

Yep. Land lease occurred after World War II. There, the Soviets seized about 1/3 of what had been prewar Poland; border territory from Finland; a small bit of eastern Czechoslovakia; Moldavia (from Romania); and part of former East Prussia. Plus Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, of course. And don’t forget the southern half of Sakhalin Island and the Kuriles.

The Soviets got one helluva good deal on lease terms too. Zero rent payments, and in many cases the lease was in perpetuity. Just ask the former residents of Konigsberg and southern Sakhalin how that worked.

Hondo

FDR never spoke well of Stalin? Really?

Well, then how about you explain this:

“I just have a hunch that Stalin is not that kind of man. Harry [Hopkins] says he’s not and that he doesn’t want anything except security for his own country, and I think that if I give him everything I possibly can and ask nothing from him in return, noblesse oblige, he won’t try to annex anything and will work with me for a world of democracy and peace.”

Response of FDR to advice from Ambassador William C. Bullitt to pursue a containment policy against the Soviet Union (1943), quoted in Bullitt’s account in Life (23 August 1948).

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Franklin_D._Roosevelt

Yes, Stalin so faithfully supported Allied aims during World War II. Ask the Poles, Hungarians, Czechs, Slovaks, Bulgarians, Romanians, Estonians, Latvians, Lithuanians, Serbs, Slovenes, Croats, Bosniacs, and Albainians how Stalin supported their right to self-determination after the war.

Even better: ask the Poles how Stalin treated the Polish Home Army during the Warsaw Uprising – and after the war. And then ask them about Soviet control of operations of the 1st Polish Army (AKA the Berling Army) during the Warsaw Uprising.

Stalin supported us (and we him) during World War II because we were fighting a mutual enemy. But he didn’t support our war aims. In fact, in many cases his postwar aims were absolutely antithetical to ours.

ISIS is a mutual enemy today. You do the math. Feel free to use fingers and toes, since I’m sure you’ll need to use them for the math part.

2/17 Air Cav

_____________________

Ex-PH2

Air Cav, some people just do not learn to not feed the carp, do they?

2/17 Air Cav

It’s their call. Others preceded us in ignoring him and we finally got around to joining them. As long as we’re true to our pledge, I’m good.

Ex-PH2

I still have corn in the freezer.

Poetrooper

While we’re speculating here about who’s supporting who, it bothers this old Vietnam vet to see all those oversize banners with the red stars on them. The red star has long been a symbol of communism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_star and organizations that select that particular symbol for their flags cannot be ignorant of that reality. Yet no one in the media is commenting on it.

Ex-PH2

Why would they, Poe? It means nothing to them.

If we really want to get rid of ISIS, we will have to engage with the Saudis in a propaganda campaign from the air telling the populaces of the areas that they hold that they are apostates, not of true Islam, etc., and follow each of those propaganda runs with a bombing run.

I believe the US government did something similar to that in Vietnam to try to shift VC sympathizers away from them. I don’t remember if it was before or after Tet, but I think it was after. You may remember the time better than I do, because I was in the US while you were over there.

Ex-PH2

Despite what some people think they know (which is NOT a lot), the Russian airline bombing and the Paris terrorist attacks will be followed by another event sometime between Wednesday this week and next Monday.

You don’t have to believe me, but these and Charlie Hebdo were test runs. There are more to come.

Herbert J Messkit

I’m not an Intel or policy wonk, but I think Russia’s main interest is maintaining a warm weather Mediterranean port in an alawite coastal enclave. Plus sticking it to and embarrassing Obama

Ex-PH2

Makes more sense than anything else. Syria has a Mediterranean coastline. Go through the Straits of Bosporus and make port there. Piece of cake.

Why is it that every time I look for a map, I get Wilma’s Diner? Is the food any good there?

Perry Gaskill

I agree, Herb. This also helps explain the timing of the start of active Russian operations. What might have happened is that Putin waited for the U.S. to deal with ISIS but the threat to his bases got to the point where he couldn’t wait any longer. Embarrassing Obama may also have been only an added benefit and not a big part of it.

For good or ill, it’s apparent that Putin has an ability to think in terms of the Machiavellian moves needed to untangle the ISIS hairball, and Obama does not because he lacks a frame of reference. Sort of in the same way I will never ever understand the British sport of cricket.

Coupled with this, supported by historical evidence, is the idea that if a President wants the military to do something, the often best approach is to just tell them what you want, and stand out of the way so they can do it. This is not what is currently happening.

Ex-PH2

I’d go along with embarrassing bodaprez, because we ALL (except the carp) know what Vlad thinks of him.
Based on the inaction coming out of Foggy Bottom, I’d say the plan (if there is one, which is doubtful) is to let whoever has that seat deal with it. Then the responsibility for whatever happens as a result (especially if ‘happens’ is bad) falls on the shoulders of THAT person.
Such a typical slacker ‘tude, but consistent with bodaprez’s behavior since he was the senior ‘law reader’ at the University of Chicago, where he let the students run the class.

Herbert J Messkit

Bodaprez?. My guess big ole dumbass president

timactual

“Raqqa is now firmly in the sights…”

Along with Fallujah, Ramadi, etc. I am not holding my breath.

L. Taylor

Well, at least nobody disputes the fact that it is bullshit to “thank” Russia for this or give Russia credit for this.

This is due to groups the US and allies support and Russia and Assad oppose.

So thanking Russia for the advance on Raqqa is idiotic.

Green Thumb

My toilet is stopped up, Lars. Will you come fix it? I will even toss in a urinal mint!

Twist

I guess you missed the part where Russia is bombing Raqqa.

L. Taylor

Yes, I knew they were hitting Raqqa. (but not to the extent, see below).

Russian opposes ISIS…and the Free Syrian army, Kurds in Syria any other group opposing Assad control over all of Syria. So they are hitting targets that support that goal.

The forces on the outskirts of Raqqa are Kurds and Free Syrian Army rebels – backed by the US and allies. Not Russia, Russia opposes the presence of these forces.

However, your post did make me look up the extent of Russia bombing of Raqqa, and according to Russia it appears to be pretty extensive, so it is likely Russia’s bombing is having an effect on ISIS ability to defend Raqqa.

The Allies are also bombing the hell out of Raqqa.

Still, I staunchly disagree the “Thanks to Russia” sentiment that was originally posted. This advance is our allies, not Russia, th Kurds will turn over Raqqa to Syrians. But if it is Free Syrian Army then ultimately Russia will bomb the Free Syrian Army in support of Assad Regime forces.

A Proud Infidel®™

Putin is doing what B. Hussein 0bama has neither the brains or balls to do Pinky-Lars, now stop soiling your Underoos every time someone points the truth out for you, KIDDO!! 😀

L. Taylor

What “truth”?

This is not because of the Russians. I have no idea why you dipshits think that giving Russia credit for this is so important.

It is not Russian supported forces that are taking Raqqa.
Russia opposes these forces and are bombing Free Syrian Army. The bombing of those opposing ISIS by Russia is helping ISIS as much as Russia bombing ISIS is hurting ISIS.

Russia is not there to defeat ISIS. Russia is there to support Assad.

The allies and Russia are bombing Raqqa, and you anti-Obama bullshit has you convinced that Russia is somehow more effective than US and Allied forces.

A Proud Infidel®™

OK then my festering candyassed pustule on a Swamp poodle’s ass, what do you think that B. Hussein 0bama & Company have done RIGHT in all of this mess?

Ex-PH2

I was going to throw the frozen corn into the minestrone pot, along with some unused, pre-cooked chicken strips, just to add to the volume. Anyone got any other suggestions?

GDContractor

My car could use some ethanol. It’s got electrolytes.

Hondo

Wait a minute – I thought it was Brawndo that had electrolytes! What gives?

GDContractor

I’ll let our resident grad student splain it to ya. I have legs I gotta break.

68W58

You’re fucked up, you talk like a fag, and your shit’s all retarded.

A Proud Infidel®™

How ’bout being able to make your own Ethanol? HERE’s what’s next on MY Christmas list!:

http://hiconsumption.com/2015/11/stainless-steel-tabletop-moonshine-still/

Perry Gaskill

Use the chicken, toss the corn. Take the gun, leave the cannoli…

Ex-PH2

Done and simmering. I’ll make cornbread later, to go with it.

Fastjack

Don’t forget to add butter. No idea how you make cornbread, but there is nothing worse than chow hall cornbread. Dry as a brick and twice as tasteless, imo

A Proud Infidel®™

But it DOES make an acceptable substitute for sandbags in a fighting position, it’s rumored to have twice as much bullet and shrapnel resistance!

CLAW

I always thought the mess hall cornbread was used as that scouring brick on the grill as part of the after meal clean up.

Yeah, if you don’t eat cornbread within five minutes after it comes out of the oven, it will harden up pretty quick.

Ex-PH2

But that is chowhall cornbread, which is only meant to be used in a few ways, none of them including food.

Mine is soft, round, firm, and fully packed with flavor, and I always slather it in butter.

A Proud Infidel®™

Home-cooked is ALWAYS better!!

FatCircles0311

These comments are hilarious. I’ve never seen so many rustled jimmies over Russia destroying ISIS and the great results of it.

Thanks, Putin!

Doing the job Obama won’t.

Ex-PH2

Geez, FC, I do wish you’d post a warning occasionally!

FatCircles0311

I’ll try. I guess we’ve just become so accustomed to our now common military ineffectiveness under the ‘Bama defense strategy that some people have become stuck on stupid.

2/17 Air Cav

It looks like we have fragmentation. I’m sticking with it. I have a sticker that reads, “I took the pledge!”

GDContractor

I hope that’s not directed at me.
In brotherhood, GDC

2/17 Air Cav

No. I think you will hold. W/o reading him, it’s damn easy.

GDContractor

I’m holding everything I can.

Ex-PH2

“Russian warships are to cooperate with the French aircraft carrier Charles-de-Gaulle in the Mediterranean Sea, a decision that demonstrates a clear rapprochement between Paris and Moscow, who until now have been at odds over the Syrian conflict.” – AFP/2015-22-11

So, basically, Vlad is making nice with the French to get what he wants, and the French know which on side of their bread the brie is spread.

The likelihood of another incident between now and the end of November is quite high. But it may not necessarily be the same kind of incident… something more disruptive, perhaps.

Ex-PH2

Basically, Vlad is taking the lead in forming alliances against ISIS.

http://www.inquisitr.com/2582735/putin-seeks-global-cooperation-in-anti-terrorism-fight-after-isis-attacks-foreigners-in-mali-terror-group-uniting-the-world/

What’s coming out of Foggy Bottom? Crickets….

Green Thumb

Obummer is to busy looking down the road.

He is ready to handoff HIS mess to the next guy and solidify that book deal where he takes no responsibility (outside of gay marriage) while blaming Bush for his troubles.

Ex-PH2

True, and he’s got a lovely blue jacket with a Nehru collar to wear, too.

larstaylor

Every time you say the Obama administration is not doing anything you disparage the efforts of our intelligence community, air assets, special operators, trainers, agents, and other enablers involved in this campaign under presidential authorization,

Pretty obnoxious of you.

Green Thumb

The Turks just shot down a Russian fighter jet.

Things are about to get dicey.

Old Trooper

Yeah, I just heard that.

I think “dicey” may be an understatement.

Ex-PH2

The State Department has issued a worldwide travel alert regarding terrorist activities.

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/worldwide-travel-alert.html