The Media Myth of "Jordanian and Arab Coalition" Airstrikes; Arab nations are still doing little.

[Fred Sanders]

Last edited Tue Feb 10, 2015, 06:42 PM - Edit history (3)

http://www.npr.org/2015/02/06/384345873/despite-coalition-partners-u-s-has-done-most-airstrikes-against-isis


Jordan and the other Arab countries are still doing little, even though Jordan says it ramped up attacks. As of this week, the U.S. mounted 946 strikes in Syria, while Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi and UAE completed 79 total. The United Arab Emirates stopped flying in December, concerned the U.S. is not providing sufficient combat air rescue.

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(Excerpt only)

ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:

The Obama administration says there is no evidence that Kayla Mueller, as ISIS has claimed, was killed by a Jordanian airstrike. Jordan has stepped up its air attacks after ISIS killed a Jordanian pilot in its custody. Three other Arab states are also part of the coalition against ISIS. But there are questions about how often those Arab states have taken part in the strikes. We're joined now by NPR Pentagon correspondent Tom Bowman. Hi, Tom.

TOM BOWMAN, BYLINE: Hey, Robert.

SIEGEL: Inside Syria, the United States and its partners have been conducting airstrikes since September. How many are by the U.S. and how many by the four Arab states?

BOWMAN: Well, Robert, the Pentagon says as of Wednesday, just in Syria now, there were 946 strikes by the U.S. and another 79 strikes by those four Arab states combined. That's Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. And, by the way, not one of those Arab states is dropping bombs inside Iraq. So it's lopsided. The U.S. is doing more than 90 percent of all the bombing runs in Syria.

SIEGEL: More than 90 percent? But the U.S. has made a point of claiming that this is a coalition. Has the U.S. military overstated the role of the Arab states?

[Cali_Democrat]

1. smart bombs are expensive. nt

[Fred Sanders]

2. America is also doing 100% of all Airstrikes and air support missions in Iraq. All of it.

So it begs the question, what is Obama up to seeking Congressional authorization, there is a reason for that. And it is not what the media thinks it is, given the restrictions on combat written in.

[Jefferson23]

3. It is Iran who can kick their ass..pardon the hyperbole..but it is true. n/t

[leveymg]

4. Thank you for bursting that meme. Here's another: they're all "hero pilots" on ABC News.

Regardless of what anyone does, the entire Jordanian AF is now always referred to as "hero pilots" by David Muir.

[Wellstone ruled]

5. Bottom line,

this is another clean up of the CIA's failed Empire Quest which was started with the invasion of Iraq,and latter Afghanistan. Along with all of the so called Arab Spring coup's we sponsored. We got the Oil for China and India and now it is time to move on to Africa.