Pentagon Denies NYT Report That U.S. Bombed ISIS Targets In Iraq

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM

By CAITLIN MACNEAL Published AUGUST 7, 2014, 5:43 PM EDT

Kurdish officials reported that he U.S. on Thursday night bombed ISIS targets in northern Iraq in an attempt to help free residents of two Kurdish towns seized by the insurgents, according to the New York Times.

Pentagon press secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby quickly denied the report.

Rear Adm. John Kirby ✔ @PentagonPresSec
Follow
Press reports that US has conducted airstrikes in Iraq completely false. No such action taken.
5:05 PM - 7 Aug 2014

According to the Times, Kurdish television reported the bombings Thursday night. ABC News reported that the U.S. is sending cargo planes with humanitarian supplies to drop to Iraqi citizens trapped in the towns seized by the insurgents.

The Pentagon also denied the reports of air drops.

-snip-

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/report-us-bomb-targets-iraq

[warrant46]

1. Bomb Bomb Bomb Iraq

[onehandle]

2. Damn! We were promised endless free oil.

Wait... That was the last guys.

[happyslug]

3. Why would the US do it, when the Turkish Air Force is next door AND Iran has its own reasons,

For US Planes to hit this position they have to come from a Carrier and the only Carrier in the area in in the Arabian Sea (the distance is to great for such a strike, the Carrier would have to sail up the Persian Gulf to put its planes within reach).

Side note: Carrier planes CAN reach the area where ISIS is operating, but would need refueling, as would planes from Sicily, and Afghanistan. The British could lend the US use the British Cyprus, but how do you keep it secret from the Turks AND the Greeks?

The nearest US Air base is in Sicily, from which you would have to refuel any jets used in an attack and the refueling will have to be from either Greece or Turkey (And the US would have to get permission of Turkey to fly over their territories).

The real question then become what is the relationship between ISIS and Turkey? Do the Turks view ISIS as a hostile threat to Turkey? Or a possible ally against the Kurds (Before the recent Greek Crisis, Greece were the Kurds in Turkey main support, thus Greece is also a factor). I suspect both the present Turkish Government AND the Turkish Military do not like ISIS. The Turkish Government and the Turkish Military do not like each other, but they may both fear ISIS for different reasons.

Just a comment, the better solution would be an Air Strike by the Turkish Air Force. The Turkish Air Force has the Planes and the bases to do it. Greece has neither, it support would be in the form of supplies, and use of bases to operate in flight refueling planes.

And lets NOT forget Iran. While Turkey is a US Ally and thus the US may be able to get the Turks to launch an attack. ISIS are radical Sunni Moslem who hate Shiites, and Iran is Shiite. If anyone bombs ISIS positions it would be Iran, they also have the means, i.e. planes and base nearby.

If I was to bet on who bombed ISIS my money would be on Iran not the US. Iran has the reasons AND the Capacity. The US may have reasons, but do to the location of US Bases and US Carriers US Capacity is limited. The US can still do such an attack but it requires a lot more effort then would be normal.

[TwilightGardener]

4. Thought we had a carrier group in the Persian Gulf? (George HW Bush?)

[Lurks Often]

6. At the United Arab Emirates according to the link

http://www.gonavy.jp/CVLocation.html

[Lurks Often]

5. You made several incorrect assumptions

1. The nearest US base would probably be Incirlik Air Base in Turkey, whether the Turks would allow us to use it is up for question; additionally there is Mihail Kogălniceanu International Airport in southeast Romania, which the US has been using as a way point in the draw down of forces in Afghanistan since the US agreement with Turkmenistan was not renewed. Bulgaria could also be an option since we have conditional use of some air force bases located there. Permission from the host country would probably be required.

2. The B-2, B-1 or B-52 all have, with air to air refueling, essentially unlimited range and IF we conducted air strikes, it was probably B-1's or B-52's out of Diego Garcia with tanker support. We have been using both of those aircraft in Afghanistan and those crews could easily handle the mission.

Another option not mentioned is it was the Iraqi Air Force itself, since it recently took delivery of 5 Russian SU-25 ground attack aircraft: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/30/world/middleeast/iraq.html?_r=0

[Berlin Expat]

7. Apparently,

it is the Iraqi Air Force, most likely using those SU-25's (Frogfoot ground-attack aircraft) you pointed out.

https://twitter.com/jenanmoussa/status/497506558624792576

[happyslug]

9. If that is the case, I suspect Russian Pilots

The last time Iraq had SU-25 was just before the US Invasion, and those were in bad shape. Thus the last Iraqi pilot to fly one was 13-15 years ago. Thus I suspect that Russian not only sold them the SU-25 but included pilots in the deal. Quick paint job, Russian pilots would love to fly the SU-25 in an actual combat mission, thus plenty of volunteers.

[happyslug]

8. This does NOT sound like a B-52, B-1 or B-2 bombing mission

Yes, all have the range and ISIS has no way to detect them, but such an attack would be noticed by the Russians within hours. The Russians and the Chinese do keep an eye on those things. If any are missing they will know, where the bomber is off to they will not but they will know something is up.

As to the Romania Air Field, I have NOT heard any report of US ammo storage at that facility. As to Incirlik, why use US assets when you have Turkish ones at the same base AND you do not have to fly the planes to Incirlik?

Sorry, I do not think this is a US operation, as I pointed out the US CAN do such an attack, but the real issue is why GIVEN the problems of doing so. Asking the Turks to do so would be better, and if they refuse, then using Incirlik for US Bombers is also out of the picture.

Thus I lean to Iran. Iraq could have used the new SU=25s to launch such an attack, but given the date of delivery, if Iraq used the SU-25s it is with Russian pilots, not enough time to train Iraqi Pilots on the SU-25. The SU-25 is a very simple plane, but it still needs someone who knows how to fly IT not just fly. Saddam had some SU-25s, but all were unflyable by the time of the US Invasion, thus you are looking at Iraqi Pilots who last flew a Su-25 around 2001.

Thus if this Air Strike was Iraqi, it was done by Russian Pilots, thus my money is on Iran, if such an air strike occurred.

[Lurks Often]

10. I never said the US conducted the air strike

I said IF we were to do so, it would be with B-1's or B-52's out of Diego Garcia. Since both aircraft have conducted missions over Afghanistan in the past and the B-1's are still doing so, those make far more sense to use IF we were to conduct an air strike from bases somewhere outside of the Middle East.

[IronGate]

11. We have an air base in Turkey.

Incirlik Air Base is an American Air Force Base.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incirlik_Air_Base

Incirlik Air Base (Turkish: İncirlik Hava Üssü) (IATA: UAB, ICAO: LTAG) is a United States Air Force installation, located near İncirlik, Turkey. Incirlik Air Base is located 8 kilometers (5 miles) east[1] of Adana, Turkey, the fifth largest city in the country, and is 56 kilometers (35 miles) inland from the Mediterranean Sea. The United States Air Force and the Turkish Air Force are the primary users of the air base, although it is also used by the Royal Air Force.

Incirlik Air Base is the home of the 10th Air Wing (Ana Jet Üs or AJÜ) of the 2nd Air Force Command (Hava Kuvvet Komutanlığı of the Turkish Air Force (Türk Hava Kuvvetleri). Other wings of this command are located in Merzifon (LTAP), Malatya/Erhaç (LTAT) and Diyarbakır (LTCC).[2]

Incirlik Air Base has a U.S. Air Force complement of about five thousand airmen, with several hundred airmen from the Royal Air Force and Turkish Air Force also present, as of late 2002. The primary unit stationed at Incirlik Air Base is the 39th Air Base Wing (39 ABW) of the U.S. Air Force. Incirlik Air Base has one 3,048 m (10,000 ft)-long runway,[1][3] located among about 57 Hardened aircraft shelters

.

I would imagine that Turkey would give us permission to use Fighter/Bombers from there to hit ISIS if President Obama decided to initiate air strikes.

[happyslug]

12. More Recent reports indicate these are "Iraqi" Air strikes using SU-25s

The Su-25s were purchased in late June. I do NOT see Iraqi Pilots being able to fly them on combat mission with less then a month's training. Thus I suspect Russian pilots.

Thus the US and Russia are on opposing sides in the Ukraine, but on the same side in Iraq.

Reminds me of China and the US during WWII. Nationalist China was a close ally of the US, but during WWII its closest other ally was Nazi-Germany. Such situations are more common then we like to think.

It is a Twitter post, but at times that is the best we have:

https://twitter.com/jenanmoussa/status/497506558624792576

[IronGate]

13. I just heard that. It's about time the Iraqi Military got into the fight without running away.

Russians and Americans working towards the same goal? Politics do make strange bedfellows.

[Ghost Dog]

15. (A powerful faction in) USA was also close ally of Nazi Germany...

and is still Nazi to this day...

If you'll forgive me for remarking.

Common situation, indeed. And the more clear-eyed and -minded we all remain, the better.

[Ghost Dog]

14. Likely Turkey/NATO or perhaps Iran... with a nod. n/t

[jakeXT]

21. I think the US never returned their F16 jets from Jordan

Last edited Tue Aug 19, 2014, 04:32 AM - Edit history (1)

U.S. missiles, jets to stay in Jordan as Syria crisis rages
Sat, Jun 15 15:24 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said on Saturday it will keep Patriot missiles and F-16 jet fighters in Jordan after joint military exercises end next week while Secretary of State John Kerry said a political solution to the civil war in neighboring Syria may be getting "out of reach."

http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSBRE95E0H120130615?irpc=932

[happyslug]

16. And Today, the US said it has launch attacks, but not the ones discussed in this thread.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/islamic-state-militants-seize-christian-town-in-northern-iraq-thousands-flee/2014/08/07/942a553a-1e2b-11e4-ab7b-696c295ddfd1_story.html?wpisrc=al_national

I suspect Russia or Iranian Pilots flew the SU-25s on some missions, and that upset the Pentagon AND the White House (for it shows that the Iraqi Government has other option other then the US). My money is on Russian Pilots, for Russia is supplying the SU-25s.

On the other hand according to the BBC, Iran has "returned" to Iraq on July 2, 2014, several of SU-25s Iraq flew to Iran during the opening days of Desert Storm in January 1991. Iran did NOT operate these planes, till Iran obtain additional ones from Russia later on in the 1990s, but have kept them updated since then.

Thus these may be IRANIAN SU-25s with Iranian Pilots. That Iraq used them is enough to upset the White House so that US Air Strikes were ordered. i.e. by flying the SU-25s into combat, that forced the US into a position of supporting the Iraqi Government OR leaving Iraq become a close Ally of Iran. The Air Strikes were viewed as necessary to prevent the present Iraqi Government from further embracing Iran (and since Iran has close relations with Russia, with Russia).

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28125687

[Javaman]

17. Just when you think you are out, they suck you back in.

oil fields to protect and all, oh excuse me "humanitarian mission"

Andrea Mitchell basically spelled it out last night on Rachel's show.

[happyslug]

18. I notice that the Iraqi Air Attacks of August 7th, are now forgotten, Iran is not longer needed

On or about August 7th, 2014, the first Air Attacks on ISIS were done in Iraq, but it was by Iraqi Su-25s NOT American F-16s. The next day the American F-16s started they attacks.

The first question is how did Iraq get SU-25s? It is NOW claimed these were Su-25s flown to Iran in 1992 as Desert Storm warmed up. Iran held onto them til 2014. Reports indicate they were in bad shape in 1991 and Iran did not have access to parts till after 2000, when Iran purchased a few from Russia, and upgraded the Su-25s they had received from Iraq in 1991.

Now, given the lack of SU-25s from 1991 to 2014, I doubt Iraq has any pilots qualified to fly the SU-25s. Now, the former pilots could be retrained quickly, but the electronics would be different for no one today is flying any plane made in the 1980s, with 1980s electronics, somewhere along the way they were upgraded and the pilot would have to be retrained in those new electronics AND refresh how to operate a plane such pilots have not flown in over 20 years.

Thus, at first I suspected Russian Pilots for the SU-25 are a Russian design, later reports indicate they were Iranian Su-25s, some without even changing the plane numbers. Thus, now I suspect Iranian Pilots. Have NOT heard of the SU-25s since August 8th, but such Su-25s did the first air attacks.

This brings up an interesting question, did the US launch its Air Attacks to preempt an Iranian Air Attack? i.e. did the US need to show it will support the Shiite Government of Iraq, for if the US did not, Iraq was able to fully embrace Iran? The US Air Attack is not only to stop ISIS but also to show Iraq that it does NOT need Iran?

Is Iraq using Iran against the US? Or is the US allying with Iran? Mike Whitney at Counterpunch indicates that may be occurring, for given a choice of ENEMIES, Washington prefers the Russians over anyone else, thus Washington is willing to deal with Iran to weaken Russia:

http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/08/18/did-iran-just-knife-putin-in-the-back/

Something is going on. Iran just "told" Russia that it is willing to support a gas pipeline via Turkey not the Black sea. The Black Sea Route would by pass the Ukraine but needs Iranian natural Gas to be profitable. The same with the Turkish pipeline.

The Scary part is Putin may NOT really object to a Turkish pipeline. Yes, he loses control over Iranian Natural Gas and to a degree Turkmenistan and other Former Soviet Central Asia States Natural Gas but he secures his southern flank, Iran AND Turkey (Who is depended on Iranian Natural Gas) will have strong incentives to stay "Neutral" in any conflict between the US and Russia. In many ways a "Neutral" Iran may be of more value to Russia then Iran as an Ally. i.e. to fly over Iran, the US will have to either get Iranian permission (which Iran will deny) OR fly over Iran and Hope the Russians do not shoot down any American Planes over Iran (if an American Plane is Shot down over Iran, Iran can that the plane landed in Iran to the UN and demand that the US stop violating its airspace). Spain was "Neutral" during WWII, but clearly pro-German, that is the classic case of a neutral country being more benefit to another country then it going to war with its ally. Germany ended up using Spain was a source of Oil, Oil from the United States shipped to "Neutral" Spain and then re-shipped to Germany via occupied France. This was one of the main sources of Oil for Nazi Germany during WWII, dried up in 1944 as the US and Britain liberated France and cut off that fuel line.

The Above Countpunch article indicates Iran stabbed Putin in the back. That is how it looks up front, but Putin may have decided a secure southern border is worth shifting that pipeline even further south i.e. to Turkey.

Putin is in a tough position right now. 40% of the value of food items sold in Russia is imported, but the #1 import is Apples and other Fruits from Poland, and #2 is fish from Norway. Russia exports Grain. The US main export to Russia is Chickens.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/08/07/russias-ban-on-american-food-imports-is-going-to-hit-the-u-s-poultry-pork-and-nut-industries-the-hardest/

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/07/putin-ban-food-imports-russian-shoppers-respond



Netherlands is Russia #3 food supplies, and again it is a high price end item, in the case of the Netherlands it is Cheese.

Russia is among the top 8 grain exports, the US is by far #1, but the other seven are as important it the world wide demand for grain:



http://hamodia.com/2014/08/08/russia-retaliates-wests-sanctions-ukraine/

Spain is the # 4 exporter to Russia, mostly Tomatoes, Cucumbers and other vegetables:

http://www.freshplaza.com/article/125384/Spain-Tomatoes-represent-50-procent-of-Almerias-exports-to-Russia

http://www.freshplaza.com/article/125384/Spain-Tomatoes-represent-50-procent-of-Almerias-exports-to-Russia

One last Comment on August 16, 2014 Russia and Iran did sign an oil agreement:

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/russia-iran-oil-circumvent/2014/08/16/id/589177/

Just a comment that situation in Russia, the Ukraine and Iran is getting complex.

[freshwest]

19. Oh, noes. John McCain will be so sad.

[KittyWampus]

20. FFS, get your lies straight.