Cole writes: "In a massive intelligence failure, the US Air Force hit a
Syrian military installation in Deir al-Zor that it thought was Daesh (ISIS,
ISIL). But it turned out to be the Syrian Arab Army position at Deir al-Zor
military airport. The strike killed 80 soldiers and wounded another 100."
Syrian army tank is seen on the southern outskirts of Aleppo. Russia has
accused US-led coalition forces of bombing Syrian government troops. (photo:
George Ourfalian/AFP/Getty Images)
In Massive Intel Error, US Kills 80 Syrian Troops, Helps ISIL Advance
By Juan Cole, Informed Comment
18 September 16
In a massive intelligence failure, the US Air Force hit a Syrian military
installation in Deir al-Zor that it thought was Daesh (ISIS, ISIL). But it
turned out to be the Syrian Arab Army position at Deir al-Zor military
airport. The strike killed 80 soldiers and wounded another 100. Deir al-Zor
is one of two provinces significantly controlled by Daesh in Syria, the
other being its home base of al-Raqqa. The mistaken strike wily-nilly
strengthened Daesh.
Russia immediately took propaganda advantage of the error, suggesting archly
that the United States must covertly be supporting Daesh. That's pretty low.
In fact, Russia had done very little against Daesh itself, while the US has
expended a good deal of effort against it.
Samantha Power, the US ambassador to the United Nations, stormed out of a UN
session where Russia made these charges and where Russia called for an
emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. Power accused the Syrian
government of continuing to hold and to deploy chemical weapons.
The error did reflect not on American intentions but on the tactics it is
using to intervene in Syria. Air strikes from 30,000 feet are always open to
being inexact, and to producing civilian casualties and destruction of
infrastructure. Moreover, the US is hostage to local informants for
information on targets, and sometimes they turn out to be double agents or
mentally fragile or have other reasons for delivering false intel to the US
military.
The problem with a mistake of this Himalayan proportions is that it will be
extremely difficult in the aftermath to convince Syria that the US did not
intentionally aid Daesh.
Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.
Syrian army tank is seen on the southern outskirts of Aleppo. Russia has
accused US-led coalition forces of bombing Syrian government troops. (photo:
George Ourfalian/AFP/Getty Images)
http://www.juancole.com/2016/09/massive-syrian-advance.htmlhttp://www.juanco
le.com/2016/09/massive-syrian-advance.html
In Massive Intel Error, US Kills 80 Syrian Troops, Helps ISIL Advance
By Juan Cole, Informed Comment
18 September 16
n a massive intelligence failure, the US Air Force hit a Syrian military
installation in Deir al-Zor that it thought was Daesh (ISIS, ISIL). But it
turned out to be the Syrian Arab Army position at Deir al-Zor military
airport. The strike killed 80 soldiers and wounded another 100. Deir al-Zor
is one of two provinces significantly controlled by Daesh in Syria, the
other being its home base of al-Raqqa. The mistaken strike wily-nilly
strengthened Daesh.
Russia immediately took propaganda advantage of the error, suggesting archly
that the United States must covertly be supporting Daesh. That's pretty low.
In fact, Russia had done very little against Daesh itself, while the US has
expended a good deal of effort against it.
Samantha Power, the US ambassador to the United Nations, stormed out of a UN
session where Russia made these charges and where Russia called for an
emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. Power accused the Syrian
government of continuing to hold and to deploy chemical weapons.
The error did reflect not on American intentions but on the tactics it is
using to intervene in Syria. Air strikes from 30,000 feet are always open to
being inexact, and to producing civilian casualties and destruction of
infrastructure. Moreover, the US is hostage to local informants for
information on targets, and sometimes they turn out to be double agents or
mentally fragile or have other reasons for delivering false intel to the US
military.
The problem with a mistake of this Himalayan proportions is that it will be
extremely difficult in the aftermath to convince Syria that the US did not
intentionally aid Daesh.
http://e-max.it/posizionamento-siti-web/socialize
http://e-max.it/posizionamento-siti-web/socialize
