Sunday, October 26, 2008

U.S. Strikes In Syria

This is an interesting development. 

U.S. military helicopters struck a network of foreign fighters in Syria, a U.S. military official said Sunday, killing eight people and earning recrimination from Damascus, which condemned the raid as “serious aggression.”

The official, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said the special forces action within Syrian territory close to the Iraqi border, was meant to send a message. The Americans have been unable to shut the network down in the area because Syria was out of the military’s reach.

“We are taking matters into our own hands,” the official said.

The attack came just days after the commander of U.S. forces in western Iraq said American troops were redoubling efforts to secure the Syrian border, which he called an “uncontrolled” gateway for fighters entering Iraq.

Given that Syria has been feeding terrorists into Iraq for years, it’s interesting that we did this now.  Was there something special about the target or is this a change in strategy?

(7) Comments
Posted by Owen at 2145 hrs
Foreign Affairs + Military + Politics + Politics - General

  1. We also struck in Pakistan, like Obama had suggested a year ago, and McCain said was a bad idea. 

    Palin, well, she was for it before she was against it.

    Posted by capper on October 26, 2008 at 2223 hrs


  2. I think this is more a case of - we only have a few months left in this administration so we are going to do what we have always wanted to do - before “The One” decides to suspend all operations.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on October 26, 2008 at 2242 hrs


  3. After Abu Ghadiya it would seem.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on October 27, 2008 at 0037 hrs


  4. Capper,

    And the example the used with Palin of the “Bush Doctrine”.  It seems you can’t have it both ways, attacking the doctrine on one hand, and then defending examples of it on the other.

    It looks like Bush is going to get his third term anyway. Obama always reminded me more of Bush than McCain, in style anyway.

    Posted by Henry Dubb on October 27, 2008 at 0634 hrs


  5. Huh…

    I must have missed the debate when the resolution was passed in Congress authorizing the use of force and a declaration of War against Syria.  I should pay attention to the news more…

    Posted by Nick on October 27, 2008 at 0906 hrs


  6. It’s not my original idea, as I read it at another site, but the question is why not just blow up the site with stand-off weapons fired from a drone? There must be something special about this particular site that we took the risk of inserting troops and helicopters: a kidnapping, rescuing one of our agents, stealing a computer?

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on October 27, 2008 at 0942 hrs


  7. I missed this Owen, thanks for posting it.  You do keep a keen eye on our actions abroad, and I appreciate your interest in the subject matter.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on October 27, 2008 at 2336 hrs


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