National Defense Briefs – September 30

By W. Thomas Smith Jr.

National Defense Briefs is a series aimed at informing readers with timely military and homeland security news updates, trends, definitions, and short commentaries. Defense issues are inextricably connected to business. In that, MidlandsBiz.com presents the “National Defense Briefs” that matter.

• Despite a “60 Minutes” interview wherein the pres. blamed the U.S. Intelligence Community for underestimating the scope, capabilities, and rapid regional expansion of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), ABC News reports the White House was repeatedly warned about the severity of the ISIS threat since at least as early as Nov. 2013.
  Three examples given by ABC News follow –
• Brett McGurk, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Iraq and Iran, testifying before a U.S. House Foreign Affairs subcommittee, Nov. 14, said, “There is no question that [ISIS] is growing roots in Syria and in Iraq. … We have seen upwards of 40 suicide bombers per month targeting playgrounds, mosques, and markets, in addition to government sites from Basra to Baghdad to Erbil. … [ISIS] has benefited from a permissive operating environment due to inherent weaknesses of Iraqi security forces, poor operational tactics, and popular grievances, which remain unaddressed, among the population in Anbar and Nineva provinces.”
• In Jan. 2014, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Robert Beecroft said that ISIS posed “a very precarious situation. And a misstep anywhere could set off a larger conflict in the country.”
• In Feb. 2014, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, said, “[ISIS] probably will attempt to take territory in Iraq and Syria to exhibit its strength in 2014, as demonstrated recently in Ramadi and Fallujah, and the group’s ability to concurrently maintain multiple safe havens in Syria.”
• The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) – as we have reported – is also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham (also ISIS), the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), and simply the Islamic State (IS).
• The U.S. Air Force (USAF) F-22 Raptor, a fifth-generation hyper-stealthy air-superiority fighter, will continue flying against ISIS targets in Syria. The first-ever combat sorties for the F-22 were Sept. 22 against ISIS in Syria. According to DefenseNews, USAF Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, deputy chief of staff for operations, plans and requirements, said, “while [the F-22’s] first operation involved dropping a weapon on an IS command and control facility, … the jet would not be dropping bombs on every sortie. … The jet is being used for specific mission sets, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations, where its suite of advanced sensors and avionics can make an impact.”

• Gen. Harrigian added, “The greatest capability the F-22 brings is its integrated avionics, its fused avionics that facilitates situational awareness not just for the pilot in the airplane but really for the entire package that is going to execute the mission. That’s the specific capability than an F-22 is really tremendous at, and as we’ve integrated into the force over the years brings to this fight.”
• Seven ISIS Facts every American should know, according to Breitbart –http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2014/09/13/7-ISIS-Facts-Every-American-Should-Know.

The U.S. State Dept. lists four State Sponsors of Terrorism or “countries determined by the Secretary of State to have repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism.” Those countries are Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria.

• British Tornado GR4 attack jets flying in support of Kurdish forces began striking ISIS positions, Tuesday. “British special forces are [already] on the ground in northern Iraq and possibly in Syria,” according to the UK Guardian. Among the 62 coalition partners participating in the campaign against ISIS – including the European Union and Arab League – 20 of them are providing “air support or other military equipment. Others … are supplying logistical or humanitarian aid,” according to the UK Telegraph.

– W. Thomas Smith Jr. – a former U.S. Marine rifleman – is a military analyst and partner with NATIONAL DEFENSE CONSULTANTS, LLC. Visit him at http://uswriter.com.