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AnalystInParadise

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39. I was in Iraq (Baghdad)

Mon Oct 6, 2014, 02:45 AM

Oct 2014

during this incident. Insurgents are not soldiers (why would insurgents look like soldiers?).
Secondly they have several AK-47's and an RPG-7 in the first two minutes (I am an Intelligence Analyst by trade and have done some imagery analysis over my career, those are definitely weapons in the first two minutes)
Thirdly, our rules of engagement during the surge were this: If we spotted MAM's (Military Aged Males) and we saw they were carrying weapons, we were free to engage them (kill them) without PID (Positive Identification). In other words if our pilots, Abrams drivers, foot patrols, Humvee turret gunners, etc saw you and saw what they thought was a weapon, they were free to kill you. Those rules of engagement are almost identical to the rules of engagement in Eastern Afghanistan right now.

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U.S. Now Using Apache Helicopters to Attack ISIS in Iraq [View all] Baclava Oct 2014 OP

Yeah, the fixed wing aircraft are basically invulnerable to anything ISIS is likely to have Ex Lurker Oct 2014 #1

True they are vulnerable to small arms fire however in this case it might not even have been a risk cstanleytech Oct 2014 #6

Usually 30mm gunfire and Hellfire missiles....they can see their targets Baclava Oct 2014 #11

The question isnt what they used in Afghanistan but rather what did they use to accomplish this one cstanleytech Oct 2014 #17

Okay, I watched that and then found this on the same page: freshwest Oct 2014 #23

I was in Iraq (Baghdad) AnalystInParadise Oct 2014 #39

Not to mention I believe the entire thing took place at 1:30am.. EX500rider Oct 2014 #71

Nope caraher Oct 2014 #84

The money shot AnalystInParadise Oct 2014 #41

about 13.25-13.32 "movement in the van, looks like a kid" Sunlei Oct 2014 #49

I believe this is the airstrike that killed a couple of reporters Islandurp Oct 2014 #77

Who were travelling AnalystInParadise Oct 2014 #82

Couldn't they be downed by an RPG? Or whatever else they salvaged from the Iraqis? freshwest Oct 2014 #14

Oh man, GGJohn Oct 2014 #26

He didn't talk about it much, because of what he was literally *doing* you know? freshwest Oct 2014 #33

I'm very sorry to hear of his health problems GGJohn Oct 2014 #34

You bring tears to my eyes. I'll tell him. It was easier for us at home to decide what was wrong. freshwest Oct 2014 #35

Also tell him, GGJohn Oct 2014 #36

I just called him and told him all you said. He was grateful to be remembered by other veterans. freshwest Oct 2014 #68

The flares would be to draw off any heat seeking SAM's or AAM's fired at the aircraft. GGJohn Oct 2014 #69

Oh, wow. Thanks for explaining. I certainly don't know about this stuff, although my brother is... freshwest Oct 2014 #74

Stay safe, guys. TwilightGardener Oct 2014 #2

+1 Kaleva Oct 2014 #3

Aw, geeze. How long until one of those gets shot down? scarletwoman Oct 2014 #4

They are going to do what they need to prevent the takeover of Bagdad still_one Oct 2014 #5

Right. It will be boots on the ground next. nt scarletwoman Oct 2014 #7

If the air support solely fails I suspect you might be right which is why imo we all should be cstanleytech Oct 2014 #18

In my strictly personal opinion, from the moment the decision was made to start an air war scarletwoman Oct 2014 #22

No, from the moment Bush decided cstanleytech Oct 2014 #25

Well, yeah - we can go back and back. Like, to the breakup of the Ottoman Empire. scarletwoman Oct 2014 #27

I can't decide if a good idea or not .. Lenomsky Oct 2014 #32

It serves a potential purpose which is to try and slow the spread of a group cstanleytech Oct 2014 #45

Which won't happen .. Lenomsky Oct 2014 #89

Yup. amandabeech Oct 2014 #16

See: Vietnam. scarletwoman Oct 2014 #19

Oh, I remember that well. It didn't work out. amandabeech Oct 2014 #20

I imagine our people in the Green Zone have their evacuation plans well in hand. nt scarletwoman Oct 2014 #21

I certainly hope so. amandabeech Oct 2014 #24

That was exactly my thought. Jackpine Radical Oct 2014 #8

Yup. This ain't our first rodeo... scarletwoman Oct 2014 #9

Yep, the camels nose is under the tent already. Hope I'm wrong Exultant Democracy Oct 2014 #12

I'd be happy to be wrong, too. scarletwoman Oct 2014 #13

Those Apache Longbow's? GGJohn Oct 2014 #28

Wait, I think I've seen this movie. Xipe Totec Oct 2014 #10

Whole different chopper. GGJohn Oct 2014 #29

So, I guess, everything will be just fine then. Xipe Totec Oct 2014 #30

You'll have to ask Pres. Clinton that question. GGJohn Oct 2014 #31

Stupid question. Could the names of these be less dramatic and aggressive? freshwest Oct 2014 #37

For reasons unknown to me, GGJohn Oct 2014 #38

Thanks for the info, and all you've said on the thread. freshwest Oct 2014 #42

Don't forget those two lesser-known tribes-- Jackpine Radical Oct 2014 #52

I believe that those were before the military decided to name their helos after Indian tribes. GGJohn Oct 2014 #53

I do with Hueys & Shithooks. Jackpine Radical Oct 2014 #56

You're right, the Jolly's were Marine helos, and I always thought they were ugly as hell. GGJohn Oct 2014 #59

Yes indeed. Nothing jolie about a Jolly (if you don't mind a bilingual pun). Jackpine Radical Oct 2014 #62

The Huey's official name was the Iroquois hack89 Oct 2014 #61

Having flown quite a few missions in Huey slicks (!st Cav), Jackpine Radical Oct 2014 #63

My Dad did two tours in VN with the 1st Cav hack89 Oct 2014 #64

Sheesh! BobbyBoring Oct 2014 #60

Apaches in Mogadishu bpj62 Oct 2014 #66

+1000. GGJohn Oct 2014 #70

While he's at it, he can ask President G.W. Bush tabasco Oct 2014 #79

Xipe Totec Diclotican Oct 2014 #47

Different job... EX500rider Oct 2014 #73

They used Cobra attack helicopters in Mogadishu Downtown Hound Oct 2014 #75

Those helos that straffed the rooftop were not Cobras, GGJohn Oct 2014 #83

Apache helicopters are not used for transporting troops tabasco Oct 2014 #78

No, it doesn't, but thanks anyway. Xipe Totec Oct 2014 #80

Your post: tabasco Oct 2014 #81

Apaches can't carry anything but bullets and missiles jmowreader Oct 2014 #85

More like this, I think: Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #50

ISIS is evil cosmicone Oct 2014 #15

And kill the tens of thousands of Sunni civilians AnalystInParadise Oct 2014 #40

Disgusting. Unacceptable. cali Oct 2014 #43

That kind of attitude Feral Child Oct 2014 #58

Since Somalia and Vietnam have both been mentioned in this thread Downtown Hound Oct 2014 #76

Makes one wonder why we are waging war on Syria/Assad ozone_man Oct 2014 #90

We are now at the end of the begining OakCliffDem Oct 2014 #44

It certainly seems the "blowing up empty buildings from 30,000 ft" has run it's course Baclava Oct 2014 #46

One of the CNN military analysts said that the A-10s are going. amandabeech Oct 2014 #54

Remember the history texts of them olde timey days when they had those '100 year' wars? Baclava Oct 2014 #86

Just a matter of time until American servicemen are in the videos. Elmer S. E. Dump Oct 2014 #48

maybe servicewomen too, female Apache pilots Baclava Oct 2014 #51

Yes, when I say servicemen I mean men AND woMEN. Elmer S. E. Dump Oct 2014 #55

of course you do....I just a had cool video I wanted to show Baclava Oct 2014 #87

I wish they didn't block Youtube at work! Elmer S. E. Dump Oct 2014 #88

There seems to be very little information out there about what is going on near Baghdad. amandabeech Oct 2014 #57

Because the media is being excluded, perhaps? Excellent point about physical safety of camera crews. freshwest Oct 2014 #65

It had occurred to me that the media had been asked to downplay whatever was going on in Baghdad. amandabeech Oct 2014 #67

The difference between now and then, is interconnectedness. freshwest Oct 2014 #72