Special Forces Head to Iraq for Training of Security Forces While the Real Mission is Kept Secret

While the U.S. insists the 300 strong contingent of Special Forces are for training purposes, it looks more than likely that they are there for target gathering operations that are needed for the impending air strikes from the USS George H.W. Bush Nimitz carrier sitting off of Iraq’s coast.


Update: Two ‪U.S. Navy‬ F/A-18 Super Hornets assigned to Carrier Air Wing 8 embarked on USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) struck an Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant target near Erbil, Iraq, Aug. 8.


When the U.S. announced it was sending Special Forces to Iraq after 3 years of absence, it sent alarm bells ringing in my head. ISIL has been making massive gains in Iraq and have effectively taken over most of the Northern cities, border crossings, and have been pushing the Iraqi army into disarray, with thousands disbanding their posts.

So much for investing $30 billion into rebuilding their armed forces. Just like in the first and second gulf war, a large portion of Iraq service men have proven cowardly and poorly trained.


The ISIL advance is happening so quickly that it would be an unrealistic amount of time to train the forces needed to counter the ISIL offensive currently heading towards Baghdad. This makes me believe that the 300 U.S. Special Forces are their for a different mission.


It takes time to acquire intelligence needed for target acquisition for the air strikes, but if warranted strike operations can be carried out in under 24 hours, especially with a Nimitz near by.


President Barack Obama announced a week ago that the USS George W. Bush Carrier Strike Group, also known as Carrier Strike Group Two, would be moved to the coast of Iraq in case of needed air strikes.


I truly think that the training mission described for the Special Forces is a cover for them, and that the real mission is to go to the front lines and gather the needed intel for air strikes to take place, like the one below.

Update: As it turns out, my initial predictions were correct.

President of the United States, Barack Obama, made the following statement, August 8,2014 “First, I said in June — as the terrorist group ISIL began an advance across Iraq — that the United States would be prepared to take targeted military action in Iraq if and when we determined that the situation required it. In recent days, these terrorists have continued to move across Iraq, and have neared the city of Erbil, where American diplomats and civilians serve at our consulate and American military personnel advise Iraqi forces.

To stop the advance on Erbil, I’ve directed our military to take targeted strikes against ISIL terrorist convoys should they move toward the city. We intend to stay vigilant, and take action if these terrorist forces threaten our personnel or facilities anywhere in Iraq, including our consulate in Erbil and our embassy in Baghdad. We’re also providing urgent assistance to Iraqi government and Kurdish forces so they can more effectively wage the fight against ISIL.
Second, at the request of the Iraqi government — we’ve begun operations to help save Iraqi civilians stranded on the mountain. As ISIL has marched across Iraq, it has waged a ruthless campaign against innocent Iraqis. And these terrorists have been especially barbaric towards religious minorities, including Christian and Yezidis, a small and ancient religious sect. Countless Iraqis have been displaced. And chilling reports describe ISIL militants rounding up families, conducting mass executions, and enslaving Yezidi women.
In recent days, Yezidi women, men and children from the area of Sinjar have fled for their lives. And thousands — perhaps tens of thousands — are now hiding high up on the mountain, with little but the clothes on their backs. They’re without food, they’re without water. People are starving. And children are dying of thirst. Meanwhile, ISIL forces below have called for the systematic destruction of the entire Yezidi people, which would constitute genocide. So these innocent families are faced with a horrible choice: descend the mountain and be slaughtered, or stay and slowly die of thirst and hunger.

President Obama reiterated that the U.S. “cannot and should not intervene every time there’s a crisis in the world,” but explained why the current situation in Iraq requires the U.S. to act — and act now”

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