More pretend war against ISIS.

The U.S. has never been serious about destroying ISIS. It allowed huge numbers of ISIS oil tankers to travel unimpeded to Turkey and back to ISIS-held territory in Syria until it was shamed into more aggressive bombing by the Russian air force.

“B” at Moon of Alabama has written an interesting article, below, that has two maps of the ISIS-controlled area along the Iraqi border north of the Euphrates. (That area being “our” area from which we allegedly helped eject some Russian mercernaries with casualties in the neighborhood of 200 by some accounts.)

One map is of the situation on November 30, 2017, and the other of the situation three days ago (April 24, 2018). The ISIS area is unchanged over the intervening seven months. The ISIS ares south of the Euphrates in the area controlled by the Syrian government and its allies shows about a 50% reduction in size.

“B” also shows the results of seven days of Coalition air strikes on ISIS in Syria: destruction of two vehicles and three “engagements” againsts “Daesh tactical unit[s].” There might have been five “engagements” by my count, but it’s not clear. Actual casualties not stated by the military source.

The takeaway point is:

The total number of ISIS fighters in the area is estimated between 5,000 and 12,000. The current U.S. strikes are not even pinpricks.

It is obvious that the U.S. wants to keep ISIS alive and well to again use it, if need be, against the Syrian and Iraqi government.^[1]

Obama and Kerry were on board with this sick use of ISIS against Syria AND Iraq.

Next time Pres. Trump or any U.S. official talks about our main purpose in Syria being to defeat ISIS keep all this in mind. As with every last thing about our illegal involvement there, it’s been murder, lies, and moral compromise.

Notes
^[1] "Syria-Iraq - U.S. Cuddles ISIS - Others Plan For The Final Fight." By b, Moon of Alabama, 4/24/18 (emphasis added).