Gaza under Israeli siege as death toll mounts, famine looms    New accords on trade, security strengthen Egypt-Oman Relations    Egypt launches public-private partnership to curb c-sections, improve maternal, child health    Egypt Post discusses enhanced cooperation with Ivorian counterpart    EMRA, Elsewedy sign partnership to explore, develop phosphate reserves in Sebaiya    Opella becomes first global consumer healthcare firm to gain B Corp status    Philip Morris Misr announces new price list effective 1 July    EGX closes in red on July 1st    Gold gains as investors flee to safe havens    Egypt, Iran FMs discuss Gaza truce, nuclear talks revival    Egypt's Environment Minister calls for stronger action on desertification, climate resilience in Africa    Egypt in diplomatic push for Gaza truce, Iran-Israel de-escalation    Egypt teams up with private sector to boost university rankings    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Egypt condemns deadly terrorist attack in Niger    Egypt, Tunisia discuss boosting healthcare cooperation    Egypt's commodity reserves "very reassuring", some stocks sufficient for 9 months — trade chief    Egypt's FM, China's Wang discuss Iran-Israel escalation    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt's GAH, Spain's Konecta discuss digital health partnership    Grand Egyptian Museum opening delayed to Q4    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Egypt discovers three New Kingdom tombs in Luxor's Dra' Abu El-Naga    Egypt launches "Memory of the City" app to document urban history    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Egypt's FM inspects Julius Nyerere Dam project in Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



U.S. general touts putting air controllers with Iraqi troops
Published in Albawaba on 22 - 07 - 2015

Putting U.S. air controllers with Iraqi forces closer to combat areas so they can identify and direct bombing would improve air strikes on ISIS rebel targets and should be "seriously considered," a top U.S. general told lawmakers on Tuesday.
General Mark Milley, nominee for the next Army chief of staff, also told his Senate confirmation hearing he favored providing lethal defensive equipment to help Ukrainian troops counter the artillery of Russian-backed rebels.
Milley, who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, was named to replace outgoing Army Chief of Staff Ray Odierno, whose four-year term ends in several weeks.
Milley's appointment is one of several that is reshaping U.S. military leadership. Another is the choice of Marine Commandant Joe Dunford as new chairman of the joint chiefs of staff to replace outgoing Army General Martin Dempsey.
Asked if Iraqi security forces, who have sometimes retreated from combat, were willing to fight ISIS militants, Milley said they were when he was in the country.
But after U.S. military withdrawal in 2011, the chain of command was "decimated," troops were not getting "proper pay" and training "went down the tubes," he said.
"If three or four years go by and you lack training, you lack money, you lack equipment, you lack spare parts and most importantly you lack a competent, capable, committed leadership, then you can certainly understand why units fell apart," Milley said.
Asked if forward U.S. air controllers were needed in Iraq, Milley said they would provide "more effective close-air support."
The step "should be seriously considered," he added later, noting that there would be "lots of issues with that, with security of our people."
Dempsey has rejected routine use of forward air controllers, but has indicated he might recommend them for important battles where they could affect the outcome.
Milley said he agreed with Dunford's recent comment that Russia posed the greatest threat to the United States because of its large nuclear arsenal and its behavior in recent years.
"The activity of Russia since 2008 has been very, very aggressive," he said. "They've attacked and invaded Georgia, they've seized the Crimea, they've attacked into the Ukraine. That's worrisome."
Asked whether the United States should provide weapons to enable Ukraine to counter artillery and rocket fire from Russian-backed rebels, Milley said, "lethal equipment, I think, is something we should consider, and I would be in favor of lethal defensive equipment."
The United States has resisted providing defensive lethal weapons to Kiev due to concerns about escalating the conflict. But U.S. officials have indicated they are considering it.


Clic here to read the story from its source.