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Mattis Spends 1st Full Day as DOD Sec Overseeing 31 Airstrikes On ISIS
By Charles Campbell / WesternJournalism.com
They don’t call him James “Mad Dog” Mattis for nothing.
The new secretary of defense spent his first full day on the job Saturday overseeing 31 military strikes against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. These included targeted runs from fighters, bombers and remote-operated drones.
The airstrikes are part of an ongoing military campaign called Operation Inherent Resolve that aims to destroy ISIS.
The Department of Defense said the attacks in Syria included two strikes near Bab, which engaged an ISIS tactical unit, destroyed an artillery piece and damaged a tactical vehicle; 22 strikes near Raqqa, which engaged 12 ISIS tactical units and destroyed nine fighting positions, two tunnels, two tanks, an improvised-bomb factory and an ISIS headquarters; and a strike near Dayr Az Zawr that destroyed two oil well heads.
In Iraq, the attacks included a strike near Rutbah, which engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a tactical vehicle, two weapons caches and a mortar; a strike near Beiji, which destroyed an ISIS tactical unit and a vehicle; a strike near Kisik, which destroyed a vehicle and an ISIS-held building; two strikes near Mosul, which engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed a vehicle-borne-bomb factory, a vehicle-borne bomb, a tank, three fighting positions and a vehicle; and a strike near Tal Afar, which engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a semi-truck and a command-and-control node.
In a letter sent to DoD employees under his command after his swearing in, the secretary of defense outlined how he plans to lead the Pentagon.
He said he is also determined to restore the American military to its former might.
“Every action we take will be designed to ensure our military is ready to fight today and in the future.” Mattis wrote. “Recognizing that no nation is secure without friends, we will work with the State Department to strengthen our alliances. Further, we are devoted to gaining full value from every taxpayer dollar spent on defense, thereby earning the trust of Congress and the American people.”
One of the Trump administration’s top priorities has been the destruction of ISIS.
During his inaugural address Friday, President Trump promised to “unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the Earth.”
In his maiden address to CIA officials, Trump reiterated his desire to defeat ISIS.
“We’ve been fighting these wars for longer than any wars we’ve ever fought. We have not used the real abilities that we have. We’ve been restrained. We have to get rid of ISIS. Have to get rid of ISIS. We have no choice. Radical Islamic terrorism,” the president told members of the CIA community at its headquarters in Langley, Va.
“This is evil. This is evil,” he added. “This is a level of evil that we haven’t seen. You’re going to go to it, and you’re going to do a phenomenal job.”
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That is how war whore’s roll. Arm them then kill them. Doubt it not. TBBP. DGIT.