Its obvious that we're about to launch a strike on Syria. So my question is simple. The Chemical Weapons can't be allowed to drift all over the Middle East (I'm talking about the weapons, not some gas....) and possibly fall into the hands of AQ, so what would it take to secure them?
I'm thinking its going to be an all hands on deck affair.
* The stockpiles are probably in several different locations.
* The dictator or his minions will probably seek to grab a few themselves before the fall as negotiating chips to a comfortable life after the fighting. AQ is already in country so it'll be a race to get their first.
* If they're in warheads or containers, Chemical Weapons are heavy. Destroy in place or move them out of country? If you attempt to move them then you're looking at a massive air or sea logistics problem.
You know I love my war fiction but in even trying to do a make believe outline of the fighting this thing is hairy. Oh and be advised. This issue is coming sooner or later...unless we leave the dictator in power. But anyway this is my order of battle for the US (hopefully we can count on the Brits, Australians, Italians, Spain, Danes, Dutch, French and damn near everyone else in this effort)....
* The entire Ranger Regiment. This is pure raid work and they do it well. But 3 Battalions of Rangers won't be enough.
* MARSOC. They're essentially maritime Rangers so they get to play in this scenario.
* 22nd MEU. Cobras used to provide cover for the Assaulters. MV-22s to carry out casualties. And the BLT to secure a beachhead if we're going to be taking the weapons out. Not sure how I'm gonna approach this. Might be better to simply destroy them in place.
* 3 Aircraft Carriers. We're going to need air cover and plenty of it. A continuous CAP with the added burden of a massive CAS effort to go with it.
I'm still trying to figure this out, but this really looks like the mission from hell.
UPDATE; Maybe I'm making it harder than it should be. Maybe we can leave it to the Air Force and drop MOABs on it.
I'd say a few W80s should do the trick. ;)
ReplyDeletenuclear weapons to take out chemical weapons? it works, although i was leaning toward thermobarics attached to MOABS
DeleteYup, nuke em from orbit - it's the only way to be sure. ;-)
DeleteI took a pic of that very bomb two weeks ago. ;-)
ReplyDeleteyeah that's gotta be cool. whats with the AF CRF? they get no publicity.
Delete"when Syria falls?"
ReplyDeleteI could be wrong, but wasn't the purpose of the proposed strike just to take out the chemical weapons sites with cruise missiles and airstrikes not actually topple the regime?
you're missing my point. eventually someone is going to win this war and if its the rebels then we would want to secure those missiles. if assad wins then we can go back to status quo.
Deleteyou're right, we aren't seeking to topple the govt, but what happens next should be on the Pentagons map.
all i'm doing is looking into a possible future and figuring out how things might play out.
Oh. I get what your're saying now
DeleteDebka, I know not very reliable, is saying that the Saudis and French have jet fighters in Jordan.
ReplyDeletehttp://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/08/27/20209022-military-strikes-on-syria-as-early-as-thursday-us-officials-say?lite
NBC is announcing that strikes could come in by Thursday?!? I am guessing we already have ground forces operating inside Syria then and we should have pretty good Intel where everything is...
Sol,
ReplyDeleteTake a look:
http://www.dtra.mil/docs/system-documents/DTRA_Fact_Sheet_-_23_May_2012.pdf?sfvrsn=0
http://www.dtra.mil/docs/system-documents/dtra-and-scc-wmd-overview-briefing---cleared-for-public-release.pdf?sfvrsn=2
http://www.stratcom.mil/factsheets/USSTRATCOM_Center_for_combating_Weapons_of_Mass_Destruction/
It is moving very quickly with the developments of CONOPS. A quick side note: When I was in Stuttgart, the FSA had a cookie sale and giving fliers in English and German on the Koenigstrasse and Neues Schloss. I wonder who was watching who.
FSA handing out cookies at a german mall???!!!!! AMAZING! yeah they have the west lined up for a strike and we're letting them do it easily.
Deletei wonder how many cells will be activated once we get moving....i'm betting some of those attacks against us will be coordinated.
this will not be a free hit. we'll pay in some form or fashion.
The German's were said to be sitting out this adventure.
DeleteAbout 650,000 boots. Actual trigger pullers and not support. However the guy that suggested a similar thing for the 2003 Iraq invasion was minimized and gotten rid of. I would figure that a down payment of $50-60B in war costs would get it going. Then about $4B per week in ops and sustainment costs, for... the foreseeable future. But hey, we are only $17T in debt with more coming.
ReplyDeleteMassive delivery of Napalm on Chemical facility, plus collateral dommages on jihadists if possible : Too nice to be true.
ReplyDeleteWrong side, the Jihadists are on the side of the rebels, you are bombing Assad. Which should be a hint on what a balls up this is. We helping bomb the enemy of people who have a death vendetta against us.
DeleteWonderful... :(
Those Arliegh Burke class Destroyers are nothing to shrug off.
ReplyDeleteFour DDG which are the same tonnage as WW2 Cruisers, can haul 90 cruise missiles x four is total 360 Tomahawks carrying 1,000 lb of anything from leaflets to a 200 Kt nuclear warhead. That is 360,000 lb of explosive power combined.
There are two MK 46 torpedo tubes, two 25 mm chain guns, One 5 inch rapid fire auto cannon, a Phalanx CWIS, standard SAM missiles and a unit that can remotely operate in mine hunting/killing. These Ships also carry two rigid inflatable boats and no doubt has the capability to haul SEALS. Not to forget the RIM anti ballistic missile package. Two M-60H Seahawks for LAMPS and ASW. RUM 139 ASROC.
These four ships with the right plan could remove Syria from the roles of a cohesive nation and society while taking out the military and the FSA.
Too utterly destroy the place though does not destroy the weapons or their depots and launch systems.
That will take Boots on the ground.
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fabsther: I wonder if the Obama Admin has thought through a strike that releases nerve agent in mass quantities on equally helpless Syrian's on both sides?
What's the blow back to causing a chemical weapons disaster such as the attack on Bari Italy December 2 1943?
What's the skinny on a war crime by misadventure for a Messiah of the left.
Probably need 2000-3000 DMPIs per day (for an unannounced time because you don't want to give the enemy any shred of hope) to give them a serious hurt. That includes targeting all police stations and fire departments (brigades). Of course, POL, electrical grids, microwave and radio towers (or any structure that has such a thing) bridges, train hubs, ports, all political and government buildings and so on. And you don't even need an all PGM strike for that. Once IADS are for sure down, radar and radar-offset bombing with dumb-iron, is good enough. Otherwise they really know we are not serious and this is just one big joke on the American voter (and the Constitution. Well, currently it is one big joke on our Constitution as no declaration of war has been asked of Congress.
ReplyDeleteI've just read that there could be 50 locations at which chemical weapons might be present. Also at least some of these locations are near population centers. While Assad is in power I doubt any action will be taken to destory or secure these weapons. I suspect military action by the American's will involve cruise missle attacks against Syrian airforce bases.
ReplyDeleteWe don't want to oust Assad. We simply want him to stop using chemical weapons. If we do need to be seen to do something militarily, this may be a good option.