Relentless "precision" bombing in Iraq and Afghanistan. which is unfailingly successful.

The aerial bombardment of Iraq and Afghanistan is continuing and continuous - here is the latest sit rep from Air Link - follow link for full details.

Jan. 5 airpower summary: B1-B conducts precision strikes

In Afghanistan, an Air Force B1-B Lancer conducted several missions with bombs dropped against enemy combatants and positions. The B1-B dropped guided bomb unit-31s and GBU-38s on enemy compounds in Gereshk. Additionally, enemy positions and mortar sites located in the Asadabad area were hit with GBU-31s and GBU-38s. The joint terminal attack controller confirmed the strikes achieved the desired effects.

An Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle engaged enemy combatants by dropping a GBU-31 in Nangalam. Enemy personnel were in contact against coalition forces in the area. The strike destroyed the intended target.

Enemy firing positions were struck by GBU-31s dropped from a B1-B in Bari Kowt. The JTAC declared the mission as successful. (PS : we have yet to see a report where the JTAC says the attack was a complete f'ing abortion)

In Iraq, U.S. Navy F/A-18E Hornets engaged enemy mortar positions by dropping GBU-38s in Baghdad. A weapons cache was also struck during the strike. The mission was assessed as successful.

In total, coalition aircraft flew 50 close-air-support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions supported coalition ground forces, protected key infrastructure, provided over watch for reconstruction activities and helped to deter and disrupt terrorist activities.

As a guide to the intense levels of aerial activity: on Jan. 4, Air Force, RAF and French aerial refueling crews flew 40 sorties and off-loaded approximately 2.4 million pounds of fuel to 211 receiving aircraft.

Operation Enduring Freedom
Southwest Asia -- A B1-B Lancer Bomber prepares to take off and provide a show of force for coalition forces near Ad Diwaniyah. The bomber continues to play an important role in air operations conducted in Iraq and Afghanistan....it says here ... see pic. A B1 has a full internal bomb load capacity of 75,000 lbs.

Iranian "Special groups" targetted in Iraq ( or maybe they are being denied support )

On Jan. 3, The Washington Times reported that Colonel Steven Boylan, the spokesman for General David Petraeus said Iran's leadership has cut off support for the Special Groups. "We are ready to confirm the excellence of the senior Iranian leadership in their pledge to stop the funding, training, equipment and resourcing of the militia special groups," WaPo quoted Boylan.

Boylan immediately denied Iran has cut off support for the Special Groups. "[The Washington Times] misunderstood the context and intent of what I was saying," Boylan said to anyone who would listen and explained in a letter to the Press.

""We do not know if there has been a decrease in the supply of Iranian weapons," Boylan wrote. "It is not clear if Iran's leaders stopped supplying weapons or training to extremist elements in Iraq. We hope that they have, but until we can confirm it, we are in the wait and see mode. We have seen a decrease in the attacks using four specific types of Iranian weapons. However, this should not be misunderstood as anything other than lowered levels of attacks using these specific weapons." ... ' Zat clear to you guys... they haven't stopped ... well we have no evidence .. soo ...er ...well...we hope they have ...(always a very VERY sound military stratergerey.

Raids against the Special Groups occur (Correction : are reported on a daily basis) on a near daily basis. Since Dec. 27, 2007, when Coalition forces killed 11 Special Groups fighters in the city of Amarah, there have been six raids reported against the terror network. The Dec. 27 raid in Al Kut resulted in 11 Special Groups fighters killed. Al Kut is a strategic weapons distribution hub for the Special Groups.

Two days later, six Special Groups operatives were captured in a raid targeting a weapons trainer in the Ad Daghgharah area south of Baghdad. On New Year's Eve, Coalition forces captured the Special Groups recruiter and weapons trainer for Karbala Province.

On Jan. 2, Coalition forces captured another Special Groups weapons trainer in the Adhamiyah district in Baghdad. The next day, US soldiers found an explosively formed penetrator cache in the Amil neighborhood in Baghdad.

There were two separate raids against Special Groups cells in Diyala province on Jan. 5. A raid in the Huwaysh area netted a Special Groups leader who acted as "an intelligence source and financial facilitator" for the province. Eight suspected associates were also detained. A second raid in the Qasarin area resulted in the capture of a financial facilitator who also planned attacks in the province.

These Special Group guys seem to be like the magic porridge pot, the more of 'em you eat, the more come on by.

Anyways ... if you don't understand here is a quick vizzy that someone in Langley knocked up to explain the ratlines ...



Looks plenty clear enough from here ... now explain again why WaPO said Iran's leadership has cut off support for the Special Groups. .. and went on to quote Boylan ( mouthpiece for Gen. Petraeus) saying "We are ready to confirm the excellence of the senior Iranian leadership in their pledge to stop the funding, training, equipment and resourcing of the militia special groups"

...so the bottom line guys is VERY, VERY CLEAR ...things are going real well.

PS : Fascinating bit of personal history of Col Steven Boylan : Late in 2002, a day after a massive anti-American demonstration in Seoul, Boylan claimed that while in South Korea he was, while in civilian dress, surrounded by a group of three youths who chanted anti-American slogans and then "stabbed" or "knifed" him. This claim was unverifiable, to the extent that he did not require stitches. See interview with him at Newshoggers to understanbd this complex man. .."41-year-old Wisconsin native, recalled today. ‘’They attacked me, and I made a defensive maneuver (sic) . It was only when I made it back to post that I saw I had been stabbed.’’