In spite of US reports to the contrary, the United Arab Emirates have discontinued their combat role in the coalition arrayed against ISIS, according to the Associated Press;
The UAE dropped out of the group of countries conducting airstrikes against IS targets in Syria in December but has remained involved in noncombat roles, the officials said. They spoke only on condition of anonymity because the move has not been announced and they were not authorized to speak on the record.
Even after the UAE stopped flying the missions, the U.S. military has continued to suggest otherwise in its daily news releases about the air campaign. Each day it has stated, “Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Syria include the U.S., Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.”
So, while Jordan sees a need to increase their own activity in the skies over Syria and Iraq, the UAE has abrogated their agreement with Arab allies. Of course, if this had happened during the second Iraq War and an ally had stopped participating, this would be headline news that the Bush coalition was eroding. Instead we find the news on a back page of Stars & Stripes.
Heard a report earlier this morning that it was/is a temporary situation based upon the lack of recovery aircraft – something the US was supposed to provide. May be moot now. Assets may have been shuffled with all parties meeting their obligation.
No big surprise here why fight when you can pay someone else to do it for you.
Hard to be enthused about fighting when you’ve got relatives on both sides of the fence.
Someone in this (lack of) administration lied to the press?
Why is anyone surprised?
Meanwhile, Kurds in Iraq not backing down: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=08f_1423052632
Let France take their spot, and get some.
Supply the Kurds. Give them everything they need to keep the their fighting the IS going. The Kurds are fighters and even limited supplies are winning.I would bet my last dollar that the IS fear the Kurds. Best yet recoganize the Kurds as a nation. Best and most allay we have. Joe
Give the Kurds Syria on condition they make nice with all the allies. So many problems solved….
Well that’s another axis of evil partner right there.