re: 60 Iraqi battalions unaccounted for or defeated

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Iraqi units are probably a bit smaller. Maybe even half the size.

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It would be a safe estimate to reduce the organizational size of the units one level. Battalions become companies, companies become platoons. most of these units were checkpoint warriors or out on leave during this time frame. After watching the ISIS guys hit the checkpoints I imagine most of the units that were destroyed had 4-10 guys in a checkpoint asleep of making coffee and probably had limited ammo from which to stage a resistance. ISIS was fantastic at executing those operations with basically the equivalent of 2 squads of dudes hitting the CP hard and breaching with RPGs and satchel style charges. Some of those attacks began with a SDM taking out one or two guys on the roof and pinning down the fortified MG positions, then they wen hey little diddle up the middle and popped the Army at close range. I was actually a little bit proud of how well planned these ops went. I could do without the head cutting stuff though. little over the top for me. The truth is that the Iraqi army got hit while in their Alamo positions and were not ready at all. When they re consolidate their only option will be to rejoin the Government forces and copy the tactics used against them. I also expect to see a lot of bombs being used to cut off egress routes around Tal Afar and West Mosul. These poor Iraqi kids are going through another hellacious bout of stupidity and I feel for them, terribly.