Counter terrorism expert: Soleimani’s death could influence Fort Drum’s future
AUSTIN, TX (WWNY) - The United States takes out a top Iranian military commander in an airstrike in Iraq and Iran vows harsh revenge. With conflict in the Middle East comes uncertainty about what could be next for the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum.
We've learned more about Qassem Soleimani and how he likely played a role in Fort Drum's past and how his death could influence its future.
It's safe to say not many in the north country know the name Qasem Soleimani, until now.
We spoke with a counter terrorism expert who knows this military commander's reputation well and he feels U.S. soldiers, including those deployed out of Fort Drum, are safer now that he's dead.
"We've kind of cut off the head of the snake from an Iranian military strategy perspective. So this could disrupt Iranian operations for quite some time which would be a positive thing to save lives, but then again the Iranians I don't think are just going to let this pass," said Fred Burton, vice president of Counter Terrorism, Stratfor.
Burton is a former counter terrorism special agent with the State Department, now working as a strategist in the private sector. He has studied Iran since 1981. He says the killing of Soleimani is significant for the U.S. and also Fort Drum.
Soleimani, he says, was at the top, choreographing Iranian military strategy in Iraq and Afghanistan - countries where the 10th Mountain Division has been deployed to numerous times since 2001, wars which have killed dozens of Fort Drum soldiers.
“Iran, since 1979, has a long history of American and Israeli blood on their hands and General Soleimani is the latest in a long line of individuals that were responsible for that,” said Burton.
As for what happens next - Burton says it's difficult to predict - but says the next few days are important.
"I think if we can get through the next 72 hours without some sort of immediate retaliation, I think they're going to sit back and look at strikes elsewhere, outside of the Middle East," he said. "The Iranians very much operate out of the playbook of an eye for an eye and I don't think they're going to let this one go. General Soleimani was too important to the Iranian regime."
Iran's next move will certainly determine what the U.S. does next and if it'll involve more troops going to the Middle East.
The United States announced it'll send 3,500 troops to Iraq after an attack at the U.S. embassy there. Those U.S. soldiers are with the 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
The question for the north country is: could a deployment come for the 10th Mountain Division? The division is known as one of the most deployed of the U.S. Army - a light infantry division trained to move out quickly.
"I have no doubt in my mind that the 10th Mountain Division is one that's at the top of the board for someone to reach out and say where could we use these folks 'cause we have a mission to safeguard Americans around the globe," said Burton.
We reached out to Fort Drum to get a better read on what, if anything, this escalation in the Middle East means for the 10th Mountain Division.
Fort Drum wouldn’t comment and referred us to the Department of Defense.
Source: https://www.wwnytv.com/2020/01/03/counter-terrorism-expert-soleimanis-death-could-influence-fort-drums-future/
We've learned more about Qassem Soleimani and how he likely played a role in Fort Drum's past and how his death could influence its future.
It's safe to say not many in the north country know the name Qasem Soleimani, until now.
We spoke with a counter terrorism expert who knows this military commander's reputation well and he feels U.S. soldiers, including those deployed out of Fort Drum, are safer now that he's dead.
"We've kind of cut off the head of the snake from an Iranian military strategy perspective. So this could disrupt Iranian operations for quite some time which would be a positive thing to save lives, but then again the Iranians I don't think are just going to let this pass," said Fred Burton, vice president of Counter Terrorism, Stratfor.
Burton is a former counter terrorism special agent with the State Department, now working as a strategist in the private sector. He has studied Iran since 1981. He says the killing of Soleimani is significant for the U.S. and also Fort Drum.
Soleimani, he says, was at the top, choreographing Iranian military strategy in Iraq and Afghanistan - countries where the 10th Mountain Division has been deployed to numerous times since 2001, wars which have killed dozens of Fort Drum soldiers.
“Iran, since 1979, has a long history of American and Israeli blood on their hands and General Soleimani is the latest in a long line of individuals that were responsible for that,” said Burton.
As for what happens next - Burton says it's difficult to predict - but says the next few days are important.
"I think if we can get through the next 72 hours without some sort of immediate retaliation, I think they're going to sit back and look at strikes elsewhere, outside of the Middle East," he said. "The Iranians very much operate out of the playbook of an eye for an eye and I don't think they're going to let this one go. General Soleimani was too important to the Iranian regime."
Iran's next move will certainly determine what the U.S. does next and if it'll involve more troops going to the Middle East.
The United States announced it'll send 3,500 troops to Iraq after an attack at the U.S. embassy there. Those U.S. soldiers are with the 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
The question for the north country is: could a deployment come for the 10th Mountain Division? The division is known as one of the most deployed of the U.S. Army - a light infantry division trained to move out quickly.
"I have no doubt in my mind that the 10th Mountain Division is one that's at the top of the board for someone to reach out and say where could we use these folks 'cause we have a mission to safeguard Americans around the globe," said Burton.
We reached out to Fort Drum to get a better read on what, if anything, this escalation in the Middle East means for the 10th Mountain Division.
Fort Drum wouldn’t comment and referred us to the Department of Defense.
Source: https://www.wwnytv.com/2020/01/03/counter-terrorism-expert-soleimanis-death-could-influence-fort-drums-future/
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