"Square miles liberated" doesn't differentiate between populated areas and empty desert, nor the strategic value of various locations. Most maps of ISIS-held territory linked the towns and roads it controlled and colored in the territory in between. A lot was unpopulated. 3/
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Most important location--and toughest fighting--was Iraqi city of Mosul. The offensive to surround Mosul was March 2016 - Sept 2016. The battle for the city from Oct 2016 - July 2017. The timing shows it makes no sense to attribute it to one president. 4/
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America's strategy was largely consistent once the ground campaign began in 2015. The one significant change under Trump is a loosening of the rules of engagement regarding civilian casualties. 5/
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Loosening the ROE may have helped the tough block-by-block battle for Mosul (and a similar, though less intensive attack on Raqqa) advance more quickly than it otherwise would. But at the cost of more civilian casualties. 6/
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The graphic's stat on the number of bombs dropped reflects the change in ROE. Under Trump, 3250 per month. Under Obama, 2267 per month. 7/
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It's debatable whether reducing concern for civilian casualties was beneficial. Without it, the campaign may have taken longer, leading to more casualties for the Iraqi and Kurdish forces leading the ground assault. 8/
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But reducing concern for civilian casualties likely contributed to tragedies like a strike in 2017 that killed over 100 innocents. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/mosul-us-air-strike-civilian-deaths-pentagon-latest-toll-a7755866.html … 9/
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Here's why the Fox graphic and accompanying narrative is so frustrating: The anti-ISIS campaign is an achievement for everyone: Iraqis and Syrians, Arabs and Kurds, Sunnis and Shia, many ethnic and religious minorities, and yes, Democrats and Republicans (and independents). 10/
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The US developed a strategy, and multiple presidential administrations carried it out. It should be a moment we can celebrate together, instead of yet another partisan division, stoked by distorted information. So very frustrating. (END)
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Thanks.
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