Pentagon rebukes Trump proposal for more airstrikes

Donald Trump's assertion that more airstrikes are needed in Iraq and Syria to prevent terrorist attacks like the mass shooting in Orlando drew rebukes from the Pentagon and others across the political spectrum who have prosecuted the war on terrorism — including some who warned it could make matters worse, Politico newspaper reported. 

"We have to really increase the bombings," the presumptive Republican presidential nominee told "Fox and Friends" after he was asked about Daesh's claim of credit for the attack by an American Muslim who pledged his allegiance to the group during the massacre that killed 49 people and wounded 53.

Trump also asserted that unnamed military leaders agree with him. "We have generals who think we can win this thing so fast and so strong but we have to be furious for a short period of time and we're not doing it," he said.

But the position that more airstrikes are the answer to the worst mass shooting in American history was not widely supported among those with direct experience

"I don't see how Orlando would cause us to change our operations. We're already at war with ISIL, and are already working to accelerate that campaign wherever we can," said Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, who was asked about the need for a different war strategy and not specifically about Trump's remarks.

The Pentagon's recent top adviser on the military campaign went further, arguing Trump's proposal could make the homegrown Islamic terror threat worse. 

"I fundamentally disagree," said retired Army Lt. Gen. Mick Bednarek, who served as the chief US military adviser in Iraq from 2013 to 2015. "The bottom line is [more bombing] has absolutely no bearing on individuals like Omar Mateen in Orlando, who obviously had some mental issues — like his absolute hatred of gays, lesbians and transgender community. Just wantonly increasing bombing against extremist radical groups in Iraq, Syria, etc. is not going to have a bearing on individuals in the United States and change their behavior."

"It is completely apples and oranges," Bednarek added. "I think the presumptive Republican nominee has really not thought through second-order effects of his perspective of what would truly make a difference to stem the tide of these challenges." 

Juan Zarate, a top terrorism adviser to then-President George W. Bush, also questioned Trump's logic.

"There is no question that you have to deny the Islamic State sanctuary and the sense of momentum in order to deflate their ideology and attractiveness," he said. 

Source ; MENA