The July 4 airstrikes on Islamic State (ISIS) targets in Syria were a good move, but they need to continue on a regular basis, Gen. Michael Hayden told
Newsmax TV.
"It was more than we have done in the past," the former NSA and CIA director told "Newsmax Prime" on Monday. "That's a good trend line. We should continue and reinforce that trend line."
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A total of 16 airstrikes targeted ISIS-controlled buildings and transit routes at the same time Americans were getting ready to watch Independence Day fireworks. They also came as Americans were braced for possible terrorist activity on U.S. soil amid heightened warnings from the government.
"The timing, Fourth of July weekend, but also right before the president was going to be going to the Pentagon, it does appear to be some degree of showmanship on one level," said Col. Derek Harvey, former intelligence officer and former adviser to Gen. David Petraeus.
The attacks appeared to show that the United States was after ISIS's infrastructure more than its leadership, Hayden said.
"And also — and this is really important — to rip away from them this narrative that they're unstoppable and invincible," he said. "So in that sense, it was a good thing."
President Barack Obama didn't say anything new
in his press conference Monday after meeting with top Pentagon officials, Harvey said, just more of the same as has been over the past nine months.
As a result, uniformed military personnel are likely to be unhappy, but won't voice their frustrations publicly. The dissent is more likely to come from Congress, he said.
"I can assure you that the members of the armed forces are frustrated," he said. "They feel as if their presence in Iraq and Syria is under-resourced and overregulated, and they would like to see a bit more resources added, not maneuver brigades in the desert. And they'd like more freedom of action, to do the kinds of things that the forces that are already there are more capable of doing."
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