Now I Have Embedded Americans. Ho-Ho-Ho

Iraqi forces on the front in eastern Mosul, on that side of the Tigris River, are in a pause to refit after grinding away at the ISIL defenders, inflicting losses as the Iraqis took a good portion of that side of the city. Is the big push into western Mosul about to kick off? Perhaps a nice traditional American Christmas Day assault?

Well, this is late-week news from the Mosul offensive:

U.S. forces assisting Iraqi troops to retake Mosul from Islamic State are embedding more extensively, a senior commander said on Friday, a move that could accelerate a two month-old campaign which has slackened after quick initial advances.

Does this mean that American forces are now embedding with the Iraqi troops south of Mosul on the west bank of the Tigris River, where American artillery and helicopter gunships are present and able to lend support?

I've been waiting for the big push from the southwest for some time now.

Is Christmas Day tagged--again--for a blow against the enemy? I'd go on Christmas Eve--there are darned few Papists in ISIL ranks too celebrate too hard on the 25th if current open source intelligence is accurate--if it was up to me.

But perhaps that's just me and my affection for a Die Hard Christmas.