Mosul has fallen

[jamil]

The airstrikes have emboldened the peshmerga. They've recaptured two towns.

Kurdish Forces Seize Back Two Towns From Insurgents: Kurdish Official

They shouldn't get too cocky. It's not like we have a reliable track record with them.

 

[ModernGunner]

Don't 'expect' the Lace-Panty-Wearer-In-Chief to do anything that remotely resembles 'good strategy'.

He's out of his league. He's always been out of his league. Had he put up a tent in NYC and held up crayon-made 'protest' signs for Occupy Wall Street, he still would've been out of his league.

He's incompetent, anti-American, and pro-terrorist, and he's never been anything other than incompetent, anti-American, and pro-terrorist.

Expect him to conduct himself accordingly.

 

[mrjarrell]

Actually, I think the Kurds and the Shia in the south would have a different recollection of whether they worked. Any other examples?

Regardless, I agree that it will take more than an American presence. Those other countries should participate. But, and this will likely be unpopular, the US should be prepared to proceed alone if necessary.

The exit strategy should be what it (in retrospect) should have been 10 years ago - 3 countries: Kurdistan, Central Iraq, and Southern Iraq. If nothing else, the latter 2 will be proxies for other nations to protect.

I could see a split in the future. The Kurds would certainly be up for it. As for US forces on the ground....don't hold your breathe. The American people wouldn't stand for it again.

 

[KG1]

What other option at this point is there short of re introducing combat troops, which is not a viable political option, but to arm the Kurds as "the boots on the ground" and provide air support?

Like it or not we just can't walk away at this moment.

 

[mrjarrell]

^^This. It's what we're doing and will continue to do. No-one is going to support sending US troops back there. And congress hasn't got the balls to sign a declaration of war.

 

[mrjarrell]

Some of the yazdi's who managed to make it out have flat out stated they're not going back, regardless of who wins. You can only take so much persecution.

https://news.vice.com/article/iraqs-yazidis-who-fled-to-refugee-camps-say-they-will-never-go-home

 

[Redhorse]

Looks like the CIA is seeing to the arming of the Kurds. Unfortunately, it's just small arms and not what they could really use. The Iraqis have smartened up some, too and are sending them supplies, too. Of course Maliki is making things worse by refusing to accept his ouster and that will only serve to embolden IS.

https://news.vice.com/article/the-us-arms-kurdish-troops-as-a-political-crisis-brews-in-baghdad

That idiot Maliki will be the death of Iraq.

I could see a split in the future. The Kurds would certainly be up for it. As for US forces on the ground....don't hold your breathe. The American people wouldn't stand for it again.

I'm all for an independent Kurdistan. What has Iraq did for them besides screw them over every way they can? The Kurds should declare independence once they have defeated IS and annex Kurdish lands in Syria. Why anyone ever thought Western made Iraq was a good idea is beyond me.

 

[T.Lex]

Nature abhors a vacuum. If the US is reluctant to lead, someone else will.

BBC News - Iraq crisis: France to deliver arms to Iraqi Kurds

Would be kinda cool to see Kurds fighting with FAMAS rifles. (+1bazillion for bullpup fans)

ETA: did some additional research and it looks like France is looking for a replacement for the FAMAS. So, there may be plenty available...

 

[Consciouscitizen18]

Considering they are fighting with US weapons and humvees and their leader was trained by Israel's Mossad, I think we know exactly what we're dealing with. Obama still failed to talk about the beheading of Christian children, he only mentioned execution of men. Either way the Caliphate is happening and with Obama's pro-Islam tendencies I can't see anything happening to stop them dead in their tracks and think airstrikes is as far as he will go until they're a national security threat; which they might already be due to the open border.

 

[mrjarrell]

Finally! Maliki has decided to step aside and accept that there will be a new PM. Maybe this will help swing things in a better direction.

Maliki steps down as Iraqi prime minister - Middle East

 

[mrjarrell]

The Kurds are getting a few new weapons, but they're small arms. AK's aren't going to help against the tanks the IS got from the Iraqi army.

https://news.vice.com/article/to-defeat-islamic-state-kurds-say-theyll-need-bigger-guns

 

[mrjarrell]

Air strikes around the captured damn and a massacre of Yazhdi's near Sinjar.

US jets strike near Iraq's largest dam - Middle East -

 

[mrjarrell]

700 people murdered by IS in Syria, for refusing to join them.

Islamic State group 'executes 700' in Syria

 

[jamil]

700 people murdered by IS in Syria, for refusing to join them.

Islamic State group 'executes 700' in Syria

Yet IS and Israel are exactly the same. I heard it on youtube.

 

[printcraft]

Yet IS and Israel are exactly the same. I heard it on youtube.

Wait a tick! I heard (right here on INGO) that the reason there is so much turmoil in the middle east is BECAUSE of the jews.

This is muslim killing muslim.......... I don't understand..............

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

Wait a tick! I heard (right here on INGO) that the reason there is so much turmoil in the middle east is BECAUSE of the jews.

This is muslim killing muslim.......... I don't understand..............

Bush.

George Bush.

It's all his fault...I can't believe you forgot.

 

[jamil]

Bush.

George Bush.

It's all his fault...I can't believe you forgot.

Tried to rep you earlier. No deal. I'm sure I can't now.


Nope.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

Tried to rep you earlier. No deal. I'm sure I can't now.


Nope.

 

[ArcadiaGP]

BBC News - Kurdish forces 'break IS hold on Mosul dam'

Yazidi Volunteers Prepare to Fight Back Against ISIS Militants - NBC News

 

[mrjarrell]

Looks like the IS has beheaded an American journalist they captured a while back and are threatening to do the same to another they currently hold captive, if Obama doesn't halt airstrikes. Here's hoping the journalists family is prepared for the inevitable.

Kidnapped journalist James Wright Foley apparently executed by ISIS | MSNBC