Mosul has fallen

[mrjarrell]

Looks like allowing the Kurds to cross the border and fight may have to do with Obama calling Erdogan. The US has also dropped arms and supplies to the Kurdish troops defending Kobane.

Kerry: 'Irresponsible' not to aid Kurds against IS - Houston Chronicle

 

[T.Lex]

Looks like allowing the Kurds to cross the border and fight may have to do with Obama calling Erdogan. The US has also dropped arms and supplies to the Kurdish troops defending Kobane.

Kerry: 'Irresponsible' not to aid Kurds against IS - Houston Chronicle

I wonder at what cost. Turn away when Turkey fights the Kurds on a homeland?

 

[mrjarrell]

I wonder at what cost. Turn away when Turkey fights the Kurds on a homeland?

Couldn't say at this point. That will likely be up to a future administration as this current conflict is going to be going on for years. The Kurds worked out a peace deal with the Turks and it looks like it may still be in effect, (even though Turkey broke the terms of the deal by bombing the Kurdish forces). I'd rather side with the Kurds than Turkey anyway. They strike me as more honourable and a better regional "friendly force" than the do nothing Turks.

 

[T.Lex]

I'd rather side with the Kurds than Turkey anyway. They strike me as more honourable and a better regional "friendly force" than the do nothing Turks.

I agree. But, we screwed the Kurds before. And, if Obama/Kerry promised Turkey that we'd stay out of it, they will try to hold a new administration to that.

Hopefully it was just some aid or more toys for their F-16s.

 

[mrjarrell]

Here's a different piece on the airdrops with a bit of a different take and more info. Looks like we dropped despite what Turkey might have wanted or thought. Good. Screw them.

https://news.vice.com/article/us-ai...e-turkey-to-allow-kurdish-peshmerga-into-town

 

[T.Lex]

Indeed, the plot thickens.

Looking forward to the books that will be written about this.

 

[Thor]

If there's anyone left to print them...or we have money to buy and read them...

Problem is this is still a low level political response. If the administration was serious we'd have had more airstrikes the first hour than we have had yet. It's like we're 'learning' (ignoring) lessons learned during Viet Nam, pin point strikes do little...wings of B-52s are far more convincing and attitude changing.

 

[Redhorse]

Couldn't say at this point. That will likely be up to a future administration as this current conflict is going to be going on for years. The Kurds worked out a peace deal with the Turks and it looks like it may still be in effect, (even though Turkey broke the terms of the deal by bombing the Kurdish forces). I'd rather side with the Kurds than Turkey anyway. They strike me as more honourable and a better regional "friendly force" than the do nothing Turks.

I'll be frank, the Kurds are the best ally we have in this mess.

 

[mrjarrell]

Looks like the Iraqis and the Kurds are making some headway against IS. It seems to be a slow and slogging advance to reclaim their territory, but it's a start. Lot's of IED's being left behind, too.

ISIL pounded as Iraqi and Kurd forces advance - Middle East

 

[ArcadiaGP]

The "jayvees" have surface-to-air missiles. I hear they get nukes at varsity level.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/27/w...n-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=1

 

[T.Lex]

In terms of potential harm, the SA-24 might even be as effective as a tactical nuke. If they were able to sneak one across a border, into maybe Ankara or Athens or Tel Aviv, and hit a civilian airliner, they could effectively shut down flights to that area for the foreseeable future. As the article notes, even hitting a plane into/out of Baghdad would be huge.

 

[Redhorse]

I feel like a hypocrite because at first I felt we should stay out and not go back but now I feel like we should send in special forces, Navy Seals, etc. to at least reinforce and train the Kurds. We can forget about the rest of the Iraqi army, they're worthless.

 

[ArcadiaGP]

ISIS shoots 30 in mass killing near Baghdad, official says | Fox News

 

[ArcadiaGP]

?No one saw this coming!? Recently released Gitmo detainees have reportedly joined ISIS | Twitchy

 

[T.Lex]

In other breaking news, the Pope remains Catholic.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

After elections, Obama starts ramping up the boots on the ground: Obama authorizes 1,500 additional U.S. troops for deployment to Iraq | Reuters

Feckless, utterly feckless.

 

[printcraft]

After elections, Obama starts ramping up the boots on the ground: Obama authorizes 1,500 additional U.S. troops for deployment to Iraq | Reuters

Feckless, utterly feckless.

obama was told to do that by the 2/3 of the country that didn't vote. He heard them loud and clear.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

obama was told to do that by the 2/3 of the country that didn't vote. He heard them loud and clear

If that is not a mandate, I do not know what would be.

 

[T.Lex]

A mandate would be +50% turnout with +67% voting a certain way. At least, that would be my go-by. With the turnouts the way they are, neither party ever gets a mandate.

To the topic - what bothers me is that they've given up any semblance of constancy of principle or consistency of policy. Doesn't matter what they say, all that matters is what feels right in the moment.

 

[9mmfan]

No surprise. Gas started going up around here too. After the elections, all bets are off.