Mosul has fallen

[Thor]

Turkey has no intent of doing anything we would approve of in Syria. They want Assad gone more than they want ISIL defeated. Not that I wouldn't mind seeing Assad soaking into the desert their priorities are not ours.

The reason for their timing and their route of travel was intended to imitate the Kurds and remind them of what could be coming their way at any minute. Otherwise they wouldn't have paraded 100 tanks that have been stationed on the border for months through Kobani. They could have done this months ago, the fact that they did it now with no intent of impacting the outcome of the ISIL / Kurdish fighting shows they are following their own agenda and don't want to see any winners that don't help rebuild the Ottoman Empire. Things like Assad and Kurdistan don't fit into those plans.

 

[T.Lex]

I love books. I even love bad books. Recorded language - thoughts, feelings, events - is something that makes humans special. (Well, neanderthals might have been special like that, too, but that's a separate thread.)

While it does not compare to the horrific acts they commit against humans, this act is a crime against history.
Isis Burns Down Mosul Library, Destroys 8,000 Rare Books and Manuscripts

Islamic state (Isis) militants reportedly burned down the Mosul library and destroyed 8,000 rare books and manuscripts on Monday.
"ISIS militants bombed the Mosul Public Library. They used improvised explosive devices," said Ghanim al-Ta'an, the director of the library.
Local reports noted that the Islamic State militants refused to spare the library even after several elderly people in Mosul town pleaded them to.

 

[Thor]

Same story, differently millennium. It's this same flavor of jello that burned the library of Alexandria the first time. Of course they burned the books, people who read them think and might not agree with their favorite flavor.

I'm sure they'd burn my personal library too.

 

[jamil]

I'm guessing the caliphate is against an open internet.

 

[mrjarrell]

Progress in the battle for Tikrit is slow, but seemingly steady. IS has adopted some of Sadaam's tactics. Setting the oil fields on fire as they retreat.

Iraqi forces capture town and oil fields outside Tikrit

 

[mrjarrell]

The fighters on the ground and the planes in the air have managed to cut off the IS supply lines and have retaken a number of villages from the IS thugs. Looks like we aren't needed on the ground at all, now.

https://news.vice.com/article/anti-islamic-state-forces-cut-key-iraqsyria-supply-lines

 

[KG1]

The fighters on the ground and the planes in the air have managed to cut off the IS supply lines and have retaken a number of villages from the IS thugs. Looks like we aren't needed on the ground at all, now.

https://news.vice.com/article/anti-islamic-state-forces-cut-key-iraqsyria-supply-lines

Damn... I was just packing my bags.

 

[printcraft]

Damn... I was just packing my bags.

I sent your ticket via FedEx overnight so be on the lookout.
Some bad news for you: I can't get in touch with our squad leader for some reason, he's not answering my P.M.'s
Ninja gear has been confirmed at our destination awaiting us, local tribal leaders have it secured and have been paid accordingly.

 

[KG1]

I sent your ticket via FedEx overnight so be on the lookout.
Some bad news for you: I can't get in touch with our squad leader for some reason, he's not answering my P.M.'s
Ninja gear has been confirmed at our destination awaiting us, local tribal leaders have it secured and have been paid accordingly.

Roger. Shouldn't this classified information be restricted to a private email server?

 

[printcraft]

Roger. Shouldn't this classified information be restricted to a private email server?

Negative. Everybody knows that the NSA monitors all email traffic. They would never look in plain sight.

 

[mrjarrell]

IS is pressing the fight in Ramadi and it looks like they may be gaining ground against the Iraqi forces. The Iraqis want the US to step up their air support. Apparently, they aren't doing much these days.

https://news.vice.com/article/with-...amadi-iraqi-officials-demand-help-from-the-us

 

[Redhorse]

Someone may have mentioned this, but Rand Paul said that the Kurds should have their own country like I said awhile back.

Rand Paul Is Right?Give The Kurds A State

 

[ArcadiaGP]

For the first time in nearly 2,000 years, it's believed that Iraq's city of Mosul has no Christians left in it, 60 Minutes reports tonight

 

[printcraft]

For the first time in nearly 2,000 years, it's believed that Iraq's city of Mosul has no Christians left in it, 60 Minutes reports tonight

All according to plan........

Deal with it.

 

[KG1]

All according to plan........

Deal with it.

 

[mrjarrell]

The fight for Tikrit has taken a turn for the better. The Iraqi forces and their allies have driven IS out of the center of the city. Now they just have to continue the push and not let them escape.

Iraqi forces take back cental Tikrit from ISIL

 

[mrjarrell]

Looks like the fight for Tikrit is now over. Let the looting begin.

Iraq: Tikrit victory gives way to looting and lawlessness - BBC News

 

[printcraft]

Hands up don't loot.

 

[mrjarrell]

Now that they've retaken Tikrit comes the horrifying job of exhuming the mass graves left behind.

https://news.vice.com/article/foren...spected-to-hold-bodies-of-1700-iraqi-soldiers

 

[T.Lex]

(Tagging, so I can repost the link tomorrow.)