Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The Iraqi "strategy" of actually putting up a fight seems to be working. Took them long enough.
They kind-of get a pass because the last US administration saw fit to disband the existing Iraqi Army, thus pushing a lot of officers to find work fighting for IS and others, but better late than never in defending their country.
Islamic State suffers double blow as Ramadi falls, leaders killed
U.S.-led forces have killed 10 Islamic State leaders in air strikes, including individuals linked to the Paris attacks, a U.S. spokesman said, dealing a double blow to the militant group after Iraqi forces ousted it from the city of Ramadi.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi planted the national flag in Ramadi after the army retook the city center from Islamic State, a victory that could help vindicate his strategy for rebuilding the military after stunning defeats.
"Over the past month, we've killed 10 ISIL leadership figures with targeted air strikes, including several external attack planners, some of whom are linked to the Paris attacks," said U.S. Army Colonel Steve Warren, a spokesman for the U.S.-led campaign against the Islamist group also known by the acronym ISIL.
All the while the "bad guys" start to grow in Afghanistan again.
WASHINGTON — Even as the Obama administration scrambles to confront the Islamic State and a resurgent Taliban, an old enemy seems to be reappearing in Afghanistan: Qaeda training camps are sprouting up there, forcing the Pentagon and American intelligence agencies to assess whether they could again become a breeding ground for attacks on the United States.
By the looks of it Ramadi is pretty much taken back, and Mosul is next. It seems the "Arab boots & US Air" (with special ops) is working. Good thing we did not rush into sending US ground forces.
Iraq's armed forces will move to retake the major northern city of Mosul from Islamic State once they capture the western city of Ramadi, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Friday.
Capturing Mosul would deprive the militant group of its biggest population center in both Iraq and Syria, effectively abolishing the state structure of IS in Iraq, depriving it of a major source of funding and dealing a blow to its influence.
The capture of Ramadi would give the army a major psychological boost in its move toward Mosul.
Good news, but I worry that I see an arrogance here.
#1 US Air ignores that there are many other countries bombing ISIS and that our air strategy had severe weaknesses.
#2 ISIS is a sect of an ideology more than a traditional country that just can be bombed into submission ala WWII. There are ISIS members in every western country, many willing to murder civilians given the right provocation.
Good news, but I worry that I see an arrogance here.
#1 US Air ignores that there are many other countries bombing ISIS and that our air strategy had severe weaknesses.
#2 ISIS is a sect of an ideology more than a traditional country that just can be bombed into submission ala WWII. There are ISIS members in every western country, many willing to murder civilians given the right provocation.
True, although US has conducted about 90% of the bombings, and yes, they won't disappear completely even if the territory is taken back, but when Mosul falls, their funding will drop by about 80% since their income comes largely from taxing the people in Mosul and Ramadi (not any more), and oil fields around Mosul.
Killing members of Isis will prove not to be the ultimate solution. This is a war between cultures; A culture clash of sorts. The only way to resolve this issue is to simply educate all concerned parties as to the origin of all the Abrahamic religions. We should employ mass media, schools, and universities in the proliferation of the actual truth about the true root of Judaism. Once this is done, the trunk will rot, and its branches will fall.
Instead of continuing this senseless slaughter of fellow human beings, we need to turn our collective attention to nuclear disarmament, cleaning up our environment, accessing our global resources, providing food, clean water, fortified housing, and a free education to all human beings. We should employ the scientific method in all future endeavors and not allow myths to pave our way to certain cataclysm.
All human religion is man-made. The mind rationalizes a conclusion whenever there no obvious one available. Hopefully, one day, we will understand that there really is no Santa Claus!
Mosul and Ramadi have been "taken" from insurgents numerous times, only for them to regain the territory a few years down the line. The Iraqi Security Forces will give up like they always do, and AQI/ISI/ISIS/Whatever their name is in five years will have control over it again. I first deployed to Iraq and 2006, went another time in 2009, stayed there more time then I was actually at my home duty station in the states, and it's still the same bs. Saddam was a jackass, but he had the country under control. Two scenarios where Iraq will finally get it together:
1. The people will actually get their acts together and take back their country from these insurgents rather than work with them (less likely)
2. Some ruthless dictator like Hussein comes in and starts lopping heads until he strikes fear into the hearts of the oppositional forces (more likely)
3. (BONUS OPTION) Iraq gets wiped off the face of the Earth and starts fresh (least likely)
Mosul is in Ninewa province, Ramadi is in Al-Anbar province; I know both those places well. These two cities get "secured" and ISIS will just go hide in Fallujah, or Tal Afar, or Sinjar, or Al-Qaim, just like they did when my unit was there and we pulled out. They'll come right back and wreak havoc again.
The only way this works is if a prick like Saddam is in power and if that happens the question can be asked, what was the point to begin with?
They weren't defeated, they are just sitting back waiting for things to calm down again.
Pretty much. You need a heavy hand to rule those people. I imagine after this calms down you will have a similar reality like you had in Egypt. With a Saddam like character taking power and returning Iraq to what it was before.
It has been a heck of a lot longer than 7 years, but it is not pointless. Iraqis have good reasons to kick ISIS out of their territory.
I suppose everybody has to have a hobby.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
