Military What was done is being undone...Iraq

Discussion in 'Free Speech Alley' started by mancha, Jun 12, 2014.

Page 21 of 31
  1. LaSalleAve

    LaSalleAve when in doubt, mumble

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    Aren't we doing exactly what they wanted us to do?
     
    LaSalleAve, Aug 8, 2014
    #201
  2. shane0911

    shane0911 Helping lost idiots find their village

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    What do you mean?

    Do we target those places? Of course not. They do however set up shop there for that very reason.

    If you mean getting involved at all then yeah you may have a point.
     
    shane0911, Aug 8, 2014
    #202
  3. red55

    red55 curmudgeon Staff Member

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    We left a stable regime and an adequate Iraqi Army. But Maliki set about dismissing Sunni Generals and definitely NOT trying to maintain a government consisting of Shiites and Sunnis. Some of those general are fighting for ISIS now. The Iraqi Sunnis are caught between a Shiite government that hates them and a radical Sunni terrorist organization that wants them to return to the 12th century. Now a potential genocide is happening regarding the Christians, Yazidis, and Kurds. We can't sit by and let that happen. On the other hand we can't get involved in another civil war in which both sides hate us. I think Malaki's government will be hung out to dry and our support will go to the Kurdish Peshmerga.

    Obama wanted to hold off from getting involved against ISIS until the Malaki government was replaced by a better one, but that is not happening. We definitely are not going to fight for Iraqi Shiites that refuse to fight for themselves. But the Kurds have alway cooperated with us and they are fighting, they deserve our help and apparently are going to get it. ISIS has some serious weaknesses if they have to go up against airpower. You can expect to see a bunch of the heavy equipment that we are shipping out of Afghanistan go to Kurdistan to bulk up the Kurds . . . armored Humvees, lots of MRAPs, APCs, AT weapons, and artillery. The Kurds will have to provide the infantry, but I would not be surprised to see US Apache helicopters providing close support.

    HWR is correct, airpower alone won't win this, but it can make a mess of ISIS logistics, which are trucks strung out along desert highways. It can suppress heavy artillery. Iraq is not like the densely populated Gaza strip. There is a lot of open country through which ISIS must pass to get to the cities that they control or desire to control. They can be pounded out there with little risk of civilian casualties. ISIS has acquired millions of dollars by looting banks in Mosul. Through diplomacy and possible covert action, we can work to prevent them from spending it on more munitions.
     
    red55, Aug 8, 2014
    #203
  4. uscvball

    uscvball Founding Member

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    This has not proven to be a smart move recently....."The Islamic State fighters have captured armored vehicles and other military hardware from Iraqi forces in a lightning sweep through the north earlier this year."


    They went after low-hanging fruit....Christians and Kurds in the region. And now we react. At this point ISIS is killing mercilessly to build a sense of fear and reputation. This action by the US was predictable. I have said all along, if we are going to engage, then do it quickly and decimate what we have to.

    ISIS gets money outside of looting banks. "Riyadh has taken pleasure in recent ISIS-led Sunni advances against Iraq's Shiite government, and in jihadist gains in Syria at Bashar al-Assad's expense.....Today, Saudi citizens continue to represent a significant funding source for Sunni groups operating in Syria. Arab Gulf donors as a whole -- of which Saudis are believed to be the most charitable -- have funneled hundreds of millions of dollars to Syria in recent years, including to ISIS and other groups. There is support for ISIS in Saudi Arabia, and the group directly targets Saudis with fundraising campaigns....income is also generated by activities such as smuggling (of oil, weapons, antiquities), extortion (e.g., the group levies around $8 million per month in "taxes" on local businesses), and other crimes (e.g., robberies, counterfeiting). The group's June 11 seizure of Mosul's central bank alone netted tens of millions of dollars (though U.S. officials note that the $400 million figure often cited in connection with the heist is not accurate).
     
    uscvball, Aug 8, 2014
    #204
  5. red55

    red55 curmudgeon Staff Member

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    Unlike the Shiites, the Kurdish Peshmerga is organized and fighting.

    Easier said than done. What you suggest will require US ground troops and re-engaging in in a Iraqi civil war. Not bloody likely. Despite their rhetoric ISIS is no threat to the United States.
     
    red55, Aug 8, 2014
    #205
  6. LaSalleAve

    LaSalleAve when in doubt, mumble

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    That's what I mean, getting involved at all.
     
    LaSalleAve, Aug 8, 2014
    #206
  7. Winston1

    Winston1 Founding Member

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    Oh yes our president has everything well in hand....NOT!! A few observations from the press.
    http://www.businessinsider.com/mich...day Friday) 2014-08-08&utm_content=emailshare

    Oh yes the Kurds has ISIS on the ropes http://www.businessinsider.com/phot...day Friday) 2014-08-08&utm_content=emailshare

    http://www.businessinsider.com/iraq...um=email&utm_source=alerts&nr_email_referer=1

    His plans are so well thought out http://www.businessinsider.com/forc...um=email&utm_source=alerts&nr_email_referer=1

    He has the middle eastern leaders eating out of his hand http://www.businessinsider.com/tony...um=email&utm_source=alerts&nr_email_referer=1
     
    Winston1, Aug 8, 2014
    #207
  8. red55

    red55 curmudgeon Staff Member

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    I knew it would not take Republicans long to try to make political hay during a crisis. Remember that this is all fallout from George W. Bush's blunder in taking down Iraq. Two $Trillion and counting.
     
    red55, Aug 8, 2014
    #208
  9. Winston1

    Winston1 Founding Member

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    No need to make hay when your opponent does everything for you. Yes W truly fucked up but Barry has followed him with some spectacular fails of his own.
     
    Winston1, Aug 8, 2014
    #209
  10. red55

    red55 curmudgeon Staff Member

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    Nothing to compare.
     
    red55, Aug 8, 2014
    #210
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