U.S. Watches As Iraq Speeds Toward Disaster
Fighters for the al Qaeda-linked Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) took Mosul today, giving the militant group control of Iraq’s second largest city and setting the country on a path toward chaos.ISIS militants already control Fallujah, a city that American Marines took in 2004 in what was the bloodiest battle of the Iraq War. Now, with both Mosul and Fallujah under their control, nearly half of Iraq is in the grips of a group that is a formal affiliate of a terrorist group.
Equally troubling are the circumstances under which the city fell. Iraqi security personnel simply abandoned their posts, according to reports.This is problematic for a host of reasons. First, it shows that the American-trained Iraqi military is not adequate. Second, Iraqi soldiers left their weapons behind – giving ISIS a huge cache of equipment.
But the most disturbing aspect of the desertion is what Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki proposed to replace the missing troops. In an address to the nation Tuesday, he called on Iraqi citizens to take up arms against ISIS in an attempt to retake the city.
“We will not allow for the remainder of the ... province and the city to fall," he said, adding that he would arm them. “This requires all efforts, both civilian and official, to confront this ferocious attack that harms all Iraqis, from a deteriorating security situation to a humanitarian crisis.” More at the LINKAnd the comments at this post are a scathing indictment on Barack Obama:
Lee 2 hours ago 0 72
Iraq is being over run by terrorists, Iran is getting the bomb, we've traded the five most dangerous terrorists in Gitmo for a known deserter and possible collaborator, illegals are getting free unhindered taxi rides into the country courtesy of the border patrol instead of being stopped, illegal executive orders have replaced legislation and the Constitution, illegal rules put in place by the EPA will shut down the coal industry and millions more jobs, energy rates "will necessarily skyrocket", any new jobs are almost all low paying part time service jobs, obamacare is a disaster even tho he keeps "delaying" the worst effects, 17+ trillion in debt, illegal felons being released by the tens of thousands. Welcome to obama's America
Nan 1 hour ago 0 19
This is what happens when you go into a war that your leader does not want to win but would rather have a "political settlement." This is what happens when you have a leader that is a community organizer rather than a leader and commander in chief. Thank you Barack Hussein. Your political settlements in Iraq are not working out are they? Your political settlement in Afghanistan will end the same way. All those dead and wounded Americans for your settlements?
Of all the foreign policy blunders, missteps, goofs, etc. this is the most sickening. The loss of American lives was tragic, but worthwhile if it spread democracy in the region and kept the terrorists on the defensive. But to see the lives thrown away in the process of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory is heartbreaking. Knowing that it was avoidable is even more sickening. Knowing that it is happening because our president at best, is incompetent and doesn't care, or at worst, wanted it to happen, is discouraging beyond words.
Moniker 37 minutes ago 0 2
When Obama visited Afghanistan two weeks ago, he did NOT pre-announce his actions. That would have been stupid.
However, Barry was VERY willing to announce our departure from Iraq and Afghanistan. Basically, he gave hope to insurgents. He was telling them, "Just hold on a bit longer and you'll win."
That was a betrayal to all of the locals who supported the USA. Al-Qa'eda et all could go to them and say, "See, your friends are leaving and we'll be here forever. You might as well support us now." The end result was MORE American casualties because of the loss of support from locals.
Never tell the enemy when you'll arrive or when you'll leave. Barry learned only half of that lesson.
Note: every one of these comments have positive "thumbs up" approval---including the 72 from the first post.
OUCH!
Update: Much more here from our friend Ed Morrissey:
