Iraq seems to be going well....

[line-em-up]

Were used here before. The North, when they came through, did this same thing. It strikes fear into the citizenry and makes them either surrender or join your side or watch their families die and their property destroyed or confiscated. This isn't new, not even in our lands.

I am just imagining how they could have started with a thousand men with small arms and took over a smaller city, collecting larger arms and military equipment. As they went along the way, they knocked over a bank and collected $420 million. Now, they have tanks, Humvees, large arms, money, etc. They are as well equipped as a large army. Of course, I am just talking out my ass because I don't really know.

[CJ]

I am just imagining how they could have started with a thousand men with small arms and took over a smaller city, collecting larger arms and military equipment. As they went along the way, they knocked over a bank and collected $420 million. Now, they have tanks, Humvees, large arms, money, etc. They are as well equipped as a large army. Of course, I am just talking out my ass because I don't really know.

And no one has mentioned the billions of dollars in oil they will secure. Al Qaeda will be better funded than most countries. Obama has created a problem that will most likely cost the lives of many more Americans. And he did it for his own self image. This is what happens when you elect a community organizer to run the most powerful country. You can only feign competence for so long.

[talisman]

When has he ever appeared competent? lol

[CJ]

When has he ever appeared competent? lol

He appears competent now if you watched the liberal networks. The media fakes it for him every day. Yesterday I listened to 4 ABC radio newscasts, not a single time did they mention what was happening in Iraq. Instead, they talked about Bo Bergdahl returning home, and how grateful his poor family was, and how brave and courageous Obama was for freeing him.

[line-em-up]

I found an article relating to the Iraq issue on MSN. I had to dig to find it, though.

Young Iraqis volunteer to fight surging militants

http://news.msn.com/world/young-iraqis-volunteer-to-fight-surging-militants

[samuel642000]

In what way? If we didn't, what opportunities did we miss to accomplish this? And I'm not being sarcastic, I'm genuinely interested in the perspective of people who were there.

My simple answer is, the people in charge over here, out of harms way, that for the majority have never been in harms way, were more concerned with how we were percieved rather than getting the job done. i.e. putting SEALs on trial for punching a known terrorist in the mouth.

I tend to side more with Frost on the issue, and kbscobravert hit it on the head as well.


EDIT** The ROEs can suck a fat dick.

[CJ]

My simple answer is, the people in charge over here, out of harms way, that for the majority have never been in harms way, were more concerned with how we were percieved rather than getting the job done. i.e. putting SEALs on trial for punching a known terrorist in the mouth.

I tend to side more with Frost on the issue, and kbscobravert hit it on the head as well.

exactly, it's all about image.

[HarrisonTX]

Looks like a carrier is headed towards the gulf.

http://news.yahoo.com/pentagon-orders-aircraft-carrier-gulf-case-iraq-military-163630548.html;_ylt=AwrBEiKPepxTQnkAbcXQtDMD

[racrguy]

He appears competent now if you watched the liberal networks. The media fakes it for him every day. Yesterday I listened to 4 ABC radio newscasts, not a single time did they mention what was happening in Iraq. Instead, they talked about Bo Bergdahl returning home, and how grateful his poor family was, and how brave and courageous Obama was for freeing him.

I listened to NPR (which has been labeled as liberal by more than a few here) most of yesterday evening and I experienced mostly the opposite. Iraq was the hot topic, Bratt was second and bergdahl got barely a mention.

Personally, I think Obama is going to be crucified no matter what choice he makes. If he does nothing hoping to force a regime change to get rid of al-Maliki he risks losing the oil fields. If he steps in to bail the Iraqi government out he chooses a side in what very well may end up a sectarian civil war, as al-Maliki hasn't been anything close to inviting of the Sunni, Arab, and Kurdish populations into government in Iraq.

[CJ]

I listened to NPR (which has been labeled as liberal by more than a few here) most of yesterday evening and I experienced mostly the opposite. Iraq was the hot topic, Bratt was second and bergdahl got barely a mention.

Personally, I think Obama is going to be crucified no matter what choice he makes. If he does nothing hoping to force a regime change to get rid of al-Maliki he risks losing the oil fields. If he steps in to bail the Iraqi government out he chooses a side in what very well may end up a sectarian civil war, as al-Maliki hasn't been anything close to inviting of the Sunni, Arab, and Kurdish populations into government in Iraq.

It's a long standing tradition in that country to isolate the ancillary regions and people, Saddam did the same thing. He solved it by complete and total dictatorship. Hell, he gassed the Kurds. It's business as usual for Iraq, and the world was okay with it before, and they will be okay with it again, I doubt he will take any heat for that at all. The oil fields and the money is what worries the world.

[Forever_frost]

After the capture of Mosul by Islamist militants of ISIS rumors spread across social media for days that the Mosul airport contained a fleet of American loaned Blackhawk Helicopters given to security forces by the United States.

Today, the Islamist States of Iraq and Syria (“ISIS”) are confirming with the above image that they have indeed, seized control and have begun to operate at least one of these aircraft.

Iraqi officials are also confirming that at least one Blackhawk is now in the hands of ISIS militants and has already been used to attack military positions of the Maliki government.

http://conservativebyte.com/2014/06/terrorists-fly-american-blackhawk-helicopter-iraq/

[turboford]

After the capture of Mosul by Islamist militants of ISIS rumors spread across social media for days that the Mosul airport contained a fleet of American loaned Blackhawk Helicopters given to security forces by the United States.

Today, the Islamist States of Iraq and Syria (“ISIS”) are confirming with the above image that they have indeed, seized control and have begun to operate at least one of these aircraft.

Iraqi officials are also confirming that at least one Blackhawk is now in the hands of ISIS militants and has already been used to attack military positions of the Maliki government.

http://conservativebyte.com/2014/06/...licopter-iraq/

Everyone of those aircraft needs to be destroyed immediately. Hopefully they didn't leave any Abrams or Bradleys

[Forever_frost]

You know they did. Obama was determined to get out immediately

[KBScobravert]

I got an email returned from a buddy of mine in BIAP who is a Security Coordinator with PAE. He said that Balad is empty at this time of all US Expats and FNs according to the reports and indicators he has received. "They poured a lot of money and prep into getting that place ready for the F-16 training mission. Too bad. Back to square 1, eh?"......"The fog of war is in full swing.....real intel is uncovered after the fact....24 or 48 hours after the events went down. Hard to say what is going on real time. As I said though, it is no where near as bad as its made out to be"

"Taji is still in place with SOSI not going anywhere (US Expats, Indian and Napalis Subs, some Africans and other Balkan FNs there working). A lot of folks were rattled but a horde of Baghdad Iraqi's (MAM'S) hired on and have augmented the GOI Military (Militias) and they have begun wrestling control of some of the ISIL captured towns back as they move northward."

"A quick snapshot of the poorly supported, poorly led and left to fend for themselves Iraqi military who fled the fight from Mosul as there was NONE to rally, inspire or lead them in their conflict up north in Mosul shows us the GOI "big army" is corrupt as sin. Many of their leaders are on the take and completely unqualified as officers to be in the positions they are in.............a world class debacle for the Maliki gov't - there be NO DOUBT about that."

"I think ISIL was hoping to inspire an arab spring type uprising as they swept south but they didn't have the combat power, strength, and size of the force to make it to Baghdad."

[Forever_frost]

Operator as fuck
Yesterday at 13:34 ·

Our brother Grifter is on the ground in Baghdad right now filling sand bags and getting ready for the fight of his life. He has written his death letter and I have instructions to release it to you all as his final blog in "Musings of a grey man" should he perish. There is much much more I want to say right now but I can't. The upside to this is ISIS has not had a legitimate fight yet. This will be a legitimate fight.