Iraqis 'up against the wall' as ISIS threatens province near Baghdad
Source: http://us.cnn.com/2014/10/10/world/meast/isis-thre
A key province near Iraq's capital is in trouble amid an onslaught from ISIS forces, the U.S. defense secretary said Friday, signaling the Islamist extremist group is continuing to flex its muscles and expand its territory -- on several fronts -- despite international airstrikes.
Speaking to reporters during his travels in South America, U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said there's a lot of uncertainty about what will happen with Anbar province, which is just west of Baghdad.
These comments are in alignment with those of a senior U.S. defense official who told CNN that Iraqi forces are "up against the wall" in Anbar. Some units are in danger of being cut off by the advancing militants, who call themselves members of the Islamic State.
Read more: CNN
Video at link. This is just nuts. It's also where the action is, as opposed to Kobani which is more of a media spectacle and a Kurd/Turkey story. That suits Isis fine while they strangle Baghdad.
flamingdem
(39,308 posts)Islamic State fighters are threatening to overrun Iraqs Anbar province
BAGHDAD Islamic State militants are threatening to overrun a key province in western Iraq in what would be a major victory for the jihadists and an embarrassing setback for the U.S.-led coalition targeting the group.
A win for the Islamic State in Anbar province would give the militants control of one of the countrys most important dams and several large army installations, potentially adding to their abundant stockpile of weapons. It would also allow them to establish a supply line from Syria almost to Baghdad and give them a valuable position from which to launch attacks on the Iraqi capital.
The Islamic States offensive in Anbar has received less attention than its assault on the Syrian border city of Kobane, which has played out in view of news photographers standing on hills in nearby Turkey. But in recent weeks, Islamic State fighters have systematically invaded towns and villages in Anbar, besieged army posts and police stations, and mounted attacks on Iraqi troops in Ramadi, the provincial capital.
The Islamic State secured a major foothold in Anbar province in January when it seized the city of Fallujah and parts of Ramadi. It pushed farther into the province in June, but Iraqs government was able to maintain small pockets of authority in the majority-Sunni region.
Iraqi forces have suffered numerous reverses in the latest jihadist offensive, including the loss of two army bases. U.S. warplanes and attack helicopters have hit Islamic State targets and provided support to Iraqi troops fighting in Anbar. The U.S. airstrikes helped fend off an assault last month on the Haditha Dam, part of the militants drive to control Iraqs water supplies. But overall, the strikes have failed to curb the militants momentum.
quakerboy
(13,915 posts)Last Id heard there were supposed to be 20 thousand fighters in ISIS.
And like 8 million people in Bagdad.
And Wikipedia says 200,000 Kurdish fighters.
There is no excuse for ISIS to be running over top of everyone else, unless there is something hinkey going on over there.
CJCRANE
(18,184 posts)I don't understand how a rag-tag bunch of rebels who pulled themselves up by their bootstraps can just keep rolling against actual countries with huge resources and populations, and under sustained air strikes, in a place which is mostly desert, so there is nowhere for them to hide when they are on the move between cities.
christx30
(6,241 posts)Where they are getting their financing. Who (besides theft) is supplying them with ammunition, spare parts, food, ect.
karynnj
(59,495 posts)eliminate their ability to sell oil from oil fields they control. In addition, they have funds from areas they won. They have also gotten equipment, spare parts and ammo left behind by Iraqi troops that fled leaving them behind.
christx30
(6,241 posts)we spent to train and equip the Iraqi army was well spent. Thanks George!
Yupster
(14,308 posts)With that comes huge amounts of wealth in banks, and companies.
The weapons and ammunition, sadly is pretty much all US made.
karynnj
(59,495 posts)Additionally, in Anbar province, they have the support of the locals. It might really takes years of violence before people in that area turn their support from ISIL to Iraq. I suspect that is why Obama speaks of this taking years.
The place they can and likely do hide is within the cities with thousands of local Sunnis (and some of them are local). It is likely ONLY when they move between cities that they will be vulnerable from the air.
heaven05
(18,124 posts)now where in the hell did they come from???? Just ask j. paul bremer, wolfowitz et al, and the CPA-Coalition Provisional Authority. Many mistakes made by them when dealing with the 'defeated' Iraqi army. No Marshall Plan there.
karynnj
(59,495 posts)mistake to implement the debaathification of the army. Many people spoke of the fact that leaving all these people with no jobs and the skills they had was a major mistake.
Last edited Mon Oct 13, 2014, 01:55 PM - Edit history (1)
1trillion dollars spent and nothing for the payout, except 1 million Iraqi dead and wounded and counting. 30,000 american wounded(Bernie says 500,000 wounded, I believe him) and 6000 dead. The rest of the 'coalition' dead and wounded number I didn't even feel like researching. Such a waste for nothing and based on lies. Yeah Georgieboy, you did what your pa couldn't.
qazplm
(3,626 posts)if one group is dedicated, and the other group runs at the first sign of trouble, it doesn't matter if their are more of the latter, or even if they have better weapons.
7962
(11,841 posts)I mentioned it here some time ago; we are just poking at them. Very few real strikes. It almost seems as though the President really doesnt want to do anything but since public opinion has forced them to, they've just been doing a few hits a day. Which accomplishes very little. These "people" should be getting hit 200 times a day, wherever they are. Yes, some civilians will be killed being used as shields. But NOT doing it means a whole lot MORE will be killed by ISIS
AnalystInParadise
(1,832 posts)has closer to 75,000-100,000 fighters. And they want to fight. That is the difference
AnalystInParadise
(1,832 posts)Sunni Arabs in the regions ISIS controls. Even if they only recruited 1% of the men in the region that is still 50,000 NEW fighters to go with their hardcore following of 25,000. At a minimum ISIS is likely hovering around 75-100K fighters.
another_liberal
(8,821 posts)You can't "stand-up" a man who has had his fill and only wants it to end.
heaven05
(18,124 posts)after 21 years of USA soldiers and politicians being involved in that country's politics and so far no oil has been found. Iraq is ready to lose their 'free democratic' country to forces from the north with USA soldiers and politicians being involved in that country since 1990=24+ years. Quite a track record we are building here for posterity and historical record. Shouldn't this be a sign that maybe we should find other methods of getting oil for our oil hungry nation with it's gas driven leaf vacs.
daleo
(21,317 posts)And, once the west left Viet Nam alone for a decade or two, it settled down to being a reasonably peaceful and prosperous part of the international community.
Rhinodawg
(2,219 posts)Me either.
flamingdem
(39,308 posts)so once they achieve their caliphate they might go on to kill other heathens.
Also, yes it sounds like a Bushism, but supposedly they're looking for chemical weapons.
As humanitarians we're supposed to care about massacres and they'll keep doing those.
In the end IS might get a state as a section of Iraq, there they can frolic with other Sunnis.
Somehow it will be set up to look like Isis lost but they'll essentially settle there and Shias in another area.
Rhinodawg
(2,219 posts)Women
Gay/lesbians
Jews
Shias
Christians
Westerners
Non believers
Infidels
Ex Muslims
Atheists
Buddhists
Americans
Canadians
And just about everyone else.
But of course that's none of our business.
flamingdem
(39,308 posts)Even Erdogan said that ballet dancers should just .. stop. They are banning tights in Turkey!
Rhinodawg
(2,219 posts)I used to enjoy that.
bigworld
(1,807 posts)I think ISIS' main aim is to become guardians of Mecca.
Given all the $$ and military equipment lying about in Iraq, it's not too far-fetched to foresee an attack on Saudi Arabia.
flamingdem
(39,308 posts).. well at least that would get them out in the field! A Qatari told me it's all for show.
AnalystInParadise
(1,832 posts)the fourth largest military prior to 2003.
Now they don't even crack the top 20
flamingdem
(39,308 posts)The pundits are not up to date!
jwirr
(39,215 posts)on the edge of a disaster. First ISIS takes that community on the border of Turkey and now they are up against Bagdad. If the countries over there are really concerned about ISIS then they need to understand that this is their war not ours - we and others are helping them with airstrikes. They are supposed to protect their own homelands.
flamingdem
(39,308 posts)Bummer.
I'll have to google around to see the latest.
jwirr
(39,215 posts)Turkey has finally offered us a base to do the airstrikes from. That is what I was talking about.
Kaleva
(36,240 posts)Read an article posted a few hours ago where it was mentioned that the ISIL fighters sent in as reinforcements/replacements don't have much fighting experience or training. That and the air attacks have really slowed down ISIL in their effort to take Kobani.