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| Iraq |
| US will help but Iraq must mend divisions: Obama |
| 2014-06-14 |
[DAWN] US President Barack Obama...I am not a dictator! said Friday that he is examining options short of sending ground troops to help Iraq counter a Sunni hard boy offensive, but warned the country must heal its own divisions. "We will not be sending US troops back into combat in Iraq, but I have asked my national security team to prepare a range of other options that could help support Iraqi security forces," Obama said. Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's government has asked the United States to provide military assistance to counter a stunning advance by ISIL, a Sunni hard boy movement. But, in brief remarks to news hounds at the White House, Obama warned the Storied Baghdad government that it had brought disaster on itself by failing to heal the divides between Sunni and Shia camps in the country. "The United States will not involve itself in military action in the absence of a political plan by the Iraqis that gives us some assurance that they're prepared to work together," he said. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #8 The Shia and the Sunnis have been fighting since about 864 AD over who would succeed Mohammed as the leader of Islam. The Sunni side of the table claims Mohammed gave leadership to one of his generals. The Shia say it should only be a direct descendent or blood relative. According to their stories, the General and his cohort went to discuss the succession with Ali, a nephew of Mohammed who was being promoted as Mohammed's successor. In the discussion, Ali was killed, Ali's wife who was pregnant was injured and miscarried...war commenced. So they have been fighting for almost 1200 years over the succession to Mohammed when there are no direct or blood descendants of Mohammed. The split lead to a number of differences in interpretation of the Quran and different versions of the Haditha and the "Sayings of the Prophet". Each side views the other as not just an infidel but worse than a Jew or a Christian, a heretic and a blasphemer. Putting those two groups in the same room as the British and the French did when they carved up the Middle East for its oil in the 1920s, was stupid, probably stupider than anything else in the Treaty of Versailles. After WWI, we withdrew the troops, shut the door and left the middle east and its oil to the Italians, the Brits and the French, and Standard Oil. Our lack of involvement in the Middle East until after WWII is one reason why the region is in chaos. |
| Posted by: Bill Clinton 2014-06-14 12:18 |
| #7 Thank you, Besoeker dear. Yes, we definitely do that here when needed. And yes, I've noticed the night team. Meaty articles greeted us this a.m., as well as yesterday, keeping Rantburg on top of events. Thanks, all! I'll fetch the electric tea kettle, and put an order in with Barbara Skolaut for several popcorn. I babysat two little granddaughters yesterday, so the usual healthy crudités and fruit will have to wait. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2014-06-14 11:48 |
| #6 Tactical Operations Center (TOC). Where events are monitored, generally 24x7. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2014-06-14 11:11 |
| #5 Working this Rantburg TOC night shift really sucks. What does TOC mean, Besoeker? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2014-06-14 11:09 |
| #4 What could possibly go wrong with that notion? (Sunnis aren't too fond of the Shia and vice versa. Lot of history there. (Ship some of Obama's "best-of-speeches to them; that's the ticket. These divisions should evaporate just as if the seas had parted.) |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2014-06-14 08:52 |
| #3 I'd better go make some koffee. Working this Rantburg TOC night shift really sucks. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2014-06-14 03:22 |
| #2 Note to the White House: Making "brief remarks" in front of a helicopter is bad optics. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2014-06-14 03:17 |
| #1 Wait until the Sunnis take over and Champ will see some really interesting..."working together." |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2014-06-14 03:08 |