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| Iraq |
| In Ramadi battle, a potential model for rolling back ISIS |
| 2015-12-24 |
| [CSMONITOR] The battle to retake Ramadi is being led by the Iraq Army, not sectarian militias. In a country where the Islamic State has exploited sectarian tensions, that could be an important moment. The sectarian militias strutted around, denounced the U.S., made faces, jumped up and down, then got their heinies handed to them when they actually exchanged fire with the enemy. I suspect that when the shootin's all over--assuming the army wins--the militias will show up again as an army of occupation and the atrocities will begin. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #4 Iraqi forces have cleared large swaths of Ramadi, and could fully recapture the city within days. Capturing territory from ISIS is not that difficult. HOLDING the territory is where Arabs really fall down. |
| Posted by: Frozen Al 2015-12-24 12:47 |
| #3 Rudaw is proud of the Kurds in the Iraqi army. Video report with subtitles, shows a glimps of things over there at the moment. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2015-12-24 11:41 |
| #2 The money quote: But as significant as retaking Ramadi would be, [Wayne White, a former State Department Iraq analyst] cautions that it will be difficult to replicate the success across Iraq. Complications remain. For one thing, Iraqi Security Forces have largely become Shiite forces, given that the Islamic State controls the Sunni areas that could be used for recruiting. The government of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi still isn’t providing Sunni tribal fighters with promised weaponry. This despite the Sunni tribes’ demonstrated resistance to the Islamic State onslaught. Even if Shiite militias are largely kept out of the offensive, it will be crucial to prevent them from sweeping and inciting confrontations with Sunnis after the fall. More broadly, Iraq’s Shiite-dominated government continues to resist the political power-sharing reforms needed to bury hypersectarian tensions. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2015-12-24 08:22 |
| #1 Reads like a cheerleading promo for Obumble |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2015-12-24 00:08 |