Al Quaeda splinter group sweeping through Iraq

Yes it will, Bonny. Although the Arab royal families are Sunni and not Shia.

Ah right - it's complicated, isn't it? I see Psaki has been making statements to the press, none too happy about being asked about KSA's involvement.

Bonny, it's really complicated but not I guess to all the factions involved?

Indeed. It seems to be a three-way (at least) civil war, combined with centuries-old blood feuds.

Exactly. When you think about it, we should stay out.

Not just stay out, Lily, tell any Westerns in the country to get out while they can, as it will be impossible to rescue them if Baghdad falls. Which I think it's going to, in the end.

Even if it somehow hangs on, it will horrible to be trapped in Baghdad while it's besieged by some very hardcore fighters, allied with religious fanatics that actually WANT to get killed. And as for the weaponry they've now got...

Cannot imagine what it would be like, Bonny.

http://news.sky.com/story/1284641/mortar-attack-on-iraqs-biggest-oil-refinery

Smoke has been seen billowing from Iraq's biggest oil refinery after insurgents launched a mortar and machine-gun assault.

Production had already ceased at the refinery in Baiji, north of Baghdad, after clashes nearby.

It comes as Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said "the great Iranian people will do everything to protect" revered Shiite shrines in Iraq from Sunni fighters.

Kurdish fighters in the north of the country have begun a counter-offensive against Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants, but as the insurgents continue their move towards Baghdad, Mr al Maliki has sacked four top security officers for failing to prevent Mosul, Iraq's second biggest city, from falling into terrorist hands.

The city is one of a number in the north of Iraq to have fallen.

Some 44 prisoners were killed when insurgents attempted to storm a jail in Baquba - less than 40 miles from Baghdad.

The bodies of 18 Iraqi security personnel were also discovered outside the city of Samarra.

President Barack Obama announced on Monday that up to 275 troops would be sent to Iraq to safeguard US personnel and the US embassy.

The US has called on Mr Maliki to forge closer ties with Sunni critics of his Shiite-led government.

More follows...

Yeah, right, Obama, that's going to happen now, they're all going to join hands and sing Kumbaya   .

There seems to be some confusion about just who killed the prisoners - some say it was the guards, who were then killed when ISIS took the prison.

Others claim ISIS killed everyone.

And I haven't the foggiest idea what Obama imagines 275 troops are going to achieve, besides give ISIS 275 fresh targets.

From Fox:

President Barack Obama has reportedly ruled out using airstrikes against an Al Qaeda-inspired Sunni Muslim insurgency that has seized vast swathes of territory in the north and west of Iraq as the U.S. races to gather more intelligence on the militant group and its leaders.

So, WTF has been the point of NSA, etc., spying on every other human being on the planet if they know nothing about this group?

Did they fail to notice this army because they didn't put their plans in emails?

Or is this just more ar@e-covering because these are the same people the US has been supporting against the Syrian government?

And if 'US intelligence' somehow failed to notice that their 'nice rebels' were fanatics when they were training and arming them, then they need to get out of the intelligence business and try something they're more suited for.

I don't know, diversity lessons for Brownies, something like that?

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/18/prosecutor-blackwater-trial-killing-14-iraqis

The Blackwater mercenaries on trial, now in Ukraine as Academi.

http://news.sky.com/story/1284490/pm-warns-iraq-terrorists-will-hit-uk-at-home

PM Warns Iraq Terrorists Will 'Hit UK At Home'
David Cameron warns that if Britain does not intervene in the Middle East crisis then terrorists will "hit the UK at home".

Oh FFS! Go on, Cameron, get more British servicemen killed for nothing, and paint a target on the rest of us!

It's too damned late to be worrying now, HE let these people into the country and HE went along with the US in supporting them in Syria.

He and Hague can go and fight ISIS, they should last all of five minutes.

And Cameron thinks they aren't already in Britain?

It's absolutely crazy, Sabot, IT'S TOO LATE.

Borders in the EU may as well not exist, the US border is wide open at Mexico - and now Cameron thinks - what? I have NO idea.

He should, IMO, be doing the same as the US should be doing, bringing our troops home and CLOSING THE BORDER. We're an island, FFS, how hard can it be?

And my right not to be blown up by a nutjob trumps some Ali Snackbar's Yuman Rite to come into the country because he's being 'persecuted' elsewhere for being the wrong kind of nutjob.

     

Bad news, Lily, your idiot is Thinking.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/06/18/obama-reportedly-rules-out-iraq-airstrikes-as-prepares-to-meet-with-hill/

President Obama plans to huddle with top congressional leaders on Wednesday to discuss ramping up U.S. involvement in the Iraq crisis, and is said to be leaning toward sending U.S. special forces into the country.

White House officials stress that several options remain on the table and no decision has been made. But the president reportedly has, for now, ruled out using airstrikes against the Al Qaeda-inspired Sunni Muslim insurgency that has seized vast swaths of territory in the north and west of Iraq.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the concern is that U.S. commanders lack sufficient intelligence to determine clear battlefield targets.

Since when has that stopped them from bombing schools, hospitals and the Chinese embassy?

Do you know, if anyone toppled idiots like Hague and Cameron, and Kerry and Obama, in coups, they wouldn't be creating a vacuum?

They'd be filling one in.

They sure would be, Bonny. What a disgrace. Am shocked for words.

http://news.sky.com/story/1284641/iraq-asks-for-us-airstrikes-to-combat-isis

Iraq's government has asked the US to carry out airstrikes to help reverse the sweeping gains of Islamist militants in the country.

General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed the request on Wednesday, as Barack Obama prepares to brief lawmakers on what options Washington could pursue.

When asked whether the US should honour that request, Gen Dempsey said: "It is in our national security interest to counter ISIL wherever we find them."

Oh, here we go. Have they forgotten that the US has thoughtfully supplied ISIS not only with MANPADS, but with Stingers?

Big Sigh

Hasn't America done this self same thing in the past? Arming groups they shouldn't and then wishing they hadn't?

http://gulfnews.com/opinions/columnists/clear-and-present-danger-for-the-region-1.1349055

I find this interesting.

Yup. This is one of the best ever though, Sabot. Even our humble selves knew something was going wrong when the UK, US and NATO were actually insane enough to be on the verge of attacking Syria - TO SUPPORT AL QUAEDA, THE VERY PEOPLE THAT BROUGHT DOWN THE TWIN TOWERS.

And on a worse lie than the Iraq WMDs at that.

That was when I personally realised there was something very wrong with Obama, surpassing even Cameron - he's just an idiot.

If the US gets involved in Iran, then everyone will stop fighting long enough to attack the unfortunate troops, the US will be driven out in a repeat of Fall of Saigon, and then they will go back to fighting again, which is what they've been doing for hundreds of years.

Bigger Sigh.

lily wrote:http://gulfnews.com/opinions/columnists/clear-and-present-danger-for-the-region-1.1349055

I find this interesting.  

That is indeed interesting, especially from people who actually are in the Middle East.

The US is with Iran in Iraq and against Iran in Syria. This is a suspicious and perplexing scenario. The issue in Syria and Iraq is the same and requires the same solution: One that begins in Damascus and ends in Baghdad.

This blog makes the same point:

http://buchanan.org/blog/war-6461



The whole world can see it, can't they?

I don't think Obama listens to the World News, somehow. Too busy making it. Hold the front page for his next major piece of insanity.