I hate being right all the time:
Al Qaeda-inspired militant group vows march on Baghdad after seizing northern cities
Al Qaeda-inspired militants in Iraq vowed Thursday to march against Baghdad after seizing two key cities in the north of the country this week.
A spokesman for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) said in audio posted on militant websites commonly used by the group that the fighters have old scores to settle with Iraq’s Shiite-led government.
The spokesman, Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, also threatened that Sunni ISIL fighters would capture the southern Iraqi Shiite cities of Karbala and Najaf, which hold two of the holiest shrines for Shiite Muslims.
The Washington Post reported that militants had reached the city of Samarra, approximately 80 miles north of the Iraqi capital, by nightfall Wednesday.
Meanwhile, members of Iraq’s parliament were expected to vote Thursday on a request by embattled Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to declare a state of emergency. If lawmakers approve, the prime minister would be granted wider powers in running the country. Legal experts say those could include powers to impose curfews, restrict public movements and censor the media.
The Iraq prime minister has reportedly appealed for a military response from the Obama administration, but the New York Times reported that the White House has so far rebuffed al-Maliki’s requests. The Times reports that the White House has been reluctant to reengage in Iraq since withdrawing the last U.S. forces from the country in 2011.
Militants took Saddam Hussein’s hometown of Tikrit on Wednesday, as soldiers and security forces abandoned their posts and yielded ground once controlled by U.S. forces.
Only a day earlier, they seized control of much of Iraq’s second-largest city, Mosul, sending an estimated half a million people fleeing from their homes. As in Tikrit, the Sunni militants were able to move in after police and military forces melted away following relatively brief clashes.
The group, which has seized wide swaths of territory, aims to create an Islamic emirate spanning both sides of the Iraq-Syria border.
The capture of Mosul — along with the fall of Tikrit and the militants’ earlier seizure of the city of Fallujah and parts of Ramadi, the capital of western Anbar province — have undone hard-fought gains against insurgents in the years following the 2003 invasion by U.S.-led forces.
Vietnam and Iraq. Two wars we never should have fought, about forty years apart. We won all the battles and still lost both wars. I was too young for the first, but I opposed the second. I predicted that it would not end well, and I am being proven right.
Some will blame Bush for invading Iraq in the first place, and they’ll be right. Others will blame Obama for losing a war we had already won, and they’ll be right too.
American voters strongly supported the invasion of Iraq in 2003. I know this because I was one of the minority who didn’t. Then in 2008 the American voters elected a guy who promised to end the war, or at least our part in it.
Well, he did. Alea iacta est
It was sad and humiliating to watch the rapid collapse of South Vietnam after the withdrawal of U.S. forces. Sad because so many people had to die for nothing. Humiliating because we were powerless to stop it.
Now history repeats itself as the U.S. prepares to evacuate our embassy in Baghdad. Will there be another Killing Fields? Will the Kurds become the new boat people?
I don’t know. We’ll just have to watch events unfold and hope for the best. However I will predict that the next two years will not be pretty as Russia, Iran, the Taliban, al Qaeda, China and other geopolitical foes of the United States take advantage of the weakness of Barack Obama.
In both Iraq and Afghanistan we would have been better off if we just went in, killed the people we were after and then left.
We also didn’t have clearly defined, achievable goals. We “won” Vietnam when the Soviet Union collapsed because Vietnam was a proxy war against Communism, but that win had nothing to do with Vietnam.
Iraq War 1 actually ended because we had a goal of Saddam’s forces leaving Kuwait. We didn’t continue on to Baghdad. The War on Terror had too much to do with taking out the leadership of a country, installing democracy and rebuilding the nations. All of this was to be done with as few civilian casualties as possible. It was also going to be impossible without basically occupying them forever.
I was a proponent of the nuke ’em high response. Make Afghanistan radioactive as a lesson to would-be terrorists in the future.
Was it Donald Rumsfeld that said that all we would need to bomb Afghanistan back to the Stone Age would be a couple hand grenades?
Unlike Iraq and Afghanistan, we never won the war in Vietnam.
Obama is a traitorous wretch.
This is the one:
(I was plagiarizing Shakespeare)
Awesome!
Love it ! Congrats smartypants 😉 Love the one guy who suggested to Power use #BadTerrorists #GoToYourRooms. /gigglesnort
For Power maybe #SummeringInIreland would be most appropriate.
I’m in awe! Yay Klown!! 🙂
Althouse used the same in one of her blog entries today.
I read it here first.
I didn’t know him but he was from my home town:
Very soon our $650 million embassy in Baghdad will be AQHQ.
When AQ takes the embassy we should nuke it.
^this^
Yep. Also all our bases we’re leaving behind, they get NOTHING !
out of how many made?
A promise kept to Al Qaeda.
To his credit he did say utility bills will skyrocket.
Someone will have to put it in the newspaper so he can read about it with the rest of us.
This is all so so sad.
Meh. Better this than having our troops bogged down there indefinitely. It’s an Iraqi problem, to be solved by Iraqis. The US invasion was idiocy from the start and every sacrifice was pointless, but at least it’s over.
No, it’s not over…..it’s actually continuing in a downward, spiraling manner….rapidly.
Yes. It is not anywhere near over. Now it becomes a regional war probably.
The real question is if/how long before we go back.
Our recent “wars” have not been WARS. They’ve been “limited military actions”. Classic mistake of wishy-washy do-gooders. You can’t fundamentally change a culture without smashing it into smithereens so when it grows back it takes on a different form. In Vietnam we couldn’t do war, we just did battles. Stupid. Shoulda nuked Hanoi. Same in Afghanistan. Should have nuked the border cave complex area into a sand and gravel pit. In Iraq we shoulda got in, trashed everything military and got out in 180 days. Period.
Spoken like the ignorant moron that you are.
There was really no point to any of the invasions – and I was against them (the ones in my lifetime at least). But it clearly isn’t over. How can you even say that? We are still part of this world and what happens to where ever we have people (and where we do not) affects us as it affects others Just maybe not as obviously now as before. (and yes. I’m thinking with my heart and my head in this case.)
I supported the invasion of Afghanistan. We had to go in there to get bin Laden and al-Qaeda.
But after we let him get away there was no point in staying in that shithole of a country.
I don’t think every sacrifice was pointless. They took out Saddam and his sons who would have ruled for 50 more years. Sure they are going to end up with another strong man dictator and Islamic restrictions on women but it seems to be all they can manage. It’s not like the Al Qaeda-inspired militant group is fighting hard battles to take over the country. The official Iraq government and military is just laying down their arms and running away.
It’s sort of like watching a litter of animals establish a pecking order. It’s painful to watch but if you interfere it just prolongs the ugliness. Eventually they will strike a balance they are willing to live with. Odds are we aren’t going to like it. For that reason we should use this time to get our own house in order.
Russia is not missing a beat
http://rt.com/news/165548-lavrov-iraq-west-failure/
Avoid comments. Depressing.
Will Broadway make a musical now about Iraq ? Too soon?
That didn’t take long, Brat goes on MSNBC ? WTF? What else did he expect from Chuck Todd? It’s “let me eat my waffle” moment, maybe he’ll survive it.
http://hotair.com/archives/2014/06/11/bad-sign-cantors-vanquisher-surprised-msnbc-host-doesnt-want-to-just-celebrate-his-victory/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=fbpage&utm_campaign=haupdate
Hubris of an academic but he will get over it pretty fast. I think it was Vanity Fair yesterday that was making fun of him because he is attractive (the teeth!) and not a cross-eyed hillbilly. I watched most of that MSNBC interview and I thought he did very well for someone who is not used to the scum media. He very nicely called them out on asking him policy stuff when they told him the interview was to be about the election outcome. Who is surprised Chuckie the Dem knob polisher was trying to do a gotcha interview?
Nobody needs to go on MSNBC ! Brat’s a lock to win his district, why step in the dog poo network 😉
Meanwhile, Hillary keeps gaffing……speaking of Senator Lincoln, also seemed to co-op Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Team of Rivals for a chapter title.
This is part of why I don’t think she is well. She isn’t on point and making sloppy errors. It is like she is just calling it in and going through the motions. And only give half a shit. I’ve been there due to illness and you feel like I’m doing it, shut up, I’m almost finished, let me rest, who gives a damn, why am I fooling with mess, I’m going home. I feel she is finishing obligations that she used to enjoy but she is running out of gas.
I think she is consciously screwing with the Democrat party who screwed her. She isn’t saying she will or won’t run and that will have an impact on who does run in that party. She isn’t giving other Dems a free 2 years to work up to running for President. I hope she holds on as long as possible, but I think she is too old to run and too damaged by association with Obama.
Not that big of a deal as MSNBC has only a handful of viewers.
Every time I hear the news, I think about the end of Dinesh D’Souza’s movie “2016 Obama’s America” where the map shows the ME, etc. becoming a Muslim world. If I recall, it looked like a world of death and destruction.
Megyn’s reports of late are filled with “Now Hear This”….and… “You should be afraid – be very afraid”. Looked up Cloward-Piven and thought how pleased ValJar must be right now.
I’m relieved to have a very full schedule at work today. I don’t think I can stand much more of this world/US/local bad news right now.
I’m glad D’Souza’s not letting Team Obama bully him into hiding, new movie comes out next month 🙂
His new book is America: Imagine A World Without Her
Looks like we won’t have to stretch our imagination much.
Poppy Bush is getting ready to make another parachute jump. He’s 90 years old.
http://americanthinker.com/blog/2014/06/obama_rebuffs_iraqi_government_request_for_us_air_attacks_on_terrorists.html
backtrack rebuffs Iraqi government request for US airstrikes on terrorists
Hey , AQ creating jobs in Iraq!
http://weaselzippers.us/189506-exclusive-photos-from-isis-show-american-assets-now-in-the-hands-of-isis/
there are no words
Helen! You’re still here- have a good trip and a non stressful move to Florida.
just for a couple of more hours. and thanks for the good wishes
Have a safe and incident free move! Rest if you can as you will need the energy to get everything set up.
Your tax dollars. 😡
They have “pivoted” to global climate scam. Iraq is so last week. Afghanistan is the week before that. Next week is “Save Our Kids” from Guatemala.
Charles Krauthammer talked about the silent takeover of the EPA under backtrack and the long lasting economic disasters it will cause. backtrack don’t need no stinkin congress he has people in place to create regulations
http://foxnewsinsider.com/2014/06/11/krauthammer-blasts-obama-hes-got-his-own-constitution
“Krauthammer went on to slam the EPA regulations, saying they make Stalin’s five-year plans look like a picnic. Furthermore, he said that Obama has “set back the cause of liberalism” by overreaching and being incompetent, which leads to a “crisis of confidence.”
Warning that Obama is ruling the country like it’s a banana republic, Krauthammer concluded, “This guy is on autopilot and liberalism will suffer. However, so will the country.”
I saw that rant by Krauthammer and it’s right on from my perspective.
The water must be cold.
Can I call them little rag heads?
lil’ ‘do rags.
Ooh la la! Is that what we call 6 pack abs.
Why not empty Vienna sausage cans with double sided tape? Why not go “strapless”.
Hope he doesn’t get a “woody” that thing could put an eye out 😉
Must be the nurse in me but , that looks like a sling for a “broken thing “.
I like it when gay men think up ridiculous clothing for themselves rather than designing bizarre, unflattering, uncomfortable clothing for women.
🙂
rofl 😆
T
M
Fucking
I
!!
Just feel the narcissism. You can reach out and touch it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/13/world/middleeast/iraq.html?hp&_r=0
Kurdish troops control Kirkuk
If Iraq is falling apart I hope the Kurds get their own piece.
I hope it is the part with the oil.
Someone told me the Kirkuk area does have oil fields. Good.
Yeah, I’m pulling for the Kurds too. They will at least stand up and fight.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/06/12/al-qaeda-inspired-militant-group-vows-march-on-baghdad-after-seizing-northern/
Bagdad here we come says isis
Imma gonna take a nap.
Helen,
Have a safe and pleasant journey across country. Are you flying or driving?
flying first to NJ to see my daughters then driving to Fla sightseeing along the way then staying with my son until I find the house I want
PS the kids have gotten too used to me not nagging them. it is time for a refresher course for them
Have to keep them on their toes. LOL.
I rearranged tables, lamps, pillows and the non appliance kitchen stuff in my daughter’s apartment before she got up two weeks ago. I was bored. I can’t move sofas anymore so I was quiet.
LOL. She must have loved that.
Safe travels Helen !
Be careful Helen and remember all of us are in your back pocket. ❤
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/63738
hey mr taliban
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2656010/Could-Friday-13th-phones-GPS-devices-knocked-sun-Impact-massive-solar-flare-expected-hit-Earth-tomorrow-disrupt-communications-satellites.html
WOW Friday the 13th looks like it will be an interesting day
Full Moon and Solar Flares
Good articles by Richard Fernandez. Not sure if the ‘bots’ will ever wake up let alone admit that they worshiped at the feet of a false messiah. I would really like to know the names of the ‘men behind the curtains’ are. ValJar is only the messenger who tells BO what to do.
http://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2014/06/11/the-day-of-reckoning/?print=1
“I would really like to know the names of the ‘men behind the curtains’ are. ValJar is only the messenger who tells BO what to do. ”
*******
Perhaps the biggest mystery in DC.
Insurgents have surrounded Iraq’s largest refinery in the northern town of Baiji, police and an engineer inside say – @Reuters
Turkish minister of interior affairs says there is no change in Mosul, Iraq, hostage situation, but health condition of Turkish hostages is stable – @aytekin_akin
http://suckersonparade.blogspot.com/2014/06/and-steny-ho-ho-calls-republicans.html#.U5nAHfldWuI
there is dysfunctional and then there is dysfunctional
His meds must be awesome /sarc
http://weaselzippers.us/189519-as-iraq-syria-ukraine-burn-obama-declares-the-world-is-less-violent-than-it-has-ever-been/
Obama is rejoicing in the victories of jihad.
the backtrack song
http://therightscoop.com/gen-jack-keane-an-islamic-caliphate-is-forming-in-iraq-before-our-very-eyes/
a dream come true for them
http://weaselzippers.us/189504-another-strongly-worded-letter-obama-state-dept-strongly-condemns-isil-actions-in-iraq/
here comes the strongly worded letter
http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/4354/isis-jordan
isis threatens to invade Jordan
http://www.truthrevolt.org/videos/bill-whittle-why-benghazi-matters
very good video
Looking back on Cray-Cray Glenn Beck’s “conspiracies” debunked by MediaMatters……who’s the crazy?
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2011/06/30/glenn-becks-top-5-conspiracy-theories/180582
Could make that pit stop on his way to Palm Springs, if he wanted.
Shirley, you jest!
No Shirley is Serious!!! :lol;
Ba-bum!
200 U.S. contractors surrounded by jihadis at airbase outside Tikrit.
http://www.wnd.com/2014/06/200-u-s-contractors-surrounded-by-jihadists-in-iraq/#ELUjMiiekw5wgZoI.99
I don’t usually approve links to WND or Infowars.
We live in extraordinary times.