The Islamic State will not be destroyed except by ground forces. Those who have them will not use them for this. Those who would use them for this do not have them. “Iraq runs out of money to take on Islamic State,” by Richard Spencer, Telegraph, March 13, 2016: Just as it is starting to […]
Islamic State jihad suicide bombers attack Iraqi troops near Ramadi
“Even though Iraqi forces have managed to drive ISIS jihadists out of the center of Ramadi, local tribal leaders said this week that ISIS still controls as much as 25% of the city, and significant pockets of ISIS resistance remain.” Control of Ramadi is key to control of Iraq. The outcome is not yet clear, […]
Iraqi army declares first major victory over Islamic State in Ramadi
This is indeed a major victory, as Ramadi is a key city. “Iraqi army declares first major victory over Islamic State in Ramadi,” by Ahmed Rasheed and Maher Chmaytelli, Reuters, December 27, 2015: BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq’s army declared victory over Islamic State fighters in a provincial capital west of Baghdad on Sunday, the first […]
U.S. saw Islamic State coming, didn’t order airstrikes, let it take Ramadi
Did they want the Iraqis to win a great victory over the Islamic State all by themselves? Or did they want the Islamic State to take Ramadi? We need answers, but almost certainly aren’t going to get them from a press that covers for Obama at every turn. “U.S. Saw Islamic State Coming, Let It […]
“The Islamic State is, or is on the verge of becoming, what it claims to be: a state”
Nothing to be concerned about. Obama says they’re losing. And he wouldn’t lie to us, now, would he? “Islamic State expands its ‘state,’” by Samia Nakhoul, Reuters, May 22, 2015: BEIRUT (Reuters) – Almost a year after Islamic State’s shock capture of Mosul, Iraq’s second city, the black flags of the jihadis have been raised […]
Obama: “I don’t think we’re losing” fight against the Islamic State
He won’t name the enemy. He won’t allow his intelligence services to study its ideology. His Pentagon releases falsified maps that obscure the enemy’s gains. The enemy captures a city that has been called the key to controlling all of Iraq (Ramadi) and an renowned archaeological treasure (Palmyra in Syria) in a single week, and […]
Islamic State celebrates capture of Ramadi with orgy of bloodshed, 25,000 flee their homes
Iraq is bracing for the Battle of Baghdad, but no worries: John Kerry says all is well. And incidentally, where were the Obama airstrikes during this massive victory parade? “Iraq braced for the Battle of Baghdad: Chilling images show ISIS victory parade after fanatics seize key city of Ramadi – just 60 miles from the […]
Islamic State advancing in Ramadi, taking mosque and government buildings
Ramadi is in Iraq’s Anbar province, and its strategic importance is huge. Anbar’s governor, Ahmed al-Dulaimi, said in November 2014: “If we lose Anbar, that means we will lose Iraq.” “ISIS on offensive in Iraq’s Ramadi, taking over mosque and government buildings,” by Hamdi Alkhshali, Yousuf Basil and Greg Botelho, CNN, May 15, 2015: (CNN)The […]
3,000 more foreign jihadis join the Islamic State
The lure of the concept of the caliphate continues to be ignored and dismissed. The mainstream media is too busy declaring victory: A CNN headline asked in November 2014: “Has ISIS peaked? Terror group suffers setbacks in Iraq.” The Atlantic announced in January 2015: “ISIS Is Losing Its Greatest Weapon: Momentum: Evidence suggests that the […]
Thousands of Iraqis flee as Islamic State makes gains in Sunni heartland
But…but…the Pentagon says they’re losing, and have lost 25% of their territory! This story makes it clear that such statements are more about making Obama’s airstrikes look good than about reality. “Thousands of Iraqis flee as Islamic State makes gains in Sunni heartland,” by Loveday Morris, Washington Post, April 17, 2015: SADR AL-YUSUFIYAH — Thousands […]