Jihadists Seize Iraq's Nineveh Province!

[gilliam]

I think there is the possibility that the ISIL forces may become seriously over extended. Baghdad, with it’s large Shia population will offer much stiffer resistance, if it ends up being attacked at all. This is not a particularly large force that wreaking havoc in Iraq at the moment.

Probably true. But a breakup of the country is now almost certain unless an outside power intervenes.

 

[gilliam]

“ISIS just got extremely rich”, The Washington Post’s Terrence McCoy writes. He says gunmen entering the city of Mosul reportedly took Iraqi dinars worth $425m (£523m, 314m euros) from the city’s central bank. Of the many revelations to emerge from the wreckage of the city, this “may have the most lasting impact as Iraq descends into a possible civil war”, he says.

Sunnis are siding with ISIS for now, BBC reports " Channels loyal to PM Nouri Maliki are rallying Iraqis to fight and cleanse Iraq of “terrorists”. Meanwhile Sunni channels present the latest advances by the insurgents as part of an uprising against “Maliki’s army” while avoiding any specific mention of ISIS."

Iraq still has about 10% of the world’s oil. BBC reports “There here has been a sharp rise in the price of crude oil, due to concerns that the situation in Iraq might lead to a disruption of supplies, the BBC’s Economic Correspondent Andrew Walker reports. He says that the price of Brent crude - a leading international benchmark - rose $2 to a three-month-high at over $112 a barrel.”

 

[gilliam]

Sen Bill Nelson after classified briefing on Iraq: “It’s a grave situation.”

Pretty much sums it up

 

[stevegravy]

I am waiting for the last helicopter to take off from the Bagdad embassy and the Black Flag to be raised. Just like Saigon, history rhyming loud and clear.

Meanwhile, Taliban announces plans for opening an American Trading Post, a post for trading Americans in Kandahar province.

The city council in Mosul announces a new policy that if you like your head you can keep your head.

Whitehouse insiders speaking anonymously said, “Obama is really going to be mad about this when he reads it in the papers.”

Hillary at a book signing event in Silver Springs said the fundamental transformation of the Bushitler wars in the Middle East to smart diplomacy of her State Department tenure, is the reason for peace and democracy to be busting out all over. Chris Stevens could not be reached for comment.

 

[Coatimundi]

Will be interesting to see Iran & Saudi Arabia’s reactions. This could blow up to be a regional war soon.

Iran’s reaction so far:

Predominantly Shia Muslim Iran will combat the “violence and terrorism” of Sunni armed groups who have launched an anti-government offensive in neighbouring Iraq, President Hassan Rouhani has warned.

“This is an extremist, terrorist group that is acting savagely,” Rouhani said live on state television.

The president did not elaborate on what steps Iran would take to help thwart a bid by fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) to push towards Baghdad after seizing several cities and towns to the north.

But he said he would head to a meeting of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council immediately after his speech.

That body decides on the Islamic state’s major foreign policy and security policies, and it would have to approve any military support Tehran might want to provide to Baghdad.
aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/06/iran-vows-combat-terrorism-iraq-2014612113247864941.html

I can’t imagine that Saudi Arabia would ignore the direct involvement of Iran.

 

[gilliam]

That body decides on the Islamic state’s major foreign policy and security policies, and it would have to approve any military support Tehran might want to provide to Baghdad.

aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/06/iran-vows-combat-terrorism-iraq-2014612113247864941.html

I can’t imagine that Saudi Arabia would ignore the direct involvement of Iran.

There is only one person in Iran who decides on Iran’s major foreign policy and security policies and he doesn’t sit on that committee.

I don’t really know what Saudi Arabia will do.

BBC: US Senator Lindsey Graham, briefed by the Pentagon on Iraq, is quoted by The Guardian as saying: “What I heard today scared the hell out of me. The briefing was chilling… Iraq is falling apart.”

 

[Coatimundi]

Al-Jazeera has an interesting claim at its live blog.

DIspatch from Al Jazeera’s Hoda Abdel-Hamid reporting from Khazer in northern Iraq:

ISIL have largely handed over control of Mosul to local tribes with some former Baathist army officers in a lead role. The Kurdish areas of the city remain under Kurdish control and are peaceful.

ISIL and Kurdish forces have no interest in fighting each other.
live.aljazeera.com/Event/Iraq_2
(8:45 AM)

If true, ISIL/ISIS may be shoring up alliances and attempting to avoid conflicts in its rear.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I agree without strong boots on the ground, airstrikes with jets and drones won’t do much.

This was inevitable the day we ran away from Iraq like we did.

This was inevitable the day we invaded Iraq and was predicted that it would come to this.

We would either have to stay in Iraq indefinitely at great cost of lives and treasure and of which the Iraqi government refused us to do, or,or get out and watch what is taking place.

The Iraqi soldiers who are dropping their weapons and uniforms and deserting, are most likely Sunni’s who joined the Iraqi Army, which is predominately Shiite.

This is going to be a war between Sunni’s and Shiites, which has been taking place throughout history.

Jim

 

[gilliam]

Al-Jazeera has an interesting claim at its live blog.

DIspatch from Al Jazeera’s Hoda Abdel-Hamid reporting from Khazer in northern Iraq:

ISIL have largely handed over control of Mosul to local tribes with some former Baathist army officers in a lead role. The Kurdish areas of the city remain under Kurdish control and are peaceful.

ISIL and Kurdish forces have no interest in fighting each other.
live.aljazeera.com/Event/Iraq_2
(8:45 AM)

If true, ISIL/ISIS may be shoring up alliances and attempting to avoid conflicts in its rear.

Shows Baathist influence I would think. They would be smart to establish a defensive line with what they have taken so far in Sunni areas, take the West of Iraq where there is a lot of Sunni support and capture what oil fields they can for a steady income. They aren’t going to succeed in taking Bagdad or the cities to the South.

Ed Husain: “Clinton makes a powerful point that Afghan leadership is watching Iraq today. I think the Taliban is observing ISIS closely and planning.”
twitter.com/Ed_Husain/status/477097165039607809

Although I think there is a different dynamic going on in Afghanistan, if we continue to turn our back on Iraq, we will be sending a strong message that we can’t be depended on to the Afghanistan government (and all other allies.)

BBC: “US Vice President Joe Biden has called Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki to discuss Iraq’s deepening security crisis, a US official quoted by Reuters says. No details on the conversation were immediately available.”

IMHO: This is NOT a good sign that the US will do much. If we were going to, it would be Obama making the call, not Biden.

 

[gilliam]

US is going to do something. BBC: President Obama says there will be “short-term immediate actions that need to be done militarily in Iraq”.

We may not know what until it happens. It may amount to only supplies and surveillance support.

So how hardcore is ISIS? It split from al-Qaeda because its members don’t consider al-Qaeda militant enough

 

[Coatimundi]

More reporting from Samarra, about an incident which happened shortly before Mosul:

Only a few days ago, the Islamic State Of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) moved into the city of Samarra. Within a few hours they took over six neighbourhoods.
…
Using bulldozers they began to barricade the neighbourhoods they controlled. Then came the public pronouncements. “Resist us and you will be dealt with,” was one. Another one assured the residents that ISIL wouldn’t harm civilians.
…
They announced that they would mount an attack on the Askari shrine. The Iraqi army had to act. Late into the night they sent airstrikes and artillery shelling into the residential areas ISIL had taken over.
…
ISIL quickly left the area leaving behind scared residents and uncomfortable questions. As one man told Al Jazeera: “You’re asking me questions, but what’s the real question? How were these men able to drive in with cars, bulldozers and guns, and take control of my neighbourhood?”
aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/06/isil-threatens-attack-samarra-holy-shrine-201461211041609306.html

 

[gilliam]

More reporting from Samarra,

Yea, the hot heads want to destroy the shrine which would probably bring Iran into the conflict.

Well, someone seems to be helping Iraq: “Iran Deploys Forces to Fight al Qaeda-Inspired Militants in Iraq Iranian Revolutionary Guard Forces Helped Iraqi Troops Win Back Control of Most of Tikrit, the Sources Said”
online.wsj.com/articles/iran-deploys-forces-to-fight-al-qaeda-inspired-militants-in-iraq-iranian-security-sources-1402592470

 

[GaryTaylor]

US is going to do something. BBC: President Obama says there will be “short-term immediate actions that need to be done militarily in Iraq”.

We may not know what until it happens. It may amount to only supplies and surveillance support.

So how hardcore is ISIS? It split from al-Qaeda because its members don’t consider al-Qaeda militant enough

Called the worlds most dangerous terrorist group. And motivated as you see. Public executions the whole nine. Good place to stay out of. Time did an article on them.

 

[Seamus_L]

Reuters and Sky News are reporting that the Iraqi military is now launching counter attacks in Mosul, and Shia volunteers are flocking to defend Baghdad. This might be a bit like Inchon.

 

[GaryTaylor]

I am waiting for the last helicopter to take off from the Bagdad embassy and the Black Flag to be raised. Just like Saigon, history rhyming loud and clear.

Meanwhile, Taliban announces plans for opening an American Trading Post, a post for trading Americans in Kandahar province.

The city council in Mosul announces a new policy that if you like your head you can keep your head.

Whitehouse insiders speaking anonymously said, “Obama is really going to be mad about this when he reads it in the papers.”

Hillary at a book signing event in Silver Springs said the fundamental transformation of the Bushitler wars in the Middle East to smart diplomacy of her State Department tenure, is the reason for peace and democracy to be busting out all over. Chris Stevens could not be reached for comment.

And John McCain is saying “I told you so”

 

[gilliam]

And John McCain is saying “I told you so”

BBC just now: Mr McCain says he wants the advice of the generals - “who won the war before the president lost it” - on whether airstrikes are appropriate

As he emerged from a closed-door briefing on Iraq, Republican Senator John McCain called for the president to replace his national security team, which has been a “total failure”.

 

[GaryTaylor]

BBC just now: Mr McCain says he wants the advice of the generals - “who won the war before the president lost it” - on whether airstrikes are appropriate

I’m shocked Lindsey Graham hasn’t appeared yet.

 

[gilliam]

I’m shocked Lindsey Graham hasn’t appeared yet.

BBC: Republican Senator Lindsey Graham is not as circumspect as his House colleague. “Iraq is collapsing as I speak… There is no scenario where we can stop the bleeding in Iraq without American air power.”

Sen Bill Nelson: “U.S. should consider use of drones with hellfire missiles if Iraq nears collapse.”

ISIS statement details gains in Mosul - claims it made “precise plans to conquer” Ninewa province, etc. shar.es/PwwEN

“By guidance from our leadership, the leadership of the ISIS, favored by Allah, the brothers in the ISIS camps began drawing up precise plans to conquer the entire Wilaya and purge it of apostates. This blessed battle began by intelligence jihad by the special detachments whereby the apostates’ weak areas were studied and then the military force entered the city of Mosul from several directions and by the grace of Allah took complete control of their headquarters, including the Ghazlani HQ, the operations command, the second division HQ, Badush and Tasfirat prisons, and the headquarters of the battalions and brigades. Thousands of prisoners were also released as well as some female prisoners, and the praise and grace is to Allah. And now there is complete control over all internal and external access points to the Wilaya and with Allah’s permission this series of blessed incursions that delight the eyes of the monotheists shall not cease either till Allah fulfills his promise or we shall perish…”

Read more: longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/archives/2014/06/isis_statement_details_gains_i.php#ixzz34RvvzKG9

 

[7_Sorrows]

Aren’t they holding 80 hostages from turkey also?
What if tutkey gets involved?

 

[gilliam]

Aren’t they holding 80 hostages from turkey also?
What if tutkey gets involved?

Turkey has asked for NATO assistance but NATO so far isn’t biting.