Posted on 10/30/2014 1:29:41 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
For months, the White House resisted calls by concerned observers to intervene in the conflict in Iraq and Syria where the Islamic State was capturing territory and massacring locals. Only after it appeared likely that the ancient Yazidi minority would be exterminated by ISIS fighters did the United States consent to intervene in Iraq. Similarly, America and its coalition allies attacked ISIS in Syria only when it seemed likely that the al-Qaeda affiliated Khorasan Group was plotting imminent attacks. This week, however, we learn that the Pentagon has effectively failed to achieve either the objective of preventing massacres in Iraq or forestalling Khorasan Group attacks on Western targets.
CNN reporters revealed late Wednesday night that the two men linked to the Khorasan Group targeted at the commencement of a campaign of airstrikes on Syrian targets (yes, it is a small “group”) likely survived the assault. What’s more, they continue to plan attacks on Western targets.
“Here’s what they don’t know: Were they never there to begin with, or did the Tomahawk missiles just miss them and they are alive, possibly injured, somewhere,” CNN’s Barbara Starr reported on Thursday.
She noted that these two individuals, al-Qaeda members originally from Pakistan with sophisticated weapons training, were and may still be working on explosive devices that could pass through metal detectors. Starr noted that the Pentagon believes these two men represent an “imminent threat” to American national security.
As for the Yazidi minority, they remain in jeopardy. Last week, Reuters reported that ISIS has renewed its advance on Mount Sinjar where this ancient religious minority was encircled by ISIS in August and threatened with extermination. “We are outnumbered and outgunned,” one Yazidi volunteer reported.
The Washington Post reported that the militants had seized villages and were blocking roads, as the volunteers protecting the area for more than two months were forced to pull back.
A U.N. official was quoted telling reporters on Tuesday that the actions against the minority group may amount to “attempted genocide.”
Reuters also quoted a Yazidi lawmaker questioning why U.S. planes were hitting ISIS positions in Kobani but not around Mount Sinjar.
Dispatches are now reaching the West which indicates ISIS fighters are torturing Yazidi women by subjecting them to systematic rapes and are consigning their children to slavery.
The Yazidis are not alone in facing the threat of a massacre at the hands of ISIS. There are reports today that those who fought as America’s “boots on the ground” in Iraq, Sunnis who stood up to the Islamist militia primarily composed of those who share the same faith, are being slaughtered.
Tragedy unfolding for Albu Nimr tribe in #Iraq's Anbar province. They're Sunnis who stood up to #ISIS Now 400 massacred in 48 hrs.
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) October 30, 2014
While it seems ISIS’s advance on the cities of Kobani in Syria and Baghdad in Iraq has been stalled, it is not clear if the Islamic State’s territorial gains can be speedily reversed. The threat ISIS poses to both Iraqi forces and coalition assets, moreover, is increasing.
Video footage released by ISIS fighters in Iraq suggests the fundamentalist militants have now acquired Chinese shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles which might be responsible for the recent downing of Iraqi helicopters. One American official, speaking to The New York Times, characterized the weapons as “game changers.”
There have been many temporary successes in America’s war against ISIS, almost all of them offset by troubling setbacks. Nearly three months into Operation Inherent Resolve, it is not entirely clear what has been accomplished.
This is one more crisis that is fading into the background because another crisis has taken the spotlight.
One loses track of all of the disasters that have happened under this administration. I regret not having kept a list starting say back when.
I must say the Obama regime’s strategy is unorthodox, audacious, and brilliant (got to give the Devil his due). Who would have thought that creating so many non-stop scandals and disasters would work to make it impossible to concentrate on any one of them.
It is the political equivalent of Shock and Awe, and it is working (at least with the help of a complicit press and an emasculated Congress).
“One loses track of all of the disasters that have happened under this administration.”
At this point, it’s “go big or go home”
I hate the propaganda names of all our military operations these days. Often you can find what is really going on by simply reversing the meaning of the name.
Careening from crisis to crisis to crisis while the Marxists in the teachers lounge try to decide on desert.
Precisely. It's only purpose was political - to be seen as doing something.
It would be contrary to Qatar and Turkey's wishes, as comunicated through VJ to BHO, to actually cause difficulties for IS.
“I hate the propaganda names of all our military operations these days. Often you can find what is really going on by simply reversing the meaning of the name.”
Yep:
Inherent Resolve -> Superficial Weakness
It was never meant to accomplish anything other that to push ISIS off the front pages in time for Tuesday’s election.
Hey. We’re not supposed to be talking about this only a couple of days before the election! Now, about that nurse in Maine. . . .
Zero’s “Inherent Resolve” is the destruction of the United States, not the defeat of the jihadists.
On another Inherent Resolve thread, someone posted a pic of 5 O’Clock Charlie from MASH.
Sometimes you have to wonder where 0bama gets his inspiration.....
I would argue the operation is to sucure borders that are secret or known only to the Kurds and non ISIS rebels in Syria. the same is true further down south between the Sunni and Shia areas.
We need “Operation Really Inherent Resolve, Honest!”
Never attribute to incompetence what can be attributed to intent.
I think they meant Dissolve. Obama will put on a little show to avoid bad PR that has no good answer, but will allow ISIS to gradually take over.
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