God doesn't want to.
Posted on 05/17/2015 11:04:44 AM PDT by kristinn
Iraqi security forces attempting to retake control of the western city of Ramadi were routed in heavy fighting Sunday, the worst defeat for Iraq’s central government since Islamic State militants stormed across the country.
In a replay of last year’s military debacle, elite units abandoned their U.S.-provided equipment to Islamic State fighters and fled the area, leaving several hundred soldiers surrounded in the last government-held enclave in the city.
Multiple security sources, none of whom agreed to be identified, speaking from both within the besieged Anbar Provincial Operation Center as well as with the units fleeing the city, described the fight for control of the provincial capital of Iraq’s largest province as essentially over after reinforcements sent on Saturday to retake the city were crushed by Islamic State fighters.
“Only God can save us,” said one officer speaking by phone from inside the Anbar operations center, the last government-held position inside the city, where officers had been coordinating the operation. The officer said that several hundred policemen and soldiers were surrounded inside the command center, which was repeatedly struck by suicide bombers and heavy artillery fire as militants cut off their last routes of escape.
Social media accounts credibly associated with the Islamic State hours later announced the operations center had been overrun, a claim that could not be immediately confirmed. Efforts to reach sources inside the facility were unsuccessful.
The units that had been attempting to retake Ramadi, which was attacked late Thursday evening and had fallen mostly into militant hands by Saturday, were in the process of fleeing the city and had abandoned dozens of U.S. supplied armored vehicles...
...One police officer confirmed that at least 30 U.S. supplied armored Humvees, which had been sent as reinforcements on Saturday, had been abandoned in the neighborhood of Malaab alone.
(Excerpt) Read more at mcclatchydc.com ...
God doesn't want to.
Probably much more for ISIS's army.
I’m fairly certain that if a Republican were president this would be in the news 24/7 with minute by minute updates. CNN would have a special 10 second dramatic music video clip with a James Earl Jones voiceover saying, “Ongoing story. Republicans failing in Iraq!”
Ten years ago, I fought over that filthy city. You can still see the FOB perimeter clearly on GoogleEarth.
We lost hundreds of US troops in that town just in the year I was there. I documented my time there, right here on FR.
To think that it’s all gone...
Elite?
Peshmerga are going to need a lot more Milan antitank missles now.
How’s that JV Team looking now, Barry?
By elite, they mean had uniforms.
Mrs. Submareener and I were contractors at the Marine Corps Intelligence Activity in Quantico, VA during that time. Just watching what was going on was bad enough. Glad you got out alive.
A back door way for Obama to supply the
Jay-Vee ISIS with US military aid.
And what pray tell makes them “Elite?” They should be called the “Ramadi Folders.”
I was mobilized for in Operation Desert Shield/Storm. Stayed in the states, though, because Stormin’ Norman had it all in hand. ;)
And, yes. This is HEARTBREAKING for all of us!
That is same for me and Vietnam.
Thank you for your service... I still believe the fight was just. It's a shame that Obama is on the wrong side in this.
Video supposedly from Ramadi, reported to be showing Iraqi Police and Security Forces fleeing from the city in Civilian clothes:
This should be a lesson to our allies, that eventually we'll abandon you to your fate.
No dramatic "last helicopter out" photos this time.
Another new video, reportedly showing Iraqi Security forces on the run from Ramadi.
Note how heavily loaded some of the gun trucks appear to be.
https://youtu.be/mgpwKI4Jnyg
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