Posted on 10/20/2017 5:40:11 PM PDT by Texas Fossil
The United States is concerned by reports of violent clashes around the town of Altun Kupri in northern Iraq. We are monitoring the situation closely, and call on all parties to cease all violence and provocative movements, and to coordinate their activities to restore calm.
In order to avoid any misunderstandings or further clashes, we urge the central government to calm the situation by limiting federal forces’ movements in disputed areas to only those coordinated with the Kurdistan Regional Government. We are encouraged by Prime Minister Abadi’s instructions to federal forces to protect Iraqi Kurdish citizens and to not provoke conflict.
The reassertion of federal authority over disputed areas in no way changes their status – they remain disputed until their status is resolved in accordance with the Iraqi constitution. Until parties reach a resolution, we urge them to fully coordinate security and administration of these areas. To that end, all parties should engage in dialogue now on the basis of the Iraqi constitution, as Prime Minister Abadi offered and the Kurdistan Regional Government accepted publicly.
The United States remains committed to a united, stable, democratic, and federal Iraq, and committed to the Kurdistan Regional Government as an integral component of the country. We will continue working with officials from the central and regional governments to reduce tensions, avoid further clashes, and encourage dialogue.
We also remain determined to finish the fight against ISIS in Iraq and call on the Iraqi Government to redouble its efforts with the Global Coalition until that task is done.
Rumors are circulating that PMF leader Abu Azrael has been killed. He is close to Iranian General Qasim Soleimani.
State Department's news release, must be in response to this. I hope the conflict is not hot again.
I read earlier that it was the Iraqi government forces that were invading Kurdistan. Shi’ite v. Kurd. (and yes, I know that Iranians are pretty Shi’ite)
If only Bush-43 had NOT attacked Iraq, we would have no ISIS, Sadddam and sons would be keeping all radical Muslims where they belong, in prisons doing hard labor. Iran would be still tangled with Iraq and would not become a nuclear power. And there would be no mass invasion by displaced people seeking sanctuary in Europe and Obama would not have approved arrival of hundred thousand refugees from middle-east.
Best of all we would be $6 Trillion ahead in US Treasury and all those brave American soldiers killed in Iraq, Syria, Libya would still be alive.
IMHO the invasion of Iraq by Bush-43 will go down in history as the biggest foreign policy blunder ever.
You’re wrong.
Anti-Bush does not play here.
I wanted no part of Iraq, but here we are.
Blame Obama. It is more appropriate.
The Iraqi forces are somewhat involved, but the offenses are from the Iranian PMF Militia’s. If they really want a war. They will get it. We may already be on the edge of the abyss.
I thought we had moved away yesterday. It seemed like sanity had returned. Even got phone call returned this afternoon from my congressman’s foreign policy staffer. I was on the turn-row at the farm when he called on my cell phone. At that time I had not seen the latest reports.
Now I wonder if he called me back because of this.
“Blame Obama. It is more appropriate.”
Bush started it. He owns it.
L
We don’t agree, but that is OK.
Thanks.
“We don’t agree. But that is ok.”
Actually, it’s not. George W Bush started the 2nd Iraq War. He deposed Saddam.
You are entitled to your own opinions. You are not entitled to your own facts.
L
You are correct.
I feel guilty for trying to inform myself best I could before we entered Iraq and deciding FOR doing it. I was wrong. But I based my decision on wrong info and wrong people like Wolfowitz etc.
Is there a solution to fanatical religious warfare? I’d love to hear one instead of blaming ourselves for getting involved. Peace with and amongst Muslims seems to be the elusive goal. How do you have peace with a religion whose tenets are to kill or enslave all non believers?
“Is there a solution to fanatical religious warfare?”
It appears there is, like we did with ISIS. Unfortunately it is a costly and destructive process.
Your frustration is warranted.
Do not feel bad. I was also suckered to vote for Bush-43 two times. ANd I consider myself informed on politics. Since 1972, those are the only 2 votes I regret.
Radical Islam has 150 Million adherents (10% of Muslims). It is now spreading in the vast African continent. Every middle-east country except perhaps Israel has jihadi cells. And in UK, France, Belgium, Philippines, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, as well.
I know 911 was pre-invasion of Iraq. But 911 was not organized in Iraq. It was strictly in Afghanistan. There was no urgent need to invade Iraq which Bush-43 foolishly did. Saddam & other DICTATORS in middle-east were keeping radical Muslims under control. Bush-43 began the destabilization, and Obama finished the job with Egypt & Libya.
Well. I do have to claim a dumb absentee overseas vote for one Bill Clinton. But to be fair, I got all my political info from the International Herald Tribune and CNN International.
Only solution which may work is to RE-INSTALL non-radical dictators in Iraq, Egypt, Libya, Afghanistan and Yemen. Unfortunately Saddam, Mubarak & Qaddafi are dead. All were very effective in controlling radical jihadi’s.
Other than that, the Genie is out of the bottle. Get used to more brave & young American soldiers getting killed such as in Niger last week. All began with unnecessary invasion of Iraq by Bush-43. We are very lucky to have president Trump who understand the geo-political realities much better than Bushes, Obama & Clinton. Reagan was smart. When 100’s Marines were killed by bombing their barracks, he did not invade.
I have serious concerns about this.
Turkey is not a very good ally to the US these days.
Kobar Towers was Clinton
http://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB318/
And IRGC had a roll in it then.
Absolutely correct.
And Prayers for my Kurd friends.
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