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Why can’t Islamic State be stopped? Analysts say it’s better armed, better organized
McClatchy DC ^ | 08/08/2014 | BY NANCY A. YOUSSEF

Posted on 08/08/2014 9:17:11 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

The Islamic State’s push toward the Kurdish city of Irbil on Thursday came as unwelcome news to those who’d believed that the Kurdish peshmerga militia would be the force most capable of halting the militant Islamists’ momentum.

The United States had such confidence in the Kurds that, in June, it moved its Joint Operation Center and some embassy staff to Irbil, where roughly 40 U.S. military advisers are now stationed.

Until this week, life in Irbil has been relatively normal despite the Islamic State offensive, which began with the fall of Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, in early June. Everyone assumed that the Islamic State was shying away from confronting the peshmerga, with its substantial reputation as a fighting force.

But then the Islamic State moved against cities last week that were defended by the peshmerga, and the peshmerga retreated. On Thursday, the Islamic State captured at least four towns on the highway to Irbil and defeated peshmerga forces attempting to break its siege of the Mosul Dam. A near panic took hold in the Kurdish capital as militia forces rushed to set up defensive line at Kalak, 25 miles northwest of Irbil.

It was another victory for the Islamic State, which before the peshmerga had defeated Syrian forces throughout much of eastern Syria, including recent seizures of major Syrian bases in Raqqa and Deir el Zour, and had sent Iraqi army forces fleeing almost to the gates of Baghdad.

What has made the Islamic State forces seemingly unstoppable?

Observers on the ground and analysts in Washington believe that the latest push was possible because the peshmerga forces are stretched trying to defend a frontier with the Islamic State that is nearly 900 miles long. The Islamic State is also better equipped, with U.S.-supplied weapons that its forces have looted

(Excerpt) Read more at mcclatchydc.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: isis
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1 posted on 08/08/2014 9:17:11 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

A photo which has been verified and is consistent with other AP reporting, shows fighters from the al-Qaida linked Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) marching in Raqqa, Syria.

Can't a few DRONE strikes take them out?
2 posted on 08/08/2014 9:18:19 AM PDT by SeekAndFind (If at first you don't succeed, put it out for beta test.)
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To: SeekAndFind

3 posted on 08/08/2014 9:19:18 AM PDT by SeekAndFind (If at first you don't succeed, put it out for beta test.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Soetero administration is arming them with the best weapons and the taxpayers are paying for it.


4 posted on 08/08/2014 9:21:22 AM PDT by Old Yeller (Obama: The turd that won't flush.)
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To: SeekAndFind

They hide their faces because they are cowards and ashamed of their actions. They know their families and friends would shun them.


5 posted on 08/08/2014 9:22:00 AM PDT by CodeToad (Arm Up! They Are!)
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To: CodeToad

Barry is fiddling.


6 posted on 08/08/2014 9:23:45 AM PDT by The_Media_never_lie (The media must be defeated any way it can be done.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Oh, they can be stopped easily. All we have to do is wage war with no limits and no political correctness, just the unbridled instinct to win.

Maxim 37: There is no ‘overkill.’ There is only ‘open fire’ and ‘I need to reload.’


7 posted on 08/08/2014 9:29:48 AM PDT by Salgak (Peace through Superior Firepower. . . .)
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To: Old Yeller

“Soetero administration is arming them with the best weapons”

From the article:

“The Islamic State is also better equipped, with U.S.-supplied weapons that its forces have looted.”

Keyword: looted.

By your logic we probably shouldn’t assist the Kurds or Iraqis for fear of “arming ISIS” should their troops flee. Brilliant strategy general.


8 posted on 08/08/2014 9:29:54 AM PDT by Justa
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To: SeekAndFind

Plus they are under control of the devil as well.


9 posted on 08/08/2014 9:30:08 AM PDT by Biggirl (“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
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To: Old Yeller
Old Yeller:" Why can’t Islamic State be stopped? Analysts say it’s better armed, better organized"

Sorta sounds like the Soetero administration
but lacks moral fiber as evidenced by lies and obstruction.
Soetero's ISIS buddies are killing children and placing childrens heads on a fence
The islam religion is a political movement covered up in a burka of religiousity
The religion and politics of islam are as honest as this administration,.. and neither is " PEACEFUL ".

10 posted on 08/08/2014 9:32:06 AM PDT by Tilted Irish Kilt (FUBO)
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To: SeekAndFind

...it’s fighting a bunch of people who aren’t interested in stopping them...


11 posted on 08/08/2014 9:38:52 AM PDT by Tzimisce
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To: CodeToad

Or the target of reprisals.


12 posted on 08/08/2014 9:39:04 AM PDT by Resolute Conservative
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To: SeekAndFind
Why?

One word--will. They have it; PC has gutted ours.

vaudine

13 posted on 08/08/2014 9:40:21 AM PDT by vaudine
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To: SeekAndFind
Prayer has stopped such scenarios before. From the Old Testament to modern times, we have evidence of this.

Remembering Lepanto
The Battle that Saved the Christian West (October 7, 1571: Battle of Lepanto)
Battle of Lepanto: Armada of the Cross
Remember Lepanto
How Europe Escaped Speaking Arabic
Bishop compares election to Battle of Lepanto
Bishop compares election to Battle of Lepanto
The Battle of Lepanto
Civilization in the Balance: The Battle of Lepanto and Election ‘08
LEPANTO

A Call To Prayer: This Lepanto Moment [Repost]
Lepanto, 1571: The Battle That Saved Europe
Celebrating the Battle of Lepanto
Clash of civilizations: Battle of Lepanto revisited
Lepanto, Bertone e Battesimo, Oh My!
Lepanto Sunday
Our Lady of the Rosary of La Naval (A Mini-Lepanto in the Philippines)
Swiss Guards at the Battle of Lepanto, 7 October 1571
Battle of Lepanto
LEPANTO, 7 OCTOBER 1571: The Defense of Europe

Battle of Lepanto
Remember Lepanto!
The Battle of Lepanto
On This Day In History, The Battle of Lepanto
The Battle of Lepanto
Chesterton's Lepanto
The Miracle At Lepanto...
Lepanto
The Naval Battle of Lepanto
The Battle of Lepanto

14 posted on 08/08/2014 9:41:26 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Old Yeller
“Soetero administration is arming them with the best weapons and the taxpayers are paying for it.”

ISIS was trained and funded by the Obama Administration supposedly with the naive hope that they would be allies of the US and overthrow the government of Syria.

Obama removed American troops from Iraq far more quickly than his advisers recommended leaving material unprotected.

But I doubt that it was just the incompetence of the Obama Administration. The Obama Administration has consistently supported the most violent and terrorist Muslim factions. In Libya they stormed our embassy and killed four Americans. In Egypt the Muslim Brotherhood was put into power by the Obama Administration before it was overthrown by the Egyptians. In Afghanistan they supported groups killing Americans and established rules of engagement the caused Americans to be killed. In Syria they armed and funded Islamist terrorists. In Africa they support violent Islamist groups like Boko Haram that murder Christians.

The Obama Administration id responsible for the increase in Muslim terrorism over the last few years.

15 posted on 08/08/2014 9:49:38 AM PDT by detective
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To: SeekAndFind

Political Correctness.

Can’t badmouth anyone now days except for Christians.


16 posted on 08/08/2014 9:55:58 AM PDT by al_c (Obama's standing in the world has fallen so much that Kenya now claims he was born in America.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Because this is Muslim aggression facing “turn the other cheek-pacifist” Christians. Unless the Christians decide to start fighting back, then they are a doomed group. There have been fighting Christians in the past...why not now? And if you expect the USA to stop the Jihad? Think again, a Muslim is running the USA.


17 posted on 08/08/2014 10:03:44 AM PDT by ThePatriotsFlag ($$$$$$$$ DEFUND OBAMA! $$$$$$$$$)
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To: SeekAndFind

The reason ISIS is being successful is that they have a singular purpose and identity. They will do what it takes to achieve those goals.

The west is often fraught with second thoughts and varying intent, therefore we wage limited war to obtain limited results-expecting that our enemies will have the same mentality.

When “Allah” is your CIC, you have unity and all actions work towards the singular goal.

When political manipulation is your guiding principle (which changes often), you have confusion and wasted effort.


18 posted on 08/08/2014 10:19:40 AM PDT by Manly Warrior (US ARMY (Ret), "No Free Lunches for the Dogs of War")
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To: SeekAndFind

Wow, the peacefulness just oozes from them.

Bush was right.


19 posted on 08/08/2014 10:26:23 AM PDT by 353FMG
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To: SeekAndFind
The Islamic State is also better equipped, with U.S.-supplied weapons that its forces have looted

US planes and drones should be in the sky taking out every piece of stolen US equipment they can find in the territory controlled by Islamic State, and all other military assets that can be found.

20 posted on 08/08/2014 10:29:28 AM PDT by Will88
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