Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Iraq Says It's Halted Militant Group's Advance On Baghdad
NPR ^ | June 15, 2014 | by EYDER PERALTA

Posted on 06/15/2014 9:35:51 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

The Iraqi government says it has halted a militant group's advance on Baghdad.

As The Telegraph reports, the Iraqi army started engaging the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, after it made a rapid advance in which it captured the key city of Mosul.

"'Our security forces have regained the initiative,' said Maj Gen al-Moussawi, adding that the Iraqi army had won 'remarkable victories with the help of volunteers'. 'We will not stop at liberating Mosul from ISIS terrorists, but all other parts,' he continued."

(Excerpt) Read more at npr.org ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: baghdad; bho44; bhomiddleeast; gcc; iraq; kurds; leadingfrombehind; saudiarabia; soskerry; syria; usembassy
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-36 next last
I'm reminded of Baghdad Bob.
1 posted on 06/15/2014 9:35:51 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

My thoughts exactly!


2 posted on 06/15/2014 9:40:57 AM PDT by Gadsden1st
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

I can actually believe that ISIS was stopped. Figures are hard to come by and believe, but when Ayatollah Sistani called for volunteers, about 1.5 million Iraqis of all ages volunteered. It may be more to the credit of these volunteers than the Iraqi Military that ISIS was stopped dead in its tracks. Further, I have read that the ISIS forces weren’t all that great in number. I remember reading they were about 3,500 to 5000. But that does seem a little low.


3 posted on 06/15/2014 9:44:48 AM PDT by Enterprise ("Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." Voltaire)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

I would then expect to see large piles of dead militants, wouldn’t you?


4 posted on 06/15/2014 9:46:19 AM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi - Revolution is a'brewin!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Would this be an Obama-style “al-Qaeda is on their heels” announcement?

Considering, it’s from NPR...


5 posted on 06/15/2014 9:48:43 AM PDT by moovova
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

If the Iraqi government succeeds in repealing the terrorists, Obama will come out looking like a genius and a strong leader. He forced them to stand on their own and he KNEW they could do it even though they didn’t know themselves.


6 posted on 06/15/2014 9:53:31 AM PDT by VerySadAmerican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Logistics comes to mind.
ISIS has advanced fast, but have their supply lines caught up with them?
Maybe, that is why those ISIS-sympathizing commanders ordered their troops to drop their weapons and retreat.


7 posted on 06/15/2014 9:58:00 AM PDT by Fishing-guy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Read an account from the front lines where heavy fighting was occurring around that airfield that was surrounded. The one that had hundreds of American contractors hired by the Pentagon. They said ISIS/ISIL were absolutely fanatical fighters. Wanting to die on the battlefield. No fear at all.


8 posted on 06/15/2014 10:10:14 AM PDT by justa-hairyape (The user name is sarcastic. Although at times it may not appear that way.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fishing-guy

Assad is now pounding them in the west. Look for the House of Saud to send more reinforcements for their ground troops (ISIS).


9 posted on 06/15/2014 10:12:27 AM PDT by justa-hairyape (The user name is sarcastic. Although at times it may not appear that way.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: justa-hairyape

Hold on a minute, Mike Rogers was on Fox today saying that the Arab League needs to be strengthened to resist ISIS; of course Saudi Arabia is Arab League; why would you think Rogers is that clueless?


10 posted on 06/15/2014 10:18:38 AM PDT by gusopol3
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Enterprise

In addition, the demographics are changing rapidly as ISIS approaches Baghdad. ISIS has rapidly taken areas with a Sunni majority, here is the victory parade with their new arsenal of equipment in Mosul:

ISIL/ISIS show off there new arsenal in Mosul 13 June 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAxNZfWmhMQ

Baghdad and most all areas to the south have a Shiite majority. There will be no more parades down there.

ISIS will consolidate it’s great gains; now it’s time to recruit and train; and, do a little hearts and minds propaganda.

They just created the largest Islamic fundamentalist state in the world, why risk losing it trying to conquer majority Shiite areas.

They’d be fools to go after Baghdad with a force of 5-12 thousand, unless some game changing event occurs. The army deserts in mass, there is a coup, etc.


11 posted on 06/15/2014 10:20:55 AM PDT by Fitzy_888 ("ownership society")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

I heard that Taji , the biggest base in Iraq has fallen to “ISIS”. It’s a suburb north of Baghdad.


12 posted on 06/15/2014 10:25:17 AM PDT by sunrise_sunset
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fitzy_888

The ISIS is a front or cannon fodder for the old Iraqi Army. Most of their gains have been generals telling the soldiers to walk off.

There are a bunch of spies in the high command of Maliki’s army, so yes, the entire Army could collapse. I don’t think fresh recruits from Sadr City are going to hold Baghdad.


13 posted on 06/15/2014 10:30:01 AM PDT by sunrise_sunset
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: gusopol3

Everyone on the MSM is clueless. That is why I do not even have a TV. Why waste time ? ISIS is being supplied with arms from the (Persian) Gulf Cooperation Council ([P]GCC), which consists of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.


14 posted on 06/15/2014 10:43:18 AM PDT by justa-hairyape (The user name is sarcastic. Although at times it may not appear that way.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: justa-hairyape

The greatest enemy of the GCC is Iran

You got it wrong. Iran covets the wealth of the Emirates and the holy sites in Saudi Arabia.


15 posted on 06/15/2014 10:44:59 AM PDT by bert ((K.E. N.P. N.C. +12 ..... History is a process, not an event)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: sunrise_sunset
I don’t think fresh recruits from Sadr City are going to hold Baghdad.

ISIS has laid out its plans for all to see. They are now hitting Baghdad with mass suicide bombings.

Iraq unrest: Baghdad hit by deadly suicide attack

Baghdad Blast As Iraq 'Massacre' Images Emerge

16 posted on 06/15/2014 10:47:25 AM PDT by justa-hairyape (The user name is sarcastic. Although at times it may not appear that way.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: sunrise_sunset
I heard that Taji , the biggest base in Iraq has fallen to “ISIS”. It’s a suburb north of Baghdad.

There were lots of American contractors there hired through the Pentagon at a tank training grounds. Hope they made it out okay.

17 posted on 06/15/2014 10:49:29 AM PDT by justa-hairyape (The user name is sarcastic. Although at times it may not appear that way.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: bert

ISIS and Iran are fighting each other on the battle field right now. Iran has solid evidence ISIS is being armed by the GCC. That is why Assad is now unleashing hell on them in the west.


18 posted on 06/15/2014 10:52:04 AM PDT by justa-hairyape (The user name is sarcastic. Although at times it may not appear that way.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Enterprise

I heard the ISIS was about 12,000...and the Iraqi Army general said they killed about 300 in one area they recaptured from ISIS.


19 posted on 06/15/2014 10:54:43 AM PDT by Kackikat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Enterprise

I heard the ISIS was about 12,000...and the Iraqi Army general said they killed about 300 in one area they recaptured from ISIS.


20 posted on 06/15/2014 10:54:43 AM PDT by Kackikat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-36 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson