Posted on 06/19/2014 9:23:48 AM PDT by mojito
Iraqi government forces engaged in fierce fighting with Sunni militants for control of the country's biggest refinery today as embattled Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki resisted a growing clamour from the U.S. to step down.
Pictures emerged today showing rebel forces had raised black jihadist banners and manned checkpoints around the key strategic oil facility in Baiji despite government forces insisting they were in 'complete control' of plant.
Workers who had been inside the complex, which spreads for miles close to the Tigris river, said Sunni militants seemed to hold most of the compound in early morning and that security forces were concentrated around the refinery's control room.
The 250-300 remaining staff were evacuated after a temporary ceasefire, one of the fleeing workers said.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
One guy on CNBC said this will potentially reduce oil prices as the Iraqis will be exporting crude rather than refining and consuming it at home.
Headline:
“ISIS militants raise black flag over Baiji oil refinery”
According to the story ....
ISIS militants raise black flags around Baiji oil refinery
A commentator on FOX said that Maliki is a huge problem—the ISIS crazies weren’t numerous enough to over-run Iraq without the support of the Sunni tribes, who have grown to hate the Maliki-led, Shiite-favoring government.
He also said that US airstrikes weren’t going to make those Sunnis any happier with us, and therefore wouldn’t hold Iraq together. Interesting perspective.
That said, I don’t see how booting Malaki out is going to save the day now.
Al Gore blaming Global Warming for Iraq crisis?
Coming up on Rush
After an obscene profit timeout
Unfortunately, that man is an idiot. If the Iraqi state is to survive and function, militarily and otherwise, it will need gasoline. With Baiji gone, that means that export facilities will turn to meeting domestic demand.
Not Iran, I mean from Sunnis.
Who could possibly replace him and somehow "unite the country" against ISIS? There isn't anyone.
Sometimes there’s just no “saving the day”. That’s the way Iraq is now!
I’m not an expert so I can’t critique the opinion.
Supposedly the ISIS fundamentalists don’t like a “petroleum” lifestyle at home but want the dough from exports.
They were saying yesterday that Iraqi military had ‘beaten them back’.
Back to where? Outside the control room?
uuhhh...say whut?
does he think the barbarians took the refinery so they can get their relatives hired into the oil export business?
like saddam torched all the wells so his troops could make s’mores
Always remember:
Guerrilla forces feel they have a victory when they don't LOSE.
Conventional forces feel they have a defeat when they don't WIN.
There is a tremendous advantage for guerrilla forces in this thinking.
The Sunni and Shite will only be united in death.
Just think: next time you fill up at the pump, you’ll be paying for their war against us. :)
one of saddams former Baathist butchers is about the only choice
another ruthless military dictator
maybe one that is “inclusive”
meaning, doesn’t want to dig and fill mass graves for every man and boy in shia Iraq, drape shia bodies on Karbala and shell it into dust
at least for right now
As usual, CNBC is spouting complete nonsense. Oil prices are rising and they don’t want Obama to be blamed. Nothing but pure propaganda to protect their guy.
I’m reporting, not advocating, but the logic in post #11 made some sense.
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