Islamic State overruns Camp Speicher, routs Iraqi forces

The Long War Journal ^ | July 19,2014 | BILL ROGGIO

[Hojczyk]

Two days after repelling an Iraqi military attempt to retake the city of Tikrit, the Islamic State and its allies are said to have overran Camp Speicher, a large base just outside the city that was being used in the failed effort to retake the provincial capital.

The Islamic State's Salahaddin Division claimed in an official statement released on Twitter yesterday that it overran Camp Speicher and is in "control of the airport and the base completely." In the statement, the Islamic State claimed it killed "scores" of Iraqi military personnel, including a brigadier general and a colonel. It also said that a number of pilots were killed in a "martyrdom" or suicide operation on the base before it was overrun.

The Islamic State also said it destroyed seven aircraft on the tarmac and its "detachments of air defense" shot down two additional aircraft, all which are thought to be helicopters. The Iraqi military had been using helicopters to ferry troops and supplies to Camp Speicher and Tikrit University, where special forces troops attempted to gain a foothold in the northern part of the city.

Additionally, the Islamic State said it destroyed several armored and other vehicles, while the base's fuel supply was set ablaze.

The Islamic State's claims were echoed by McClatchy, who interviewed residents of Tikrit as well as a Kurdish military officer. One Tikrit resident said that more than 700 Iraqi soldiers and 150 "Iranians," who are likely members of the Shia militias that have been augmenting the military, were based at Speicher. Captured members of the military and militia are said to have been paraded in the streets of Tikrit. Many are said to have been executed.

[rbg81]

About 2.5 years till Obama leaves office. What are the odds that the State Dept will discover that ISIS is the best thing since sliced bread before that happens? Kinda like they did with the Muslim Brotherhood.

[blueunicorn6]

This is going well. If these guys ever attack a golf course, Obama will be all over them.

[Seizethecarp]

This is a disaster for all who backed and participated in any of the US military projections into Iraq hoping for an outcome that would improve the security of the US and the region that would last decades.

Baghdad would appear to be vulnerable from the north and the attempt to revive the Shia-led Iraqi is in tatters.

[Future Snake Eater]

I spent a couple of days at Speicher. Real dustbowl piece of crap. Just like these hajis’ country. Maybe they’ll all kill each other off.

[Seizethecarp]

Here is the related McClatchy article:

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/07/18/233786/islamic-state-overwhelms-iraqi.html

“IRBIL, Iraq — Islamic State gunmen overran a former U.S. military base early Friday and killed or captured hundreds of Iraqi government troops who’d been trying to retake Saddam Hussein’s hometown of Tikrit, the worst military reversal Iraqi troops have suffered since the Islamist forces captured nearly half the country last month.”

[ClayinVA]

If you will not fight for your Country, you will not have a Country anymore. I am wondering how far ISIS is going to go into Iran at this point, they don’t seem to be putting up much of a fight.

[Wuli]

Will the Iraqi people run Maliki out of the country? Will Iran step in, formally, to save him? Will the U.S., Turkey, the Kurds all sit on their hands if Iran does?

Oh what crisis we create when weakness for ourselves we preach!!

[SunkenCiv]

It’s not a disaster for me, or anyone else who backed or participated — it’s merely another in a long line of disasters brought on by Islam. Demwits in Congress and their media shills undermined the war on terror from not long after it began. Afghanistan? Why not Iraq? Iraq? The war in Afghanistan should be our priority. The step after the removal of the Taliban in Afghanistan and the removal of Saddam in Iraq should have been the annihilation of the Iranian thug regime.

The Iranian mullahcracy benefits from the civil wars in Iraq and Syria, and will continue to work for destabilization all over the Arab (and Turkish, and African) areas as pretexts to putting in their thugs and proxies and carve out occupied territory, just as they’ve done in Lebanon. Their major failure to date was the removal of Morsi and his fellow allies of Iran. It was amusing and interesting to see Assad exult over Morsi’s downfall while the Iranian mullahcracy — which was and is propping up Assad’s regime — pissed moaned and complained about it.

Just like Jimmuh Carter and Bill Clinton before him, Zero backs the Iranians, and will continue to until that blessed day when we swear our next POTUS.

[Alas Babylon!]

One Tikrit resident said that more than 700 Iraqi soldiers and 150 "Iranians," who are likely members of the Shia militias that have been augmenting the military, were based at Speicher. Captured members of the military and militia are said to have been paraded in the streets of Tikrit. Many are said to have been executed.

What kind of dumb cowards are these Shia? Why surrender? They're going to execute you, not put you in a POW camp until the war is over!

I'm sorry to have to say this, but at least save one bullet for yourself.

[BlueLancer]

"I'm sorry to have to say this, but at least save one bullet for yourself."

When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An' go to your Gawd like a soldier.

Rudyard Kipling.

[MinorityRepublican]

Islamic State could probably step in Baghdad right now, that’ll spark a massive intervention from Iran to rescue Shi’ites.

[Gene Eric]

Iraqi forces retake Tikrit base
The Australian ^ | 07/21/2014

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3183193/posts

[Seizethecarp]

Thanks for the ping!