Posted on 06/07/2015 8:16:08 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
BESMAYA BASE, Iraq—Sgt. Abbas Adwani is helping to train a brigade of fellow soldiers for what promises to be one of the toughest battles yet against Islamic State: an offensive on the city of Mosul—the extremist group’s stronghold in Iraq.
But he and many of his trainees say they still can’t shake the bitter aftertaste of previous fights—some in northern Mosul a year ago, others in Anbar province, where they said they were left without ammunition or altogether abandoned by their commanders.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
An army that runs away from battle will do it again and again. It’s over and most at DOD know it.
it disgusts me that so much american blood was shed there for people who did not appreciate it... and we never went after the iranians who were behind much of the bloodshed caused by the “insurgency”. i’m so tired of all of this nation building nonsense that causes us to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Well said.
Thats what happens when you elect lesser evil. Every time it’s tried. History proves it. We need to stop making excuses and learn that.
Iraq is not even Iraq any more. It is effectively fractured into three countries, or provincial regions. Kurdistan to the north, a satellite state of Iran to the east, and what is essentially part of the Islamic State comprising most of Anbar province, to the west. There is no national unity fighting FOR Iraq any longer. Lesser ethnic minorities or tribal affiliations are essentially on their own, and have no protectorate or security umbrella under which they may be shielded.
Should the US re-invade Iraq? There is no longer a Saddam Hussein that maintained at least a facade of a national regime, and most of the factions in Iraq has little or no interest in receiving direct military support from the US, proven to be a most unreliable partner, and subject to withdrawal at any moment, on a whim or on the least whiff of political incorrectness.
“Stay the course” is an attitude long since abandoned.
In many ways, there never was what we would call a “country” in describing Iraq.
The borders follow no natural demarcation. There is no language that separates Iraqis from many of their neighbors, nor is there one national unifying language, race, etc.
In reality, it’s simply lines Lord Balfour drew on a map in the 20s.
To the locals, first loyalty is to their tribe, then their family. Next loyalty level of loyalty is to their village Next is to their sect. Then comes Islam.
Last is the concept of “country.” Literally the only thing less important than “country” is the concept of “truth!”
That’s a good idea. They should regroup and fight again and again.
After Saddam was gone, we should have destroyed the Iranian mullahcracy. And then come home.
Its too late—and what we are doing is too little. Baghdad will fall and be the new Capital of IS. A bloodbath will follow—it will be like Berlin 1945. What will Obama do when IS marches south to Kuwait? To Iran? to Saudi Arabia?
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.