Latest rout raises questions about Iraqi military's ability to defeat ISIS. Up to 300 troops killed.

CNN ^ | 09/25/2014 | By Greg Botelho and Chelsea J. Carter

[SeekAndFind]

This is what an ISIS rout looks like in Iraq:

Up to 300 troops killed. Others missing, possibly dead or having fled. Dozens of military vehicles, from tanks to ambulances, destroyed or seized. And the Iraqi military in disarray, so much so the country's Prime Minister has sent "anti-terrorism forces ... to hold the negligent (military) leaders responsible."

What happened Sunday east of Falluja, around military encampments in Saqlawiyah and Sejar, is bad enough for the Iraqi government. Yet what makes it worse is that it has happened before.

This latest incident was particularly galling because, according to surviving Iraqi soldiers, military commanders didn't follow up on troops' pleas for airstrikes or other help, and instead stranded them.

And the fact this isn't an isolated episode raises big questions about whether the Iraqi military is up to the fight against ISIS and whether other nations -- the United States being chief among them -- should devote manpower and air power to supporting them.

Bill Roggio -- the editor of the Long War Journal, which provides information and analysis on terrorists and efforts to combat them -- said Thursday that those who believe Iraqi troops, like moderate Syrian opposition forces, can beat back ISIS fighters on the ground, on their own, are in "for a very rude awakening."

"I think the events since the Islamic State invasion," said Roggio -- using the term that ISIS calls itself -- "have shown the Iraqi military is incapable of going toe-to-toe (with ISIS)."

[Viennacon]

I have concluded from this and other articles, the following.

1) The Iraqi military has halted the ISIS advance

2) They have done this by throwing hundreds of troops into a meat grinder, in which they kill very few, and suffer massive losses and desertions.

3) This strategy ends when Iraq’s troops thin out to a point where they are unable to hold the line, and ISIS break through across the front. This process is further accelerated as the politicians in Baghdad (the ‘inclusive’ government) continues to allow them to die due to negligence and amateur strategy, causing widespread loss of morale and even more desertion.

4) Iraq, very soon, will cease to be a nation. The Kurds will hold their line, with zero incentive to put themselves in jeopardy by trying to liberate the terror nest in Mosul.
Baghdadi has probed the defenses of Baghdad, has clearly got a large network of bombers in the city, and come hell or high water, he will seize the seat of power.

5) Jordan is next, and I predict ISIS to deploy chlorine gas with wanton abandon.

6) Obola has destroyed US foreign policy, and some strike on a vending machine in Raqaa doesn’t change a damn thing.

7) We need a military coup

[Will88]

Just wait until Field Marshall Obama gets those 5,000 vetted Syrian rebels trained, then his plan will be put into effect and that’ll be the end of ISIS.

[The KG9 Kid]

Gee, maybe we could find an iron-fisted strongman to seize power in Iraq and crush the cursed Islamists like warm M&Ms using unrelenting terror, a secret police force with ears everywhere, and willingness to crush the balls of all opposition in a vise. We shall fund him with weapons and support, and he’ll remain forever loyal to the USA out of gratitude.

... But where will we find such a man?

(*turning to face camera*)

Why am I asking you?

[Viennacon]

Worked with Pinochet

[karnage]

Jordan ain’t going nowhere. Abdullah very shrewd, and strong.

[kaehurowing]

All the Americans who died fighting in Iraq died in vain, all because of Obama’s stupidity.

[huldah1776]

Hmmm. I wonder what the minimum physical training scores are needed to pass basic? Lower than Air Force female scores? Everyone knows the harder the training, the stronger the emotional ties to making the grade and the stronger the self-image. Hence, The Few, The Proud, The Marines.

[353FMG]

What if those vetted 5,000 trained Syrian rebels join ISIS and take their weapons and training with them?

[catbertz]

I think many folks believe that’s how ISIS was created.