Posted on 03/15/2015 11:45:01 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
For USA in Tikrit, Hope Is The Only Plan
The U.S. has no real options if the Shiites forces, backed by Iran, decide to go on a killing spree against Sunnis in Saddam Hussein’s hometown.
The American outlook for the battle of Tikrit is a triumph of hope over experience.
U.S. military officials hope that Iranian-backed forces eject fighters from the self-proclaimed Islamic State from Tikrit—giving both the U.S. and Iran a victory—but stop short of using that win to carry out sectarian reprisals against Sunnis there. U.S. officials said publicly throughout the week that if Shiite forces, many of which see the hometown of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein as the birthplace of Sunni-led oppression, choose to lash out, the U.S. could offer few options on how to respond.
It is one of the second order effects of a war plan hinging on two foes—Iran and the United States—sharing the same short-term goals in Tikrit, but having divergent long-term visions for Iraq. Iraqi forces were not strong enough on their own to defeat ISIS in Tikrit, so Iranian ground forces have swooped in and advised, equipped and fought alongside Iraqi forces, hoping to increase their leverage on Iraq along the way. In just two days since they first entered Tikrit, the 23,000 Iranian-backed Iraqi forces and Shiite-dominated militias have nearly reclaimed the city, giving them the biggest victory against ISIS and setting the stage for the potential ethnic cleansing.
Iraqi forces moved into Tikrit with such speed, it even surprised Baghdad, according to Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al Abadi, interviewed on ABC’s “This Week” last Sunday. What will emerge from that win has many inside the U.S. national security community on edge.
(Excerpt) Read more at thedailybeast.com ...
Perhaps we could take off and nuke it from orbit. There’s always that option.
Who cares? I’m more interested in rotating the tires on my truck.
I suppose that convening a Nuremburg-style tribunal to hold Obama accountable for his genocide-inducing actions would be out of the question, huh...
The Shia Iranians who have spent blood and reasure in Iraq defeating Sunni ISIS, would be foolish to allow an American inspired Inclusive Govt. to form in Iraq.
For openers, Iran should take over Shiite dominated Baghdad for Irananian dominance.
Then figure out what to do with the borderless remnants of Iraq. - Tom
It’s their turn. We should keep out of it.
I'm still dumbfounded that ISIS wasn't disintegrated when they were marching in a column across Iraq. If Iran can stop this black hole that will destroy civilization if not stopped, I say "go for it" to Iran!
Ideally, they would kill each other off, at which they have long been trying.
Now isn’t this wonderful! It’s like the Roman Catholics going on a “killing spree” against Episcopalians! These people need to all be eradicated from the face of the earth. The planet will have no peace until they are all gone.
This is not a religious dispute. The Iraqi Shiites have been on the receiving end of the killing ever since Saddam was ousted. They need to hunt-down the terrorist Sunni perps before the leftist human rights lobby can stop them.
I am siding wih Iran on this.
time to even the score
Popcorn is an option.
Hmmmmmm....let’s see....muslims killing muslims....is there a problem?
Agree on that, we have sacrificed so much in that area and for what, defend the smaller groups ( Christians, Kurds), give them air support and special forces but let them solve their own damn problems for once.
Forget about it. The Sunni/Shia conflict coupled with historical tribal strife will ensure rampant butchery. That is the way it has always been and the way it will be
Muslims killing Muslims is to be encouraged. It keeps them too busy to figure out ways to kill US!
Mine rotate every time I drive it...
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