Here, people from the Yazidi sect, flee forces loyal to the Islamic State in Sinjar. They can be seen here walking towards the Syrian border. On Sunday, Iraq's human rights minister told Reuters that IS militants have killed at least 500 members of the ethnic minority during their offensive in the north. Reuters
'They're Killing Us': The Disturbing Rise of the Islamic State -- Katrin Kuntz and Christoph Reuter, Spiegel Online
The Islamic State is conquering cities in Syria and Iraq with disturbing frequency and tens of thousands of Christians and Yazidis are fleeing. The US has begun air strikes, but the Islamists are benefiting from instability in both countries.
With the exception of a few birds defying the sweltering midday heat, all is quiet on the front, with Kurdish fighters cowering in the shade of the cliffs. Suddenly, sentence fragments from Friday prayers can be heard on the banks of the Euphrates River. "Gather together ... smash the traitors of the faith!" The words from the preacher, distorted by the amplifiers so loved by the jihadists, sound almost spooky.
Read more ....
Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- August 12, 2014
Why Iran Fears Iraq's Kurds -- Marjan Namazi, Daily Beast/Iran Wire
If Kurds Fall, Chaos in Iraq and Abroad to Follow -- David Francis, Fiscal Times
In Iraq leadership crisis, US and Iran find themselves playing on same side -- Howard LaFranchi, CSM
Nouri al-Maliki has lost his job, but it doesn't really matter -- Dan Murphy, CSM
The Case for Helping the Kurds -- Fred Kaplan, Slate
Could Islamic militants in Iraq bring their fight to America? -- Anna Mulrine, CSM
Islamic State Is Our Enemy -- Bloomberg editorial
Why the US is Bombing Iraq and Not Syria -- Michael J. Totten, World Affairs
The Spoils of War: Violence in Gaza Leads to Youth Radicalization -- Julia Amalia Heyer, Siegel Online
After Iraq: Surviving the Summer of Global Chaos -- James Jay Carafano, National Interest
India’s Modi accuses Pakistan of waging a proxy war. Will it deter peace talks? -- Lydia Tomkiw, CSM
Argentina’s Griesafault -- Project Syndicate
Putin’s already paying dearly for Ukraine – and looks willing to sacrifice much more -- William E. Pomeranz, Reuters
Russia's new move in Ukrainian game: Opinionline -- USA Today
The Way Out of the Ukraine Crisis -- Jeffrey Tayler, The Atlantic
Iraq, Syria, Ukraine and Gaza are falling apart and John Kerry’s not helping -- Peter Van Buren, Reuters
1 comment:
I think ISIS might be trying to set up a big ambush around these people in the mountains. This is almost an irresistible situation for this DC crowd and their "responsibility to protect" doctrine. ISIS may be willing to take some very high casualties to shoot down US aircraft or draw any ground forces into heavy contact.
Post a Comment