Senior U.S. military officials want Baghdad to name an Iraqi commander for the offensive to avoid dealing with Iranian advisers. Ahmed Al-Hussaini/ REUTERS
James Broder, Newsweek: Who's in Charge of the Fight Against ISIS in Tikrit?
For the first time since Iraqi forces launched an operation to recapture the city of Tikrit, Baghdad has asked the United States for intelligence to help beat back the Islamic State (ISIS) in a counteroffensive that’s stalled on the outskirts of the city, a senior U.S. military official in Iraq told Newsweek.
Yet in a sign of Washington’s unease with the major role being played by Iranian-backed militias in the battle against ISIS, U.S. officials balked at providing assistance, and instead demanded that Baghdad first appoint its own overall commander for the operation, part of which is being overseen by Iranian military advisers.
As it stands, nobody knows who’s in charge of the Tikrit operation, said this official, who spoke on condition of anonymity according to diplomatic protocol.
WNU Editor: This is a revealing post on who is really in charge of this offensive against the Islamic State in Tikrit. Bottom-line .... if Baghdad does not have an overall commander in charge of military operations at Tikrit (which is exactly what the U.S. is demanding if they are to assist Iraq in Tikrit) .... one can then only assume that it is Iran who is charge .... and if these pictures are any indication .... one can then conclude that yes .... it is definitely Iran who is in charge.
5 comments:
U.S. officials balked at providing assistance,
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Maybe they (the US) doesn't want to blowup all those nice shiny new Ford F-150's that they supplied to(ISIS)
See the goal grow monthly longer,
Reaching for the walls of Tyre.
Hear the crash of tons of granite,
Smell the quenchless eastern fire.
General George S Patton
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/543355/posts
Tikrit will probably fall, though ISIS may have a nasty surprise or two there. After Tikrit the push to Mosul and then on to Raqqah is where the Iranians have the problem of extended supply lines through ostensibly hostile territory.
This all began with the removal of Maliki. His replacement ensure the IRG control of the Iraq levers of government. This give cover for any US support, such as gear, intel, etc.
Solameini's very public presence at the head of this offensive indicates the IRG is all in on it and has confidence in the outcome. It should be noted that this could not happen without Khameni's approval.
The so called leaked recently of Obama's threat to shoot down IDF planes was really meant for the surrounding Sunni countries Saudi Arabia, Jordan, etc, to not threaten with their own air forces. Though the audience at this site is well versed in these things, it's important to point out that air cover doesn't have to be right over your head to work. No large ground offensive can work in this area within a hostile air environment. The Iranian have clear skies. It should be noted also that the Iranians are so confident of this that there is no Iranian air combat presence over Iraq.
A final note: Solaimani's public presence and the flags I have pointed out is a domestic pr campaign designed for audiences in Tehran, the Bekaa valley, and Dasmascus.
Further note: I was wrong on my timing. ISIS may not have the chance to make it's move on Medina and Mecca after all. The heavy overt Iranian intervention has come 3 or 4 months earlier than I had thought. The next critical event on deck is the Israeli election.
Well said James. I could not have said it any better.
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