Top U.S. General: Losing Ramadi To The Islamic State Is 'Not A Big Deal'

Nancy A. Youssef, Daily Beast: Pentagon Chief: Losing Ramadi to ISIS Would Not Be a Big Deal

Iraqi forces are battling ISIS for control of the city, but General Martin Dempsey is playing down the stakes—and playing up the importance of the oil-rich Baiji, another ISIS target.

If the Iraqi city of Ramadi, which is under imminent threat from ISIS, fell into jihadist hands, would it matter?

According to Army General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, not really. The bigger threat, he says, is the other city ISIS is moving in on—the oil-rich central city of Baiji.

On Thursday, both cities came under attack. In Baiji, ISIS claimed it had penetrated the oil refinery. And in Ramadi, ISIS and Iraqi forces are engaged in fierce battles for control of the city center and the government buildings that define it. Thousands of citizens have fled the city, and hospitals are reporting full beds as those injured from strikes, gunfire, and explosives file in.

WNU Editor: The fall of another major Iraqi city to the Islamic State will be devastating .... but the Islamic State is unrelenting, and in this battle the Iraqi military appears to be at a disadvantage. As to U.S. General Dempsey's remarks .... WTF?

More News On U.S. General Dempsey Remarking That Losing The Iraqi City Ramadi To The Islamic State Is 'Not A Big deal'

US, Iraq Forces Working To Protect Ramadi, Dempsey Says -- Defense One
Dempsey: Embattled Ramadi not as important as oil center Beiji -- Stars and Stripes
In Iraq, Pentagon focused on fight for refinery in Baiji -- Washington Times
Dempsey: US Focusing Airstrikes to Protect Beiji Refinery -- AP
Sen. John McCain: Pentagon in 'denial' of Ramadi reality -- CNN
McCain: General's Iraq remark an 'insult' to troops -- the Hill
U.S. Says Ramadi at Risk of Falling to Islamic State -- WSJ
Iraqi PM warns Isis could become unstoppable as key city threatened -- The Guardian
Ramadi's Plight Highlights US-Iraqi Strategic Divide -- VOA