Iraqi security forces defend their headquarters against attacks by Islamic State extremists in the eastern part of Ramadi in Anbar province, May 14, 2015. Reuters/Stringer
Bloomberg: Islamic State Victory Threatens to Unravel Obama’s Iraq Strategy
Islamic State’s seizure of the Iraqi city of Ramadi threatens to unravel President Barack Obama’s strategy for defeating the Sunni extremist group without sending U.S. ground troops back to Iraq.
Ramadi’s fall, two days after a U.S. general said Islamic State was “losing” in Iraq, is the militants’ biggest success since they swept across northern Iraq a year ago. Deploying car bombs and executing dozens of pro-government soldiers and civilians, the group raised its black banner over the capital of Anbar province as government forces fled.
On Monday, U.S. officials insisted that there’s no need to change the administration’s reliance upon airpower and the training of pro-government Iraqi forces. Ramadi, they said, will be freed eventually.
Update #1: ISIS Counterpunch Stuns U.S. and Iraq -- Jamie Dettmer, Daily Beast
Update #2: Ramadi battle: Why defeat could prove a hammer blow for anti-IS strategy -- Dan Murphy, CSM
Update #3: ISIS Capture Of Ramadi, Iraq, A 'Failure' For U.S.-Led Coalition -- IBTimes
WNU Editor: I am still trying to understand what the White House strategy to defeat the Islamic State is .... but even if they have one the fall of Ramadi will guarantee the following .... the offensive to retake Mosul is not going to happen, and Iran's involvement in the conflict is only going to deepen.
2 comments:
The Shia militia counter attack should be very instructive for many many reasons.
1) If it fails or goes on too long Baghdad itself will come under direct ISIS military pressure.
2) It should give a much clearer picture of the unstated Iranian/US cooperation than has existed to date.
3) This is the last effort that Iran can mount in Iraq through proxies only, if it fails then their entire Iraqi scheme fails.
4) The counter attack must win big and quick, it cannot get bogged down.
More later, I am still digesting "We are the World".
I agree with all 4 points James. Could not have said it any better.
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