Reuters: Iraqi politicians, militias warn Abadi against U.S. force deployment
Iraq's ruling alliance and powerful Shi'ite militias say Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi would be digging his own political grave and undermining the fight against Islamic State if he permits the deployment of a new U.S. special operations force in the country.
Washington said on Tuesday it would send troops, expected to number around 200, to Iraq to conduct raids against the ultra-hardline Sunni Muslim militants who have seized swathes of the country's north and west and neighboring Syria.
Abadi said hours later that any such deployment would require his government's consent, comments that may have been made for public consumption at home.
WNU Editor: Yesterday's U.S. announcement of more forces being deployed to Iraq ..... U.S. To Deploy More Special Forces To Combat The Islamic State .... has caused a fire-storm in Iraq with the Iraqi PM now stating that he does not want U.S. forces in his country .... Iraq: We don't need foreign troops to fight ISIL (Al Jazeera). And even though US Sec. of State John Kerry is stating that the Iraqi government was consulted .... Kerry: Iraq Briefed on US Plan to Strike at Heart of IS (VOA) .... Iraqi politics is now rearing its head. What's my take .... the only U.S. ally that has been reliable in the war against the Islamic State have been the Kurds, who themselves have now given up on getting help from Baghdad. And while I expect the U.S. will continue to back the Iraqi government .... you have to wonder how long can this be sustained when so many Iraqis are suspicious of U.S. motives and actions .... Many Iraqis Believe The U.S. Is Supporting The Islamic State.
WNU Editor,
ReplyDeleteTip for you ;
http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/12/02/the-wishful-thinking-war-a-briefing-on-syria-to-members-of-parliament/
Jay. Thank you for the link. Your timing is impeccable. I am actually preparing a post right now on the debate in the UK on bombing Syria.
ReplyDeleteThe militias don't complain when american airpower helps them win.
ReplyDeletephill,
DeleteThe Shia Militia's get no air support from Operation Inherent Resolve, they get air support from the Iraqi Airforce and the Iranians.
OIR provides air support to the Kurds and the Iraqi Army.
When the Iraqi Army campaigns with the Shia Militia's, if an Iraqi Army Commander makes the call, OIR sometimes answers, if a Shia Commander calls, they hang up.
Shia Commanders have to call in airstrikes by either routing the need through an Iraqi Army Commander, or routing the need through the Iraqi Army Command Centre in Baghdad.
Needless to say, there is often a fatal delay for the Shia Militia's.
Jay
ReplyDeletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Tikrit
They've gotten some roadside assistance before.
phill,
ReplyDelete"Iraqi Security Forces" are joint Iraqi Army, and Shi Militia Operations.
Tikrit included Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, Kata'ib Hezbollah, Badr Brigades, Khorasani Brigades, Kata'ib al-Imam Ali,, Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Peace Brigades,
Working with the Iraqi Army and other Iraqi Government Forces, who called in the air assets.
Meanwhile:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/06/10/iraq-militias-threaten-u-s-over-friendly-fire-incident-but-did-it-ever-happen.html