As The Islamic State Loses Territory In Iraq, Worries Are Growing On What Happens Next

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Jonathan Landay, Warren Strobel, and Phil Stewart, Reuters: As Islamic State is pushed back in Iraq, worries about what's next

As U.S.-led offensives drive back Islamic State in Iraq, concern is growing among U.S. and U.N. officials that efforts to stabilize liberated areas are lagging, creating conditions that could help the militants endure as an underground network.

One major worry: not enough money is being committed to rebuild the devastated provincial capital of Ramadi and other towns, let alone Islamic State-held Mosul, the ultimate target in Iraq of the U.S.-led campaign.

Lise Grande, the No. 2 U.N. official in Iraq, told Reuters that the United Nations is urgently seeking $400 million from Washington and its allies for a new fund to bolster reconstruction in cities like Ramadi, which suffered vast damage when U.S.-backed Iraqi forces recaptured it in December.

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WNU Editor: The problem is that Iraq does not have the resources or monies to rebuild the towns and cities that have been destroyed by all of this fighting .... and even the U.S. is limited by what it can do. I guess this explains why President Obama is now trying to get the Gulf states involved in rebuilding the country .... Obama to ask Gulf nations to help finance Iraq’s rebuilding. (VOA). My prediction is that this U.S. plea will be ignored .... the Gulf states see Iraq ruled by a Shiite dominated government that is aligned with Iran .... and giving money to a Shiite government aligned with Iran is a no-no for these countries.