The War Against The Islamic State Is Facing Some Serious Hurdles

Reuters

Liz Sly, Washington Post: The war against the Islamic State hits hurdles just as the U.S. military gears up

BEIRUT — After months of un­expectedly swift advances, the U.S.-led war against the Islamic State is running into hurdles on and off the battlefield that call into question whether the pace of recent gains can be sustained.

Chaos in Baghdad, the fraying of the cease-fire in Syria and political turmoil in Turkey are among some of the potential obstacles that have emerged in recent weeks to complicate the prospects for progress. Others include small setbacks for U.S.- allied forces on front lines in northern Iraq and Syria, which have come as a reminder that a strategy heavily reliant on local armed groups of varying proficiency who are often at odds with one another won’t always work.

When President Obama first ordered U.S. warplanes into ­action against the extremists sweeping through Iraq and Syria in 2014, U.S. officials put a three- to five-year timeline on a battle they predicted would be hard. After a rocky start, officials say they are gratified by the progress made, especially over the past six months.

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WNU Editor: Liz Sly paints a dismal picture on the military progress against the Islamic State in Iraq .... and while I usually disagree with what she says, she is accurate that if it was not for the U.S. presence, the Islamic State would be a very difficult foe to defeat. But ramping up the U.S. presence in Iraq is not a solution .... this is a fight that the Iraqis themselves must resolve .... both militarily and politically. But when I look at what is happening in Baghdad right now .... their disunity is a guarantee that Iraq's problems will not be resolved at any-time in the future.