ISIS/ISIL conflict in Syria/Iraq (No OpEd, No Politics)

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Carnegie Endowment said:
On April 9, 2013, a voice message by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi—who took over as emir of the ISI after Abu Omar was killed in April 2010—announced to the world that the Nusra Front, a jihadi opposition group in Syria, was simply a cover for the activities of the ISI in Syria. In his message, Baghdadi declared that the two jihadi groups would now work under a single name: the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

The Nusra Front leader, Abu Mohammad al-Golani, did not respond favorably as he was anxious to maintain his leadership of the organization. He admitted that he had fought in Iraq under Baghdadi’s command and that the Nusra Front had benefited from funds, weapons, and fighters sent by the ISI. He also sought to preserve the jihadi identity of the Nusra Front, ending his statement with a “renewal of allegiance” to Ayman al-Zawahiri.

This was not simply a sop to the ideological hardliners in the Nusra Front. It also meant that he was designating a potential arbiter that he knew would be favorable to him. Even if the ISI and the central al-Qaeda leadership shared many ideological tenets, there were still doctrinal disagreements between the ISI leaders and Zawahiri—for example, on what attitude to take toward the masses of ordinary Shia Muslims in the Arab world.

As expected, Zawahiri took the side of Golani and urged the Islamic State to retreat from Syria. But Baghdadi retorted that the ISIL would remain in both Iraq and Syria and that he would never comply with “the borders of Sykes-Picot,” referring to the agreement between London and Paris that divided Arab lands into British and French spheres of influence after World War I.

This event is singular and impotant. It is (understandably generating a LOT of interest and discussion on the forum.

So, like the Ukraine Crisis, a seperate thread is being opened for it. The posts from the Middle East Military News, and the World NEWS: Braking News threads about this topic will be moved here.

Keep it civil, keep it professional, and do not get caught up in politics or ideologies.
 
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Miragedriver

Brigadier
Re: World News Thread & Breaking News!!

Al-Qaeda seizes Iraq's third-largest city as terrified residents flee

Militants storm northern city of Mosul, freeing thousands of prisoners, as Iraqi prime minister declares state of emergency and offers to arm citizens who volunteer to fight against militants

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SampanViking

The Capitalist
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Re: World News Thread & Breaking News!!

Al-Qaeda seizes Iraq's third-largest city as terrified residents flee

Militants storm northern city of Mosul, freeing thousands of prisoners, as Iraqi prime minister declares state of emergency and offers to arm citizens who volunteer to fight against militants

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The most important part of this story is the looting of the huge arsenal of US supplied weapons and ammunition; much of it quite advanced, that was stored in Mosul, much of which is now apparently heading across the border in Syria.

Rather embarrassing timing as it happens barely a day after Susan Rice admits that the US is supplying "lethal aid" to Syrian rebel groups.
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I think you may be taking the Mickey Susan!
 

SampanViking

The Capitalist
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Re: World News Thread & Breaking News!!

The agencies involved are normally giving this equipment away as part of a program run out of the DOD and DHS.

They may be given away, but most of this surplus is new and results from oversupply, rather than simply disposing of used kit. It is the oversupply that is the point of the sleeze. I have read that some 500 mine resistant vehicles have been supplied to law enforcement over the last few years. Most of them are new surplus and purchased for a $1 million a piece. This of course is just the tip of the iceberg.

You can call it incompetence if you want and call a grand jury to investigate. Someone however has made a killing from it and that money is never coming back, what ever the GJ or committee find.
 

Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator
Re: World News Thread & Breaking News!!

The most important part of this story is the looting of the huge arsenal of US supplied weapons and ammunition; much of it quite advanced, that was stored in Mosul, much of which is now apparently heading across the border in Syria.

Rather embarrassing timing as it happens barely a day after Susan Rice admits that the US is supplying "lethal aid" to Syrian rebel groups.
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I think you may be taking the Mickey Susan!

Yes, and now we can't wait to get them their F-16s, can you say stooopid?
 

ABC78

Junior Member
Re: World News Thread & Breaking News!!

Here's a CNN report about ISIS attacks in Iraq.

[video=youtube;L-9Nver1UCY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-9Nver1UCY[/video]
 

texx1

Junior Member
Re: World News Thread & Breaking News!!

Yes, and now we can't wait to get them their F-16s, can you say stooopid?

ISIS don't have F-16s. But it now has UH-60 Blackhawks. ISIS captured Mosul airport where Iraqi government maintained a fleet of UH-60 Blackhawks.

BpxGPthIAAEAuNr.jpg

Blackhawk captured at Mosul airport

BpwaIK-CYAApun2.jpg

Sat photo of Mosul airport

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If they somehow managed to operate them, ISIS would be the first terrorist group that operates assault choppers.
 

delft

Brigadier
Re: World News Thread & Breaking News!!

There is often talk about sponsors of terrorists, even now of US lethal support for Syrian terrorists, but I have seen nothing about the sponsors of the ISIS operations in Iraq. Why? If there aren't any that would itself be a reason for comments.
 

delft

Brigadier
Re: World News Thread & Breaking News!!

The most important part of this story is the looting of the huge arsenal of US supplied weapons and ammunition; much of it quite advanced, that was stored in Mosul, much of which is now apparently heading across the border in Syria.

Rather embarrassing timing as it happens barely a day after Susan Rice admits that the US is supplying "lethal aid" to Syrian rebel groups.
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I think you may be taking the Mickey Susan!
I suppose it will be enough for the US to see Syria become a failed state. But it seems they are losing, despite their support for moderate terrorists.
 

Miragedriver

Brigadier
Re: World News Thread & Breaking News!!

Iraq crisis: al-Qaeda forces seize Mosul and Tikrit - live

US and UK speak of deep concern as al-Qaeda take swathes of northern Iraq, sparking a mass exodus of civilians - follow latest developments

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I will now get back to bottling my Malbec
 
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