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Thoughts are?While that critical assessment of Iraqi security forces has been voiced in Congress and by policy research institutes, Mr. Carter’s remarks on CNN’s “State of the Union” were some of the administration’s strongest language to date about Iraq’s repeated inability to hold and take back territory from the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL.
“They were not outnumbered. In fact, they vastly outnumbered the opposing force and yet they failed to fight and withdrew from the site,” he said. “That says to me and, I think, to most of us, that we have an issue with the will of the Iraqis to fight ISIL and defend themselves.”
He's right. The Iraqi army fled in the face of inferior numbers. They don't have the will to fight ISIS for whatever reason. It cant be overemphasized that ISIS is not a strong military force. They are brutal and evil, but not numerous or great fighters. They just happen to have the good fortune of having the Iraqi army as their opposition.
Until the people in the region are willing to stand up and eliminate this threat, there isn't anything that can be done.
Well, the Pentagon disagrees with you, but perhaps you've got a better handle on the abilities of the Islamic State than the Pentagon does.
Islamic State controls wide areas of Iraq and neighboring Syria. Months of U.S.-led bombardment have slowed and in some cases reversed the militants’ advance. But Islamic State remains a formidable, well-armed foe with substantial civilian support in Anbar and elsewhere in Iraq and Syria, the Pentagon said in a statement.
Iraqi forces repel Islamic State attack on base in Anbar province - LA Times
Pity that we broke the country a dozen years ago and they even have to struggle with this at all.
Which raises the question why the US continues to make the mistake of being involved there at all. It was an mistake to get involved 12 years ago, it was a mistake to stay involved for 10 years, and now it is a mistake to get sucked back in. The Iraqis don't care enough to fight them, so why should the US? Let ISIS take over and then deal with whatever governnent they hobble together.
This has been known from the very beginning. It was apparent when, facing a few hundred fighters, 30,000 Iraqi soldiers fled Mosul while begging civilians for their clothes along the way. The explanation then was that all of their officers, who had purchased their ranks for the authority and prestige that came with it, had forewarning and got out of dodge before the rest of the Iraqi army was informed so they followed suit. Fact is the military of Iraq is worthless.
No, ISIS is the product of the collapse of Assads authority is Syria. No Syrian civil war, no ISIS.
Indeed, another place that long term USFP ambition of regime change has compromised the US from engaging properly. Al Qaeda grew in Afghanistan as a result of the American mission there, followed us into Iraq, where Saddam had allowed them no quarters, grew as a result of that operation, announcing the formation of the Islamic State in Iraq in 2006. And then followed our folly into Libya, helped us dispose of Gaddafi and then are now helping us in our attempts to rid Syria of Assad. There just really is no end in sight to failed US policy in the region.
The thing for which there is 'no end in sight' is your desire to blame everything on America. Let me guess: were it not for America, the Middle East would be the Garden of Eden and Islam would be the religion of peace.
No, I've never suggested that. Btw, there's no end to you blaming Obama for the woes of the Middle East, what's your point dude. Funny you guys can show up at DP every ****ing day blaming Obama, but when somebody points out that both Obama and Bush policies have failed, its un-American. Such is your hypocritical BULL****.
The news reports I saw indicated that the Iraqi soldiers outnumbered ISIS by around 10-to-1. Unfortunately, while training can teach one how to use weapons, it doesn't necessarily give one courage.
No, I've never suggested that. Btw, there's no end to you blaming Obama for the woes of the Middle East, what's your point dude. Funny you guys can show up at DP every ****ing day blaming Obama, but when somebody points out that both Obama and Bush policies have failed, its un-American. Such is your hypocritical BULL****.
Pity that we broke the country a dozen years ago and they even have to struggle with this at all.
Apparently Obama's strategy of sending in advisers to "train" Iraqi forces is a failed policy.
Literally every decision Obama has made in Iraq has been the wrong one. Imagine that, an anti-war liberal college professor doesn't know how to win wars. Is it 2016 yet?
The question to answer is how that came to be, after billions were spent on them.
Bush spent 5 years equipping and training the Iraqi security forces!!!
All of Obama's policies have failed. Bush handed Obama a stamped envelope with a won war inside and instead of sealing it Obama dumped out the contents and set it on fire.
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