I am veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom who as a civil affairs officer spent a great deal of time in Ramadi. All the work accomplished in that city is gone. However, the ignorant comments made by liberal and conservative Americans about Iraq and Ramadi disappoint me. First, the roots for the Iraqi civil war were laid 100 years ago by the Sykes-Picot Treaty between Great Britain and France that divided the old Ottoman Empire. The British established minority Sunni rule over the majority Shi'ia and Kurdish populations that was maintained by one Sunni dictator after another until 2003. In 2003, President George W. Bush by invading Iraq and destroying Saddam Hussein's regime and minority Sunni rule simply set in motion a civil war that was coming sooner or later. President Bush's mistake was not planning for the occupation of Iraq and that civil war. President Obama made the same mistake in Libya another Sunni Arab country in a civil war, when he permitted the overthrow and murder of Muammar Gaddafi with no follow-up plan for what was to re-place Gaddafi. ISIS took advantage of the civil war in Libya much like they did in Iraq. It is time to stop pointing fingers at each other about a past we cannot change and for leaders of both political parties to develop a bi-partisan plan to end the conflicts.
2
Good for the Iraqi forces. The toughest is yet to come, but this success will at least motivate those trying to take their country back. I pray that they will not turn on sunnis not involved with isis.
The sooner Iraq is turned into a confederation of sunni shia and kurdish governments the sooner there will be peace. This is just a tactical victory but cannot hold without devolving power to the sunnis in the sunni areas. They do not trust the shia and rightly so. The Shia have excluded them from power, kept their money and have failed to defend the country. Their playbook has been to sell arms to the enemy, cut and run from defending the country, whine to the USA Iran and Russia, rather than empower the Sunnis and build a real country. So this victory is only tactical and the true victory will come from partition or true reconciliation, both of which must be decided by the locals, not the USA or EU.
2
This was a big step for the Iraqi Army. This will hopefully encourage other Iraqis to fight for their country now that they see a Victory. Yes America has a dog in the fight, but without the thousands of troops on the ground that many have been calling for. Many will make this Political. Who cares whether a Decocratic or Republican is in the white House we all need to applaud when a victory happens.
Ramadi is utterly destroyed. There is no victory when a government permitted a small group of militia to occupy its city for almost one year and had to destroy it in order to re-occupy it. This is a result of our invasion. We installed a political system in Iraq that is filled with partisan amateurs.
Iraqi Forces Retake Center of Ramadi From ISIS. When do they plan on giving it back?
Thank you, It is so good to hear some good news in this war on terror. Now I hope the new Prime Minister takes a lesson from the mistakes made by his predecessor.
It will have no long term effect just as nothing the US has done in the region has had a lasting effect. All this will do is add to the burden of America's armed forces and further deplete the American economy.
" 'The clearance of the government center is a significant accomplishment,' Col. Steven H. Warren, the United States military spokesman in Baghdad, said in a statement. 'Today’s success is a proud moment for Iraq.' "
"Colonel Warren said the American-led coalition had conducted, as part of the Ramadi campaign, more than 630 airstrikes since July, including three on Sunday that hit 18 targets."
This isn't at all an Iraqi victory over ISIS.
If it weren't for the US, ISIS would still be in control of the city. And how patronizing (and phony) that an American military man should be telling us all to be proud of Iraq.
I suspect that if it were not for pressure by the US from behind the scenes, the unlikely conglomeration of Sunni and Shia fighters would never have come together in the first place, much less worked together (if work together they did).
"Colonel Warren said the American-led coalition had conducted, as part of the Ramadi campaign, more than 630 airstrikes since July, including three on Sunday that hit 18 targets."
This isn't at all an Iraqi victory over ISIS.
If it weren't for the US, ISIS would still be in control of the city. And how patronizing (and phony) that an American military man should be telling us all to be proud of Iraq.
I suspect that if it were not for pressure by the US from behind the scenes, the unlikely conglomeration of Sunni and Shia fighters would never have come together in the first place, much less worked together (if work together they did).
1
Just think about this if Iraqi forces are succeeding does it mean ISIS was never the threat we have made them out to be?
1
A necessary step, but not a major victory. Ramadi was only lighly held by about 400 ISIS fighters. And it took months, not days, to recapture. Also, Reports tell that the Shiite militias played a covert role masquerading as Iraqi Army. As Ramadi was fought over for months before it fell to ISIS in May, the real battle will be whether the Iraqi government can hold Ramadi.
2
"Iraq’s prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, who announced the city’s “liberation” on Twitter on Monday night, has vowed to now focus on recapturing Mosul, a larger city in the north that the Islamic State seized in 2014."
It seems to me that before Mr. Abadi picks a new project he really ought to focus on completing the task at hand. While it is certainly good news that the Iraqi forces have made good headway in Ramadi, with ISIS holding a number of suburbs, the job is hardly finished. Mop up re-claimed areas; retake areas which are still in ISIS hands; secure all those areas - then, and only then, move on to Mosul. Premature celebration and abandonment of the project before it is truly finished leads only to failure.
It seems to me that before Mr. Abadi picks a new project he really ought to focus on completing the task at hand. While it is certainly good news that the Iraqi forces have made good headway in Ramadi, with ISIS holding a number of suburbs, the job is hardly finished. Mop up re-claimed areas; retake areas which are still in ISIS hands; secure all those areas - then, and only then, move on to Mosul. Premature celebration and abandonment of the project before it is truly finished leads only to failure.
3
Ok, the Iraqi forces have retaken the city center plus other parts of Ramadi. They need to build on it by expanding their hold by taking more territory from ISIS. This would include chasing them across the border into Syria. Remember, ISIS isn't a state
1
President François Hollande is quoted as saying this is the most important victory against ISIS since the start of the fight against it. And the fight he was referring to was that of France's "war" with ISIS.
However Iraq's fight against ISIS is that Iraq wants to regain control over areas within its borders that were seized by ISIS, so ousting ISIS from Ramadi is a victory for Iraq in its war. The war that France and the west is fighting against ISIS is of a completely different nature. It is a fight against the terror group that is ISIS. The objective of this fight is to defeat ISIS to the point where it no longer has the same ability as it has today to commit terror attacks in western lands.
So in this war ousting ISIS from territory that it holds accomplishes nothing in regard to its potency as a terror group, and the Iraqi army's victory in Ramadi is not in any way a victory for the west in its fight against ISIS. In fact even if ISIS were completely ousted from all the territory it holds in Iraq and Syria their threat to the west would remain the same as all that it needs is a safe haven somewhere on earth to call its base. It already has such places, such as in Libya, Sinai, Yemen and many others.
In fact were ISIS to be ousted from the state that it holds this would leave the world with tens of thousands of battle hardened jihadis with the sole objective of attacking the west.
As such ISIS is a much bigger problem than western leaders can bring themselves to admit.
However Iraq's fight against ISIS is that Iraq wants to regain control over areas within its borders that were seized by ISIS, so ousting ISIS from Ramadi is a victory for Iraq in its war. The war that France and the west is fighting against ISIS is of a completely different nature. It is a fight against the terror group that is ISIS. The objective of this fight is to defeat ISIS to the point where it no longer has the same ability as it has today to commit terror attacks in western lands.
So in this war ousting ISIS from territory that it holds accomplishes nothing in regard to its potency as a terror group, and the Iraqi army's victory in Ramadi is not in any way a victory for the west in its fight against ISIS. In fact even if ISIS were completely ousted from all the territory it holds in Iraq and Syria their threat to the west would remain the same as all that it needs is a safe haven somewhere on earth to call its base. It already has such places, such as in Libya, Sinai, Yemen and many others.
In fact were ISIS to be ousted from the state that it holds this would leave the world with tens of thousands of battle hardened jihadis with the sole objective of attacking the west.
As such ISIS is a much bigger problem than western leaders can bring themselves to admit.
2
maybe it's a great victory for Iraq but from the TV pictures it looks like Ramadi is rubble that is not inhabitable. love to know if that's isolated areas or widespread. Looks like to me that both Syria/Iraq will end up as two nations left with cities similar to post WWII Germany with no Marshall Plan.
"With help from American jets" that is the entire story.
1
Let's be honest with ourselves: there is no end in sight to the violence and chaos of the middle east, and unless we are willing to say bye-bye to Israel (and we aren't), we cannot afford to become isolationist on this matter. However, this is a problem that can be reasonably managed. The US can get Assad to make a few concessions so we can make the American public and the Russians happy by leaving him in power. It should not be a difficult task to then get the entire European continent on board with working in concert to weaken ISIS. Sure, ISIS is going to remain a problem, and even if they are ultimately depleted, some other bad guy will be ready to take their place, but this is a no-win situation (AKA the middle east), and our losses will (probably) be lessened if the world can at least agree on who the bad guys are, and work together to limit the damage they can cause.
1
Omitted in this story was there were only 300 insurgents .http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3376070/Iraqi-forces-vow-Mosul-I...
The days of Arabs who can't fight or get it together are probably over, starting from this moment.
Before everyone gets overly excited, please see Afghanistan. The bad guys now control more cities and territory there than since 2001.
2
"Iraqi Forces Retake Center of Ramadi From ISIS," great it took 10,000 Iraqi soldiers to retake a completely destroyed city from some 300 terrorists. Who most likely a great deal of them escaped to fight another day. Makes me feel warm and fuzzy.If anyone thinks this is the beginning of the end of daesh they have no understanding about the Middle East.
4
I always remember the wise words of G.W. Bush, "bring it on." Well?
1
As a veteran who served in Al Anbar, I would say there is nothing worth celebrating here. This is more a giving up of Ramadi by ISIS rather than victory by Iraqi Forces. ISIS is interested in invading and plundering and is not interested in holding territory as they are not interested in governing. It is an empty victory that took almost a year to achieve. It serves as a propaganda fodder for a failed strategy against ISIS. It will do nothing to stop the ISIS threat especially to the USA homeland.
2
ISIS has no appeal other than establishing the Caliphate. That means taking and holding territory.
2
These comments read like a debate between Bush and Obama partisans rather commentary on the import of the action in Ramadi. What's going on? Are the Iraqi becoming more like a modern state or are we becoming more like a fractious, mindless, Middle Eastern muddle?
2
I've always held to the belief that ISIS was able to rapidly expand due to a vacuum of power. Women, children, and civilians have been their mainstay of opposition. Flush with confidence, the middle-class wanna-be jihadis from Europe streamed in looking for adventure and spoils, bolstering the image of power. But as I knew would happen, once up against a real fighting force, they are losing and will continue to lose. Watch as the rout begins. The majority of their fighters will be begging to return to their soft middle class lives in Europe. Already we are seeing defectors escaping into Turkey.
1
Dr. Luizard is right. As long as the population there, mostly Sunnis, side with ISIS, the government won't be able to hold. Just look at what's happening in Afghanistan, after 14 years of building up a military there, we are still seeing not just Taliban, but ISIS start taking territory.
2
It would be great if this was not staged. But you know what "pushed back" or "pushed out" means. Non-official reports from the area said that US Special forces were trying to smuggle some Daesh "leaders" out of Ramadi to take them to Turkey where their godfather Erdogan can see where he use them. I haven't heard from my sources if that was successful.
3
Stay tuned for next week's episode. I seriously believe that war in the middle east is the only employment most of those people realize. Sponsored by the arms industry. For better or worse, they don't care.
The only way for ISIS to be defeated both militarily and philosophically is for an Islamic military to take out ISIS. ISIS is still trying to achieve a West Vs. Islam war by conquering and touting; however this is one avenue President Obama has remained successful in avoiding. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the Republicans, who are incredibly predictable and unsophisticated in their approach to handling international affairs.
The Iraqi military is a half hearted organization that CAN become 100% committed and increasingly aggressive thanks to a few victories, Ramadi being a huge one. The realization that ISIS is not invincible will, hopefully, encourage more Islamic military powers to step in and rid ISIS off the map - something they are currently more than capable of doing. Hats off to the Iraqi military today.
The Iraqi military is a half hearted organization that CAN become 100% committed and increasingly aggressive thanks to a few victories, Ramadi being a huge one. The realization that ISIS is not invincible will, hopefully, encourage more Islamic military powers to step in and rid ISIS off the map - something they are currently more than capable of doing. Hats off to the Iraqi military today.
4
It is interesting that ISIS spread so quickly over the last couple of years. Especially since the time after Obama called them a JV team. We have been bombing almost daily and about all we hear is that a couple of trucks were blown up. Then Putin steps and sends troupes and planes to Syria. All of a sudden oil supplies and centers of ISIS are being blown up and now Iraq is making progress against ISIS. Is it connected? Putin claims the US has been fighting ISIS in word only. His reason is We refuse to share targeting information against ISIS. There is a lot to do to if ISIS is to be defeated.. Obama's animosity towards Russia seems to have caused him to ignore the thousand of lives that have been lost to ISIS and the women and children of murdered men that have been sold into slavery. If Russia can help stop that slaughter then they should be able to help. Further stubbornness on our part should not cost lives. Europe is losing its support of sanctions. France has said Russia should be able to help. Italy is talking about not renewing the sanctions. Lives should not be lost because we refuse to bring others who want to destroy ISIS into the fight against them.
3
We are living the novel "Nineteen Eighty-four," with a constantly shifting mix of distant enemies. Eurasia. Eastasia.
1
Neocons must be having fits. No US troops necessary to get Maliki to leave office and reform the Iraqi government so it is more pluralistic. This is not part of their playbook. Having Iraqi ground forces retake Ramadi without any Shiite militias proves the Iraqi Army has been peacefully reformed. Having Kurdish troops and Yazidis retake Sinjar without US ground troops is not in the playbook also. Even more important is Sunni tribal leaders are joining the anti-ISIS coalition without massive bribes paid as was the case with the much ballyhooed surge under W. In the meantime Iraqi and Hezbollah forces suffering serious losses in Syria due to opposition and Israeli airstrikes while Kurds continue to push ISIS back in Northern Syria.. This is not how the Neocons expect a war to progress. Maybe some US carpet bombing is needed.
What a list of fantasy assertions. And, throwing in Israel is a helping hero.
All poppycock.
All poppycock.
1
Neocons must be having fits.
Bush Tax Cuts. Neocon domestic policy. Obama extends Bush tax cuts more times in 3 years than Bush did in 8 years.
No-bid Halliburton contracts. Neocon domestic policy. Obama ridicules Bush for Halliburton no-bid contracts in 2008, approves a Halliburton no-bid contract in 2010.
Bush's wars, troop surges and nation building. Neocon foreign policy. Obama does two troop surges, doubles down on nation building in Afghanistan and Syria, redeploys troops back into Iraq, restarting the Iraq war.
Bush's NSA Patriot Act domestic spy program. Neocon policy. Obama revives NSA spying and expands it more in 2 years than Bush did in 8 years.
Bush bailouts? Obama signed off on them.
Abuse of executive power? Signing statements? Stimulus programs? Neocon policies. Obama did them all.
Yeah, those darned Neocons...
Bush Tax Cuts. Neocon domestic policy. Obama extends Bush tax cuts more times in 3 years than Bush did in 8 years.
No-bid Halliburton contracts. Neocon domestic policy. Obama ridicules Bush for Halliburton no-bid contracts in 2008, approves a Halliburton no-bid contract in 2010.
Bush's wars, troop surges and nation building. Neocon foreign policy. Obama does two troop surges, doubles down on nation building in Afghanistan and Syria, redeploys troops back into Iraq, restarting the Iraq war.
Bush's NSA Patriot Act domestic spy program. Neocon policy. Obama revives NSA spying and expands it more in 2 years than Bush did in 8 years.
Bush bailouts? Obama signed off on them.
Abuse of executive power? Signing statements? Stimulus programs? Neocon policies. Obama did them all.
Yeah, those darned Neocons...
1
I hope this works to help many in the political class, both GOP and DEM, refrain from the boots on the ground, skin in the game, carpet bombing, no fly zone etc. talk. Only the indigenous people, Iraqi, Kurd, Syrian can do what needs to be done on the ground.
1
It's one city. And the bad guys walked out of the city unharmed to fight another day. ISIS still controls territory as large as Indiana.
And only the locals can do something about that.
The Ramadi battle reminds me of the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes in which the United States lost more than sixty thousand soldiers. The Battle of the Bulge was Hitler's last huge suicidal military offensive from which his army could never recover its lost of experienced officers, tanks and materials. This is also the battle that began the liberation of men, women and children kept hidden in the infamous German death camps. I pray the Ramadi battle is a similar turning point for the Iraki and Syrian populations suffering under the boot of the so-called Islamic caliphate and its depraved leaders.
Today is a good day for the liberators who fought the Ramadi battle, and it feels great to witness this liberation which brings new hope for the region. May the Ramadi battle reminds us of the men and women who fought and gave their life in this fight. May their sacrifice be remembered and used as building block for peace. May the Coalition's military assistance in winning this battle be known as the major push that broke the back of IE, ISIS, ISIL or Daesh. However, let's not celebrate too early, because suicidal military offensives are known to be devastating to the ones who did not keep in check the forces they believed were defeated ore too weak to represent a danger. The Battle of the Bulge should be a reminder...
Today is a good day for the liberators who fought the Ramadi battle, and it feels great to witness this liberation which brings new hope for the region. May the Ramadi battle reminds us of the men and women who fought and gave their life in this fight. May their sacrifice be remembered and used as building block for peace. May the Coalition's military assistance in winning this battle be known as the major push that broke the back of IE, ISIS, ISIL or Daesh. However, let's not celebrate too early, because suicidal military offensives are known to be devastating to the ones who did not keep in check the forces they believed were defeated ore too weak to represent a danger. The Battle of the Bulge should be a reminder...
2
Is everything okay now ?
Count on the Republicans to argue that this could have been done months or years ago by Americans.
What they fail to understand is that only by having the Iraqis do this for themsslves will Iraq cease being a failed state. We can not prop up every "wanna be" state forever. They need to stand on their own two legs.
What they fail to understand is that only by having the Iraqis do this for themsslves will Iraq cease being a failed state. We can not prop up every "wanna be" state forever. They need to stand on their own two legs.
2
Nothing has changed. A week after the US withdraws from the conflict it will be back to anarchy.
3
kinda looks like anarchy to me right now
1
Hats off to the Iraqi forces!
This should serve as a message to the Syrian peoples that "freedom is not free". It must be fought for and not handed to those fleeing to the rich nations of Europe and elsewhere.
This should serve as a message to the Syrian peoples that "freedom is not free". It must be fought for and not handed to those fleeing to the rich nations of Europe and elsewhere.
2
After years of the weakest dedication on the part of the Iraqi military to fight their own battles, it seems that a change might have occurred whereby there is some discipline and allegiance in the Iraqi forces to fight their own battles and beat their foes. If this is actually the case then the best thing the US can do is support them to final victory over the subhumans that call themselves ISIS. I have been critical of President Obama's policy to not engage ISIS more strongly HOWEVER it is ultimately the citizens of Iraq and Syria that will have to govern their own lands if we are not prepared for a permanent presence in the region. IF this victory is genuine and demonstrates true determination on the part of the local forces then we should provide them with all the means necessary to put an end to the ISIS presence as quickly as possible.
1
This is a good first step for the Iraqis and an important one driving ISIS out of their country. I hope they will be able to repeat this success elsewhere. Unfortunately until we have a solid plan and strong allies in Syria and Libya ISIS isn't going to go away.
2
Russia's presence and perception as an honest broker will restore peace and stability to this region. Other protagonists can only offer "more of the same".
The dream of destroying Syria and then controlling a natural gas pipeline route from Qatar to Europe is just that...A dream.
Russia is forging strong trade links with European entities and no one in Europe wants to be involved in another proxy war where the reasons and objectives are shrouded in mist.
The dream of destroying Syria and then controlling a natural gas pipeline route from Qatar to Europe is just that...A dream.
Russia is forging strong trade links with European entities and no one in Europe wants to be involved in another proxy war where the reasons and objectives are shrouded in mist.
1
Dear John Meakin,
I think you're right, but it's more Russia's perception as an honestly merciless oppressor. Worked like a charm in pacifying Georgia, Hungary, Chechnya, and a long list of others. It is the only language the Daesh can understand really, massive slaughter.
I think you're right, but it's more Russia's perception as an honestly merciless oppressor. Worked like a charm in pacifying Georgia, Hungary, Chechnya, and a long list of others. It is the only language the Daesh can understand really, massive slaughter.
Wherever we send our special forces things start to happen. They took down Afghanistan in several months along with US Air Force and the anti-Taliban forces. This is well documented in a number of books.
However they are not a good occupying force. So this is encouraging but where is the strategy to win the peace?
However they are not a good occupying force. So this is encouraging but where is the strategy to win the peace?
1
Some town changes hands once again in the 1,000-year war between religious antagonists. If this isn't front-page news, I don't know what is. Are the Roman legions still battling the Ottoman Empire? Please, someone bring me up to date.
No town has changed hands. One government building has been taken from ISIS, and you'd swear from the fawning of the Obamabots that this was bigger than Thermopylae. Iraq is nowhere near the ISIS-free, stable nation Obama inherited from Bush. But since Obama has zero accomplishments, the media must create one
4
Oh, good grief, Larry. Iraq was NOT stable when GWB left office:
http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/defense/243853-jeb-bush-is-wrong-i...
GWB was repeatedly warned that Iraqi military with no homeland would regroup into terror cells, yet he ignored the experts and plunged ahead, and now we have ISIS. Everyone knows that.
Honestly, you people are laughably desperate to have the rest of us look the other way when it comes to GWB, easily the very worst president the nation has ever known.
http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/defense/243853-jeb-bush-is-wrong-i...
GWB was repeatedly warned that Iraqi military with no homeland would regroup into terror cells, yet he ignored the experts and plunged ahead, and now we have ISIS. Everyone knows that.
Honestly, you people are laughably desperate to have the rest of us look the other way when it comes to GWB, easily the very worst president the nation has ever known.
8
Oh, good grief, yes it was!
"Dr. Luizard added that the Islamic State could not be defeated until the Sunni Arab minority — which dominated Iraq until the United States invasion toppled Saddam Husseini in 2003 — is ensured a place in the government, particularly after a decade in which sectarian violence has ebbed and flowed."
Where does this line of thinking come from? Can anyone honestly imagine the victors in WWII saying the same thing about Nazi Germans, or Imperial Japanese? That we simply wouldn't be able to defeat them unless we gave them autonomy?
The Sunni Arab minority in Anbar and Syria are fanatical zealots. Under Hussein, they were given free reign. Under Petraeus, they were paid off. If the government in Iraq has any sense, it will unleash fire and brimstone on the whole area - against civilians included - until they sue for peace. And if they don't reform like the Germans and Japanese did, then just resettle the area, like the U.S. did in the West.
History is rich with examples of incompatible cultures, where some had to be mercilessly pared back in order for peace to survive. Has the memory and rhetoric of Vietnam really clouded things to such a degree that we now think solely in terms of "winning hearts and minds?" The irony is that this approach didn't even work the one time we tried it, and now it's being used as a catch all template by academics, statesmen and even military leaders. Until we drop this legacy thinking, we'll continue to lose in that part of the world.
Where does this line of thinking come from? Can anyone honestly imagine the victors in WWII saying the same thing about Nazi Germans, or Imperial Japanese? That we simply wouldn't be able to defeat them unless we gave them autonomy?
The Sunni Arab minority in Anbar and Syria are fanatical zealots. Under Hussein, they were given free reign. Under Petraeus, they were paid off. If the government in Iraq has any sense, it will unleash fire and brimstone on the whole area - against civilians included - until they sue for peace. And if they don't reform like the Germans and Japanese did, then just resettle the area, like the U.S. did in the West.
History is rich with examples of incompatible cultures, where some had to be mercilessly pared back in order for peace to survive. Has the memory and rhetoric of Vietnam really clouded things to such a degree that we now think solely in terms of "winning hearts and minds?" The irony is that this approach didn't even work the one time we tried it, and now it's being used as a catch all template by academics, statesmen and even military leaders. Until we drop this legacy thinking, we'll continue to lose in that part of the world.
7
Suddenly I am struck by something which is alarmingly missing here. Why have we not heard some idiotic, unworkable, bigoted statement from Trump about this? Is he losing his edge? Has he forgotten about the Middle East again? Inquiring minds want to know.
5
We're all waiting for some idiotic, unworkable, bigoted statement from Obama's mouth
3
Why are Obama supporters pining for a word from Donald Trump? Is Trump the President? Oh the joy of watching the Obama presidency disappear in importance from the American landscape. :-)
3
Larry, I'm dying to know if you have any facts to bring to the subject at all. Just a little one would be really impressive.
2
More than not engaging on the ground with all its risks to the U.S., and more than refusing to give I.S. what it wants -- a direct confrontation with a full-blown U.S. ground assault, Obama's approach is sound because forcing the Iraqis to fight for their own borders and nascent democracy has immense benefits for the Iraqis themselves.
By retaking Ramadi and eventually the other IS-occupied territory, including most importantly Mosul, the Iraqis will gain invaluable operational military experience and the national confidence and pride of victory. They will be hardened against future encroachments and, in a sense, on stronger footing than ever. It is clearly the best long-term approach to the problem.
Meanwhile, we can provide them crucial force multipliers without the high risk to our forces.
This policy decision was a no-brainer really. Only GOP politics says otherwise.
By retaking Ramadi and eventually the other IS-occupied territory, including most importantly Mosul, the Iraqis will gain invaluable operational military experience and the national confidence and pride of victory. They will be hardened against future encroachments and, in a sense, on stronger footing than ever. It is clearly the best long-term approach to the problem.
Meanwhile, we can provide them crucial force multipliers without the high risk to our forces.
This policy decision was a no-brainer really. Only GOP politics says otherwise.
9
Long before 9/11 Osama Bin Laden wrote that he wanted to draw the U.S. into a holy war in which we would lose both lives and treasure. Bush/Cheney played right in to his hands. Bush said we would fight them over there instead of here and now we have homegrown Jihadists.
You cannot end war with war. Wen need a new paradigm.
You cannot end war with war. Wen need a new paradigm.
2
It ain't over till it's over ...
And in that part of the world it will never be over.
And in that part of the world it will never be over.
1
Oh sure it'll be over, particularly in that part of the world. It's turning to desert really quickly, and one thing is certain about the middle of a desert, nobody's at war over it.
2
Unless there's oil under all that sand.
Despite the victory there are, if not 50 shades, quite a number of shades.
Where have the ISIS criminals gone? Have they been taken as POWs? I would like to see them paraded in front of the TV cameras all over the globe, and then tried as per the Geneva Convention. Until I see this, I am not sure of the significance of this "victory"
Secondly, the same Iraqi "forces" fled hurriedly like cowards when the ISIS took the city 2 years ago. How do we know if they would resist ISIS in the event of recapturing the town?
The sectarian tribalism that has been laid bare bleeding must be replaced by a proper language and regional culture based nationalism.
Finally, there must be a secular constitution ( proportionate power sharing)designed by the ME people themselves with legal, financial and all possible aids for the west.
Unless I see that happening, I am not at all overjoyed by this Ramada retaking, except for the fact that this has been archived without any US ground forces.
(these are my Plan B, Plan C and Plan D for the Iraqi brethren)
Where have the ISIS criminals gone? Have they been taken as POWs? I would like to see them paraded in front of the TV cameras all over the globe, and then tried as per the Geneva Convention. Until I see this, I am not sure of the significance of this "victory"
Secondly, the same Iraqi "forces" fled hurriedly like cowards when the ISIS took the city 2 years ago. How do we know if they would resist ISIS in the event of recapturing the town?
The sectarian tribalism that has been laid bare bleeding must be replaced by a proper language and regional culture based nationalism.
Finally, there must be a secular constitution ( proportionate power sharing)designed by the ME people themselves with legal, financial and all possible aids for the west.
Unless I see that happening, I am not at all overjoyed by this Ramada retaking, except for the fact that this has been archived without any US ground forces.
(these are my Plan B, Plan C and Plan D for the Iraqi brethren)
1
After almost 12 years of victory after victory here comes another one. A war that ended twice already will end again ... and again ...
4
One of the hallmarks of nationhood is the ability to control itself internally. The argument that the Iraqi army is a US proxy is fallacious. Iraq, perhaps surprisingly, has won a victory. Let's hope the trend continues.
2
Once again President Obama and the Iraqis soldiers on the ground have proven the right-wing hawks in the US wrong!
Patience, perseverance and and iron will win in the struggle against ISIL. And this can be accomplished without US soldiers dying in the Middle East.
President Obama is on the right track. Please stick to it Mr. President. We are counting on you.
Patience, perseverance and and iron will win in the struggle against ISIL. And this can be accomplished without US soldiers dying in the Middle East.
President Obama is on the right track. Please stick to it Mr. President. We are counting on you.
9
Barack Obama has proven his critics wrong because Iraqi forces won a battle to retake part of a town in Iraq that US forces controlled when Bush was in office?
Isn't spiked egg nog supposed to be limited to Christmas?
Isn't spiked egg nog supposed to be limited to Christmas?
3
@Joey Green,
Wow, patience, perseverance and a iron will and 8 months later they have taken back one town of less then a half a million people. Obama is on the right track?
@DCBarrister,
What does Obama have to do with Iraqi military strategy? Thank God Obama wasn't running WWII, or we'd still be fighting it!
Wow, patience, perseverance and a iron will and 8 months later they have taken back one town of less then a half a million people. Obama is on the right track?
@DCBarrister,
What does Obama have to do with Iraqi military strategy? Thank God Obama wasn't running WWII, or we'd still be fighting it!
Bush signed the agreement to withdraw from the nightmare that he stupidly, and with the consent of Congress, the media (and you too I would gather) initiated with the invasion of Iraq under false pretenses. (FYI many of us, including Bernie Sanders knew this at the time)
Obama was following the terms of that agreement. So, if you really hate the president that much, fine, rearrange history in your head. The fact is most Americans refuse to be sucked in to another bloodbath in the the Middle East. It is high time Arabs took care of their own "stability".
Forcing Arabs and war-mongering Americans to face up to this reality has been a Herculean task which Obama has taken on. It remains to be seen if he will be successful, but KUDOS to him for sticking to his "guns" no matter what the "opposition" throws at him.
Obama was following the terms of that agreement. So, if you really hate the president that much, fine, rearrange history in your head. The fact is most Americans refuse to be sucked in to another bloodbath in the the Middle East. It is high time Arabs took care of their own "stability".
Forcing Arabs and war-mongering Americans to face up to this reality has been a Herculean task which Obama has taken on. It remains to be seen if he will be successful, but KUDOS to him for sticking to his "guns" no matter what the "opposition" throws at him.
Let us hope that the tide continues to turn against ISIS, but let's not forget this is a battle victory not a war victory. I believe we claimed victory a bit early in the past.
It's disappointing that so many comments here are full of gloating rather than hope. Even when things go our way there is unhelpful derision from the weak minded.
It's disappointing that so many comments here are full of gloating rather than hope. Even when things go our way there is unhelpful derision from the weak minded.
6
My guess is that Republican war hawks in Congress , talk radio, TV, and Columnists of George Will's ilk, and the omnipresent Cheney clan, will treat this the same way they treated Obama's successful capture and killing of Osama Bin Laden, Assad's giving up chemical weapons, Iran negotiations, etc.
11
Lets' hope the GOP continues to speak truth to power about Obama's failures! The Iran surrender guarantees a nuclear war in the Middle East, Assad "gave up" chemical weapons to their Russian allies, Obama dithered, waffled, and wavered for months before going ahead with the obvious choice to get OBL. I realized Obama is totally devoid of even the smallest success, but you treat the capture of one building from ISIS as if it was D-Day.
2
Larry, you just made my point! How is it that that Obama dithered to "make the obvious choice" to get Bin Laden after George Bush tried and apparently dithered for 7 years and never got him? How is it that "the Iran surrender" (of nuclear material on hand and allowance of inspections to verify) guarantee a nuclear war in the mideast? And how is it that the turn over of chemical weapons by Assad show that Obama is totally devoid of even the smallest success. Any chance you live in the alternative world of Republican double talk?
8
With everything in the region long laid waste several times over, is there anything left there really worth "retaking"? Seems after all that's beset the place, I suppose that's all we're left saying we can do that sounds positive, and considering there's nothing remaining that could even being given away.
"Fully liberated" . . . Free now to do what? It's beyond pitiful, yet this is all we're left to crow about. This is making the quagmire of Vietnam look like a crowning accomplishment of success.
"Fully liberated" . . . Free now to do what? It's beyond pitiful, yet this is all we're left to crow about. This is making the quagmire of Vietnam look like a crowning accomplishment of success.
3
They won just a battle not the war. This must be seen as symbolic victory, nothing else. The optimism, often, is a toxic ingredient. Al-Qaeda is still around despite all the "victories" like these. So is the ISIS. I will sleep much better only when the newspapers report that ISIS and similar organizations have been annihilated.
Of crossing the street doesn't keep you up at night, either should ISIS.
2
Go tell that to the people in San Bernardino murdered by ISIS, right after Obama said there was "no credible treat against the US". Go tell that to the Parisians murdered by ISIS right after Obama said ISIS was "contained".
2
Once we help these folks settle a few scores we will try to put a lid on tribal sectarian violence in the region, hopefully by identifying and putting into power a brutal but secular strong man dictator.
In other words start the cycle all over again.
In other words start the cycle all over again.
1
There's always hope that next time we'll remember to just leave the brutal dictator in charge.
3
We are still trying to dislodge Assad and after him the fanatic theocrats will take over and the beheadings will begin. Wee, that is, the US leadership, NEVER LEARN!
Anyone old enough to remember the Viet Nam debacle sees through these hopeful propaganda bits. We saved the Vietnamese from evil communism so effectively. Now our biggest business partner is communist China.
This Sunni cult of barbarians is certainly evil, but we will not succeed in this either.
This Sunni cult of barbarians is certainly evil, but we will not succeed in this either.
4
In order to secure Ramadi the Iraqi Army is going to have to leave a large contingent of troops there for some time otherwise ISIS will return and rout a smaller force as it did when it first took the city. What is left of the city anyway? It's obvious that under political pressure Obama loosened up the rules of engagement and bombed that city back into the Stone Age. Obama followed Ted Cruz's advice and carpet bombed Ramadi. The Iraqi Army hasn't made some sort of miraculous recovery.
2
Golly, Ted Cruz made this happen! I expect then he will announce tonight that progress is being made in the fight against ISIS. What do you think?
I don't think he is scheduled to speak this evening.
Notwithstanding all of the criticisms you see here, this is really wonderful news.
2
Why is it good news? ISIS is still in Iraq, Syria, Eygpt, etc. Al-queda, Hamas, Hezbolah, Islamist Jihad, etc. are still active. Radical Muslim factions active in Africa and elsewhere. Malaysia has sharia police. And on and on and on...Good news? No, drop in the bucket.
1
To the Iraqi Shiite dominated government: at what cost has Ramadi been liberated? How many lives and how much treasure? ISIS is fed by Sunni discontent. If you continue to turn a blind eye to revenge taken by Shia factions for the years they suffered under Sunni rule, you are going to playing a very long game indeed of whack-a-mole with ISIS. Perhaps it's time to let go of revenge and focus on Truth and Reconciliation?
And to those who think we need American boots on the ground .... Only when the Shiite led government in Iraq must pay the very high price for Sunni discontent will they be politically motivated to provide peace and justice for ALL Iraqis, including the Sunni, and thus end the fount that feeds ISIS.
And to those who think we need American boots on the ground .... Only when the Shiite led government in Iraq must pay the very high price for Sunni discontent will they be politically motivated to provide peace and justice for ALL Iraqis, including the Sunni, and thus end the fount that feeds ISIS.
3
It's war Michael. Of course there is going to be a price. Do you think it would be better to simply ignore ISIS and let them flourish and take control of even more territory?
2
The Iraqi government has the option of paying less, less lives and less treasure, to retake this territory. In order to pay less to accomplish the same thing, the Iraqi government would have to focus on truth and reconciliation.
What people are forgetting is that after the Shiites took control of the Iraq government, death squads were allowed to flourish .... pulling Sunnis out of their bed in the middle of the night to exact justice for years of oppression under Sunni rule.
I don't blame the Shiites for their anger and need for revenge. On the other hand, with extra judicial executions becoming the norm, one can also see why the average Sunni feels sympathy for ISIS. The Sunni wish to govern themselves.
Should they retake that territory? Yes! Should they pay for it with 1000 lives or 500 lives? The choice is theirs. If the Shiite led government ends the death squads that are killing Sunni in the middle of the night--without trial of any kind ... if the Sunni feel that they also have the protection of "the law", then the Sunni will stop sympathizing with and supporting ISIS. Then, the retaking of territory might only cost 500 lives instead of 1000.
What people are forgetting is that after the Shiites took control of the Iraq government, death squads were allowed to flourish .... pulling Sunnis out of their bed in the middle of the night to exact justice for years of oppression under Sunni rule.
I don't blame the Shiites for their anger and need for revenge. On the other hand, with extra judicial executions becoming the norm, one can also see why the average Sunni feels sympathy for ISIS. The Sunni wish to govern themselves.
Should they retake that territory? Yes! Should they pay for it with 1000 lives or 500 lives? The choice is theirs. If the Shiite led government ends the death squads that are killing Sunni in the middle of the night--without trial of any kind ... if the Sunni feel that they also have the protection of "the law", then the Sunni will stop sympathizing with and supporting ISIS. Then, the retaking of territory might only cost 500 lives instead of 1000.
1
The events that have unfolded in Ramadi reveal President Obama's strategy in fighting ISIS, and it makes so much more sense than the rhetoric coming from GOP candidates and other fear mongering pundits. The U.S. is using its very small footprint in Iraq to optimize airstrikes, assist Iraqi troops behind front lines, engage in special ops attacks and then give as much credit as possible to Iraqi troops when they succeed.
I just hope there is a plan to restore Ramadi to a place where civilians can return, have shelter, food and water, and feel comparatively safe.
I just hope there is a plan to restore Ramadi to a place where civilians can return, have shelter, food and water, and feel comparatively safe.
27
The real defeat is happening during the NY Times assault on the intelligence of the American people. An article echoing D-day success over partial gains in a part of Iraq in the war against ISIS, confirmed by the Iraqis only and supported by a Middle East scholar who does analysis for the Obama WH is clear and convincing evidence the NYT thinks readers are stupid.
ISIS is in no way vanquished, or even weakened. The Iraqi forces forced a retreat in a battle they are losing and a war they cannot win.
I am a proud American who works hard, pays taxes and plays by the rules. Why can't the NYT tell me the truth? Ever? I live and work in Washington DC. It is no secret that Obama stubbornly refuses US ground forces to stabilize the Middle East so instead of reporting how Obama's failed strategy is making Iraq worse, the NYT runs feel good stories designed to prop up a failed president and a feckless strategy against ISIS.
Shame.
ISIS is in no way vanquished, or even weakened. The Iraqi forces forced a retreat in a battle they are losing and a war they cannot win.
I am a proud American who works hard, pays taxes and plays by the rules. Why can't the NYT tell me the truth? Ever? I live and work in Washington DC. It is no secret that Obama stubbornly refuses US ground forces to stabilize the Middle East so instead of reporting how Obama's failed strategy is making Iraq worse, the NYT runs feel good stories designed to prop up a failed president and a feckless strategy against ISIS.
Shame.
4
When are YOU (or your CHILDREN) enlisting, barrister? When will YOUR ( or your loved ones) boots be on the ground. Well?
14
The barrister is already enlisted. He's on the anti-Obama front, completed three tours in the NYT comment threads disseminating invective and denunciation on any Obama related story. Do you think anyone, let alone a hard working, tax paying, "proud American", black to boot, would pay good money subscribing to a paper that never "EVER" tells him the truth? This is a caricature with an obvious agenda.
8
Instead of hanging around DC, why don't you go over there and stabilize the Mid East instead of volunteering somebody else's kid to go? The Kurds are taking volunteers.
10
THANK YOU, President Obama, for withdrawing American troops from Iraq and for NOT sending them back in as every single leading Republican has demanded you do. Let the Iraqis fight for themselves. When push comes to shove they will. Only Iraqis can secure a free Iraq.
11
You have read that Obama spent sent troops he sends special forces....what a crock. I'm sorry. I'm a sick and tire liberal. Tired of paying for other people's wars. Tired of being lied to. Tired of PR that means nothing. We need to get out of the ME. Boycott Saudi Arabia and the rest and start saving our own country from decay and third world colonial status to the Chinese
The Postottoman Middle East is still a largely 'tribal' or 'feudal' mix of groups at every level from extended family up to 'national' administrations, with power brokered through constantly shifting alliances (at every level).
The failure of Western policy since the end of the bipolar model in 1989 was to disregard these dynamics, and project largely imaginary 'states' onto much of the developing world. The 'state', despite tragicomic 'IS', was in particular foreign to Islam since its inception - key identities and allegiances were and are defined through kinship and the global Ummah.
We British spent many decades in Afghanistan learning that the best strategy in such a complex dynamic was to support (mainly financially) groups that could best be aligned with our own interests, from outside.
If all the resources that have literally gone up in smoke and incinerated bodies since 1989 had been spent BUYING the best allies in the feudal game, we would by now have a much happier and more peaceful world in MENA and beyond, many fewer maimed and dead combatants leaving only bloodfeuds and hatred as their legacy.
The only people who might not be happy with this different business model are those in Ike's Military-Industrial Complex, and their counterparts or codependents on the other side of a tragic symbiotic relationship based on death and destruction rather than life, hope and prosperity - or life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Whatever happened to THAT idea?
The failure of Western policy since the end of the bipolar model in 1989 was to disregard these dynamics, and project largely imaginary 'states' onto much of the developing world. The 'state', despite tragicomic 'IS', was in particular foreign to Islam since its inception - key identities and allegiances were and are defined through kinship and the global Ummah.
We British spent many decades in Afghanistan learning that the best strategy in such a complex dynamic was to support (mainly financially) groups that could best be aligned with our own interests, from outside.
If all the resources that have literally gone up in smoke and incinerated bodies since 1989 had been spent BUYING the best allies in the feudal game, we would by now have a much happier and more peaceful world in MENA and beyond, many fewer maimed and dead combatants leaving only bloodfeuds and hatred as their legacy.
The only people who might not be happy with this different business model are those in Ike's Military-Industrial Complex, and their counterparts or codependents on the other side of a tragic symbiotic relationship based on death and destruction rather than life, hope and prosperity - or life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Whatever happened to THAT idea?
4
As I have told my friend and family countless times: Obama's patient determination to firmly resist sending thousands and thousands of US troops into the hands of this crazed death cult is paying dividends. Slowly but surely, his strategy is working. The Republicans, determined to strike fear and panic into the hearts of Americans in order to get elected, will be proved wrong.
No, it is not over yet, but I believe, even though he is roundly criticized for being passive and slow, Obama's patient and steady strategy will keep thousands and thousands of US troops alive for their children and families, and free from life-long disablement, while at the same time build the confidence and dignity of those Iraqis who desperately want the chance to take care of themselves.
No, it is not over yet, but I believe, even though he is roundly criticized for being passive and slow, Obama's patient and steady strategy will keep thousands and thousands of US troops alive for their children and families, and free from life-long disablement, while at the same time build the confidence and dignity of those Iraqis who desperately want the chance to take care of themselves.
16
"the Baghdad government — whose return is the greatest fear of most inhabitants" - this is an incredible statement, that the locals would prefer the brutality of ISIS to the 'legitimate' Iraqi government. Obviously much work needs to be done by Iraq to accommodate the Sunni population.
6
" ... the Islamic State’s power derives not from military strength but from “the weakness of its enemies, first and foremost the Iraqi state with its Shiite-dominated government.”
After 30 years of secular dictatorship, Iraq has now had 12 years of weak Shi'a-dominated parliamentary government, sectarian discord, and diffusion of power from the central government to militias, religious figures, foreign powers like Iran, and terrorist groups. This phenomenon can be traced to Paul Bremmer's disastrous de-Baathification policy in 2003. Abadi's government and the Iraqi army's efforts in Ramadi have been the very first displays of competence by the Baghdad government since that decision. This is a good omen for the future, but to think that Iraq would somehow be able to stand on its own without significant support from abroad would be a mistake. We will be continuing airstrikes and logistical support to the Iraqis for quite some time, and even if the entire country comes back into Baghdad's control there is still the greater quagmire of Syria, where there are no good options.
After 30 years of secular dictatorship, Iraq has now had 12 years of weak Shi'a-dominated parliamentary government, sectarian discord, and diffusion of power from the central government to militias, religious figures, foreign powers like Iran, and terrorist groups. This phenomenon can be traced to Paul Bremmer's disastrous de-Baathification policy in 2003. Abadi's government and the Iraqi army's efforts in Ramadi have been the very first displays of competence by the Baghdad government since that decision. This is a good omen for the future, but to think that Iraq would somehow be able to stand on its own without significant support from abroad would be a mistake. We will be continuing airstrikes and logistical support to the Iraqis for quite some time, and even if the entire country comes back into Baghdad's control there is still the greater quagmire of Syria, where there are no good options.
4
As they retreat couldn't we drop some bombs on their heads as a going-away gift?
7
Obama prevents 75% of US bombing missions from dropping their bombs
3
didnt you hear ?
as a card carrying moslem, obama is an undercover isis operative
it was on alex jones last week
so it must be true
as a card carrying moslem, obama is an undercover isis operative
it was on alex jones last week
so it must be true
2
They're not marching away in formation. I'm quite certain that to the extent we can spot them we're bombing them.
2
This is excellent news and should be breaking on every cable news channel.
But it isn't, because its excellence makes it boring. Funny that.
Thank you anyway, President Obama, for your level-headedness, steady leadership, and taxpayer savings. It has not gone unnoticed.
But it isn't, because its excellence makes it boring. Funny that.
Thank you anyway, President Obama, for your level-headedness, steady leadership, and taxpayer savings. It has not gone unnoticed.
21
Good to hear that ground is being re-taken from ISIL.
4
While I applaud this success, it is often painful to see what is left to "retake".
3
If what is left to retake was of no value, why would the Iraqi government fight for?
ISIS comes in the context of a Sunni Shia battle. Defeating ISIS in Ramadi doesn't settle the fight. Diplomacy needs to create a safe place for Sunnis in the Middle East. Obama's special forces won't do the trick.
2
Obama knows this. That's why he refused to help the Iraqis as long as Maliki was in charge.
4
This is certainly a good thing, however, can they KEEP and secure the city in the future. That remains to be seen.
stay tuned for some exciting scenes from next weeks episode ...
and now, a few words from th sponsor
and now, a few words from th sponsor
That's nice. I keep hoping the Daesh will be completely wiped out by any and all sane humans in the area, particularly after they've started doing things like announcing a fatwa that cannibalism is acceptable, as long as you're eating infidels. I mean, they're barbarians, right? Barbarians, whether cannibals or not, have always been at war with civilization, and they always need to be eliminated.
If Iraq can hold onto Ramadi, that's great. If they can use it to push forward and take back all the land held by the Daesh, that'd be great too. But the things that produced the Daesh, the decrease in habitability of the region, the poverty the culture has created, the misogyny, the tribal feuds, the warlike nature of the biggest groups in the area (Sunni, Shiite, Alawite, Dynamite...), all those will still be there.
Iraq is getting less habitable but more overpopulated all the time, is what I'm getting at, and its culture prevents anything being done about either problem. So all this is, seems to me, is a moot footnote in the fall of the Middle East, and the big question is whether it will end in fire or sand.
If Iraq can hold onto Ramadi, that's great. If they can use it to push forward and take back all the land held by the Daesh, that'd be great too. But the things that produced the Daesh, the decrease in habitability of the region, the poverty the culture has created, the misogyny, the tribal feuds, the warlike nature of the biggest groups in the area (Sunni, Shiite, Alawite, Dynamite...), all those will still be there.
Iraq is getting less habitable but more overpopulated all the time, is what I'm getting at, and its culture prevents anything being done about either problem. So all this is, seems to me, is a moot footnote in the fall of the Middle East, and the big question is whether it will end in fire or sand.
5
This is validation for President Obama's strategy of not getting sucked into a sectarian war in the middle east. The idea that we needed to send troops to Syria and Iraq because some low level officer in the State Department mistakenly approved a visa for the San Bernardino terrorists was always screwy. Tighten up our borders but stay the heck out of the middle east.
40
Except our president doesn't want to tighten our borders.
The militants make me think of Army Ants who sacrifice themselved for the sake of their brothers. Creepy.
1
I don't think that Americans or either British have ever used force to gain peace in this era. Force breeds force. The reward of peace is peace it's self. That's what we need, that's what the whole world needs.
3
I hope this indicates that the US will not be forced to reinvade. That plays right into the Islamist narrative of western crusaders trying to conquer the Islamic lands. The strategy should be to pit ISIS against the rest of the Islamic world. Let moderate Sunnis unite with Shiites and even other Sunni terrorists to defeat ISIS, rather than rally under ISIS' flag to defeat the American infidels.
17
The key point here being "Iraqi Forces" retake a city in Iraq -- NOT US forces. This is what's referred to as taking "person responsibility". Something that NEVER would have occurred if the US was still fighting the war on behalf of the Iraqi's.
We should all thank President Obama for having the guts to make the tough decisions necessary to get the locals to step-up to the plate and start taking personal responsibility for their own future.
This is major accomplishment for the Iraqi military, and will hopefully help instill in them enough pride to know ISIL is little more than a bunch of right wing extremist thugs.
We should all thank President Obama for having the guts to make the tough decisions necessary to get the locals to step-up to the plate and start taking personal responsibility for their own future.
This is major accomplishment for the Iraqi military, and will hopefully help instill in them enough pride to know ISIL is little more than a bunch of right wing extremist thugs.
18
Going golfing is hardly a tough decision
2
Yes, Boehner never had a problem making that decision. However President Obama has been an excellent hard working president.
15
His tough decision was not sending military aid until Maliki was replaced. You do know who Maliki is, don't you? My take is no Republican president would have made that call: "oh my god we have to do something right now, send planes, send equipment, send troops"...
5
This country has been a waste of American blood and treasure for no good reason. Advise, bomb, but not one more American life should be wasted in this region. Radical Islam can only be beaten by moderate Islam, using Islamic fighters from the region. We toppled Saddam without a plan for what to do afterward. Obama is right to stay out of this quagmire, now we need to get out of Afghanistan.
7
Thank goodness. The Iraqis needed to stand up for themselves. This just proves they can do their own fighting, when they want to.
This may be the beginning of a real Iraqi nation. I wish them well.
This may be the beginning of a real Iraqi nation. I wish them well.
48
Are you serious?
I am Pro-Obama but I am not seeing the world via pink Glasses.
Ramadi take over is not a Victory, it is cleaning the stain from the reputation, but it is not even enough for that.
I am Pro-Obama but I am not seeing the world via pink Glasses.
Ramadi take over is not a Victory, it is cleaning the stain from the reputation, but it is not even enough for that.
get some pin k glasses then
it works just dandy for millions of Americana
it works just dandy for millions of Americana
1
Just wondering, how many "maybe this time it will works" does Barack Obama get in 8 years on the Middle East?
I don't recall Obama ever saying during his 2008 campaign that he would be come the President who subsists on maybes.
I don't recall Obama ever saying during his 2008 campaign that he would be come the President who subsists on maybes.
1
The familiar pattern of the effectiveness of the Obama administration, just like the Ebola crisis in a previous year. Something bad happens, and a fierce and visceral public backlash occurs. Any other administration would scramble to adjust to the polling, but the Obama administration does not get distracted from pursuing the most advisable strategy. A little while later, positive results show up to speak for the wisdom of the hard choice made by the administration. The majority of the public may not notice, but there are many of us who do, and feel thankful for having Obama as the president.
115
You forgot the part about the crisis being far worse than necessary due to Obama's dithering and lack of planning
2
The pattern is this: Obama messes up, does nothing about it, blames the media for reporting his endless mistakes, stumbles around looking for a solution, others get tired of waiting for Obama to decide and act on their own, Obama takes credit for the hard work and success of others
3
what successes ?
what others ?
bush ?
youre a funny guy
really
what others ?
bush ?
youre a funny guy
really
4
When I read terms like surrounded, encircled, and retaken, I'm waiting next for the column of prisoners. Instead, the defenders escaped. How?
Something is rotten in Denmark.
May be soldiering today is different from the old days. If a building was infested with mines and snipers, you brought it down with cannon fire and moved on; not wait three days till the guys inside get bored and sneak out.
I really want to believe.
Something is rotten in Denmark.
May be soldiering today is different from the old days. If a building was infested with mines and snipers, you brought it down with cannon fire and moved on; not wait three days till the guys inside get bored and sneak out.
I really want to believe.
3
Sometimes, when I reminisce about my younger days, I recall the Days of Glory, when Andrea and I would have our War Games. We'd surround the doghouse of the neighbors rottweiler, and after a good spray of gunfire, the dog would vacate his home. Then, to make sure he wouldn't come back, she and I would position our trebuchet and, with one precise shot, level that bad boy.
1
How can you tell when a city has been 'won'? It's in ruins.
5
And?
When we won WWII, there was no big German city standing still, berlin was literally razed ground. Japan Tokyo City was burned almost 40% , Hiroshima and Nagasaki were glassed.
At that time no body questioned how we won?
When we won WWII, there was no big German city standing still, berlin was literally razed ground. Japan Tokyo City was burned almost 40% , Hiroshima and Nagasaki were glassed.
At that time no body questioned how we won?
5
They plunder, they slaughter, and they steal: this they falsely name Empire, and where they make a wasteland, they call it peace.
[British terrorist on the Romans, cited by Tacitus]
[British terrorist on the Romans, cited by Tacitus]
1
this is a big loss for daesh and typically they respond with huge showy acts of terrorism--paris right after sinjar fell, for instance.
2
Good Job, President Obama, for keeping a cool head in this maze of conflicts. War is never the answer and hopefully the Good People of the Middle East will figure that out before the terrorists and war mongersw destroy any civil progress that has been made there.
35
So is Iraq back to the state it was in when Obama seized power? Is Iraq the stable, ISIS-free nation Obama inherited from Bush? How about Syria, Libya, Algeria, etc, etc, etc?
6
Obama inherited an ISIS-free nation from Bush? I'm still laughing. Bush's administration CREATED ISIS.
11
ISIS was created when Obama yanked US troops out of Iraq prematurely, just so he could score some cheap temporary political points. The entire world warned Obama that chaos would result, but Obama really thinks he's smarter than everybody and yanked troops out anyway. Obama was wrong, the world was right, and ISIS filled the vacuum Obama created. facts are stubborn things: there were zero ISIS in Iraq on 1/20/09
Bush is the one who "seized power" in a Palace Coup orchestrated by his brother and cronies in the Supreme Court. A gang of thugs forcibly obstructed ballot recounts, and somehow got away with it. Imagine the uproar if Democrats had done this.
13
And next week ISIS will retake Ramadi as the Iraqi forces head for the hills under a massive counter attack. Send in overwhelming forces from the U.S., France and England now and get this mess over with. Stop trying to make us believe that Iraq can defeat ISIS because they can't.
5
I am going to search these threads to see if you were one of those folks who predicted an Ebola Zombie apocalypse. You probably were, Paul. How did that work out. ACA Death Squads? Porbably still waiting for those too, right? Thank goodness for the permanence of electronic communications.
4
Unless the sword is laid down and plow is picked up, there is no end in sight to this ISIS versus the Iraqi govt., also the Sunni versus Shia sectarian quarrel. As has been seen in Afghanistan this is a never ending battle. First the corrupt and emasculated govt. forces are overwhelmed or they retreat and the rebels/terrorists take over a piece of territory. Then the so called coalition air force arrives and pound the territories taken. Undercover of that pounding the govt. soldiers sneak back in. Then they are useless and corrupt administrators and the people yearn for the terrorists back. In the aftermath, the rebels--the Taliban or the ISIS or al Qaida return. Life goes on as many civilians, terrorists/rebels and soldiers fall. Once in a while a helicopter is downed when the war gets up close and personal for the Americans, not merely a joystick long distance venture. Are we supposed to conclude from this article, "All is well that ends well"? The NYT says that by 2070 the world will have more Muslims than Christians. Whoopie! I can't wait because I'll be out of here. Seriously NYT, the growing number of atheists in this world matter not to any poll taker. How about there will be more atheists in the world than any other group? Just because you are born a Muslim doesn't mean you have to buy the prophet hook line and sinker or that you will in 2070.
4
No doubt, the Daesh need to be plowed under, it'd help boost the agricultural potential of the area.
Muslims won't be the majority religion in 2070, though, guaranteed. Most Muslim nations are running out of water so fast they'll barely be habitable by then. And I'd bet that causes a lot of doubt about their particular god's awesome might, as such things usually do.
Muslims won't be the majority religion in 2070, though, guaranteed. Most Muslim nations are running out of water so fast they'll barely be habitable by then. And I'd bet that causes a lot of doubt about their particular god's awesome might, as such things usually do.
2
Dan Stackhouse, you didn't mean Muslim nations, you meant Arab nations. There are Christians and Muslim Arabs. The country with the largest Myslim population in the world isn't in the Middle East - it's India. The country with the largest Muslim population adhere Muslims are majority is also not in the Middle East - it's Indonesia. As far as I know neither one of these two countries will be short of water anytime soon.
And the oil running out. Things look bleak for humanity.
Offense and defense must go together. As we box them in there is no question that they will look towards international mass terror as a means of creating renewed leverage.
The deeper problem with ideological terrorism such as these, is that although they have differentiated themselves from other terror groups in terms of land occupation (which also gives them some ability beyond other groups), essentially they remain a threat even as an occupied extremist movement. Particularly in terms of their ability to incite terror worldwide. The source of the ideological motivation is greater than geo-political goals. Don't forget that they started as a rebel movement against occupied Iraq.
The essence of the problem is that you can't exact a price high enough from someone that is suicidal, and you can't offer a price high enough to someone whose sworn ideological goal is your utter destruction. There were always a few in any given ideology who were so extreme. Islamic extremist terrorism is not unique in it's phenomenon, but in its numbers. That's why the most effective response to terrorism is strong defense. You can't defeat the ideology, and you can't bargain or reason with it. The best you can do is keep it and it's adherents out of your country. That means strong borders, some level of profiling, and an all out war on any propaganda – which will mean some level of censorship. That war should mirror the war on Nazi propaganda in Post-war Germany. Every vestige must be illegal.
The deeper problem with ideological terrorism such as these, is that although they have differentiated themselves from other terror groups in terms of land occupation (which also gives them some ability beyond other groups), essentially they remain a threat even as an occupied extremist movement. Particularly in terms of their ability to incite terror worldwide. The source of the ideological motivation is greater than geo-political goals. Don't forget that they started as a rebel movement against occupied Iraq.
The essence of the problem is that you can't exact a price high enough from someone that is suicidal, and you can't offer a price high enough to someone whose sworn ideological goal is your utter destruction. There were always a few in any given ideology who were so extreme. Islamic extremist terrorism is not unique in it's phenomenon, but in its numbers. That's why the most effective response to terrorism is strong defense. You can't defeat the ideology, and you can't bargain or reason with it. The best you can do is keep it and it's adherents out of your country. That means strong borders, some level of profiling, and an all out war on any propaganda – which will mean some level of censorship. That war should mirror the war on Nazi propaganda in Post-war Germany. Every vestige must be illegal.
6
President Obama was right again.
47
Right about what? Ignoring Syria and his "red line" and, by his own admition, not having any strategy for ISIS? I like the use of special ops versus ground troops but more should have been done much earlier so Ramadi and other cities could remain free and their citizens alive. I applaud the retaking of Ramadi but the fact that it had to be "retaken" is due to his failure to intervene earlier which allowed IISIS to thrive and create this chaos and the staggering abuse and loss of innocent lives.
18 likes and counting for one wrong comment. In the land of Trump the Chump as expected there are numerous chumps.
The Islamic State has a mobile leadership. What happens when they relocate their headquarters from Raqqa in Syria to Libya, as they are reported to be doing? Will the U.S. follow up its military intervention in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria with action in yet another new battleground in a volatile Arab nation?
3
And now? ISIS moves around, through and among the Iraqi "forces" and appears in another location to start all over. And on and on it goes.
2
And how, pray tell, do you know that ISIS moves around 'among' Iraqi forces when even Sunni tribes a fighting them as well?
2
And pray tell how do you know that isn't true? Of course they move around. Iraqi forces are corrupt. Give them money and guns, Sunni or Shia, they'll kiss your feet and move you around themselves.
Finally the Iraqis realize that it is up to them to take control of their own country and leave us out of it.
4
they retook a bombed out shell and piles of rubble
victory is ours !
victory is ours !
This is a significant victory. Every time ISIS loses territory it hurts their ability to recruit young disaffected Muslims to their cause. We need to have a continued rollback of their holdings in the Middle East.
9
What is most notable is that the Shiite Iraqi Government led the Iraqi Forces to do this without ‘Shiite’ militias, and only used the help of ‘Sunni’ tribesmen as a show of good political faith; this is great.
It is wonderful for the Iraqi People and their Government to know that they ‘can’ defeat ISIS, and not necessarily with U.S. help. It also gives ISIS that message to discourage ISIS from possibly resurfacing once the group is controlled.
It takes some brave soldiers to take on that viciously-violent ISIS group on the ground; bravo!
It is wonderful for the Iraqi People and their Government to know that they ‘can’ defeat ISIS, and not necessarily with U.S. help. It also gives ISIS that message to discourage ISIS from possibly resurfacing once the group is controlled.
It takes some brave soldiers to take on that viciously-violent ISIS group on the ground; bravo!
5
Why do we have to "retake" Ramadi? Where was Obama and Hillary when it was being overrun last year? Any general will tell you it is much easier to defend than retake. Hillary voted for this war and has no plan whatsoever to win it. Where was her plan? Where is it now?
Thousands of people have been killed, tortured and beheaded because of Obama and Hillary's inability to act.
Thousands of people have been killed, tortured and beheaded because of Obama and Hillary's inability to act.
3
There was no ISIS in Iraq (or Syria, Libya) on 1/20/09
1
Hillary voted for 'this' war, the war against ISIL? That is really newsworthy, ain't it. You might have forgotten that ISIL is the direct result of our based on lies war against Iraq, the one where W. wanted to show the world how tough he was and out-do daddy, dearest.
5
Exactly. They were caught flat-footed and had no plan. Delays cost thousands of life and suffering. Nothing should have had to be "retaken" had they acted earlier.
The underlying significance of this development is that, cautiously speaking, Ramadi could be ISIL's Stalingrad: the tipping point to eventual destruction. Let's hope.
3
Just goes to show what CAN be achieved if folk are determined enough to do the job right !
Jihadists are not the first or only ones to try and rule the World history repeats itself and the human race has killed millions when religion is responsible of interfering with politics and starting wars !
terrorist are cowardly because they don't fight like soldiers and when things look bad for them they run and hide behind women and children,etc.Good wins over evil in the end game because there are many more good, decent people out there than bad losers who have NO ambition other than the destruction of others lives !
There is NO glory or martyrdom in the killing of unarmed, innocent people just because they don't succumb to the religious ideaologies of the few !
Jihadists are not the first or only ones to try and rule the World history repeats itself and the human race has killed millions when religion is responsible of interfering with politics and starting wars !
terrorist are cowardly because they don't fight like soldiers and when things look bad for them they run and hide behind women and children,etc.Good wins over evil in the end game because there are many more good, decent people out there than bad losers who have NO ambition other than the destruction of others lives !
There is NO glory or martyrdom in the killing of unarmed, innocent people just because they don't succumb to the religious ideaologies of the few !
2
They escaped? encircled but escaped? Sounds like baloney to me.
1
Sometimes it is better to have them "escape", than fight to the last man. Save lives all around.
President Bush deposed the Iraqi Sunni (and relatively secular) dictator to install a Shia led government. After more than a decade long conflict and the loss of thousands of American lives, now Obama is helping that Government by committing minimal force on the ground. Those who criticize Iraq pullout or favor more troops on the ground forget that ISIS would be fighting American forces instead of Iraqi army if we hadn't pulled out...Also history has proven(Afghanistan, Libya, Egypt) that toppling secular despots without a proper alternative, and indirectly helping Islamic zealots to gain power may not be a good solution.
11
ISIS would have never expanded beyond Syria had the president not been caught flat-footed and without, by his own admition, a strategy to deal with them.
1
And your suggestion? What, to "arm the rebels"? The Iraqi Army, 10x the size of ISIS, which we armed and funded and trained for 8 years retreated.
2
Unknown and unknowable. But then you probably miss the Cheney days.
3
What's that expression, 'I'll be back'. Does anybody think the rubble left is worth fighting for? Now the real battle can take place. What's that? Iran vs. the sunni's
americans trying to make sense of this are like a dog chasing his tail
theyre both funny, and for th same reason
theyre both funny, and for th same reason
A next important step will be to see Saudi boots on the ground to demonstrate to the Muslim world precisely where Saudi Arabia stands. We don't need the US invasion ISIS calls for, we don't need the carpet bombing even of civilians that Ted Cruz calls for, we do need to suppress Islamophobia and use international force to put an end to ISIS. These are Obama's well considered steps - and exaclty what ISIS fears most.
7
You forgot to mention Cruz's 'nice' remark of also wanting to see if the sand glows. I guess that he thought dropping a little nuke is akin to 'carpet bombing'.
3
Maybe we should attach him to some ballistics and let him witness the destruction first hand? We'll call it a Cruz missile.
6
Tiny rollback of a genocidal, terrorist state that Obama misjudged as the JV team and is doing as little to fight as possible. Heaven forbid we knock out their oil installations because global warming.
1
Isn't that what we called the Viet Cong but now we wanna be their best friends. Also looks like another example of destroying a city to save a city. Sounds like another Neocon viewpoint that wants to impose our will on everybody.
sorry the president can't be all knowing. when he made the jv remark, it reflected the intelligence he was getting.
2
The sooner the romance of the "caliphate" becoming reality is over the better. It has been a "lure" to young, disaffected Muslims from all over the world.
5
Here is the key:
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who leads Iraq’s Shiite-dominated government but has tried to reach out to the country’s large Sunni minority. Mr. Abadi’s predecessor, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, thoroughly alienated the Sunni population.
Obama's patience is beginning to pay off. The Maliki government had to go before any progress could be made.
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who leads Iraq’s Shiite-dominated government but has tried to reach out to the country’s large Sunni minority. Mr. Abadi’s predecessor, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, thoroughly alienated the Sunni population.
Obama's patience is beginning to pay off. The Maliki government had to go before any progress could be made.
10
We took part of a city, the perpetrators have escaped to fight another day. That's a cause for celebration? Oh my! Such delusional thinking.
4
Obama's success-free presidency is desperate for ANYTHING that could be twisted into a success
Larry, just out of curiosity, what's your better idea about Iraq and all these shenanigans?
3
And by shenanigans I hope you are referring to Mr.Obama's shenanigans. Just let them have it out as they did in the civil war in the USA. When the land runneth over with blood or when they grow tired and depleted, they'll stop or that won't.
so, how is endless war working for you lads ?
at least you can follow it in your newspapers like th latest footy results
war has become another form of entertainment in america
at least you can follow it in your newspapers like th latest footy results
war has become another form of entertainment in america
4
in other war news, oceana had broken its alliance w east asia, and is now an enemy of eurasia
next month, look for east asia to renew its alliance w eurasia to join th fight against oceana
drink victory gin and love big brother
next month, look for east asia to renew its alliance w eurasia to join th fight against oceana
drink victory gin and love big brother
3
Good for you thx1138! Nobody wants to hear the truth and it's common knowledge what happened to Winston for having so-called bad thoughts!
1
From the yet to be produced Off Broadway no hit--War--as sung by America
Yippee,
War!
It's better than a Ferrari car,
It raises the bar
for my ambitions to reach far
to the twinkling stars,
Ah! War,
it makes my blood hot,
It's an aphrodisiac,
I hear blood curdling cries,
I even know the stark lies
that go to make war,
But none of that mars
the game of war--
for me it is a continuous high,
Some are meant to live and thrive,
Others are meant to fall and die,
The inherent unfairness of life--
is not my business--
But war, it turns me on brother,
Give me drones and bombs,
I have the aplomb,
To fight every war
and reach for the stars,
Yippee! War!
Yippee,
War!
It's better than a Ferrari car,
It raises the bar
for my ambitions to reach far
to the twinkling stars,
Ah! War,
it makes my blood hot,
It's an aphrodisiac,
I hear blood curdling cries,
I even know the stark lies
that go to make war,
But none of that mars
the game of war--
for me it is a continuous high,
Some are meant to live and thrive,
Others are meant to fall and die,
The inherent unfairness of life--
is not my business--
But war, it turns me on brother,
Give me drones and bombs,
I have the aplomb,
To fight every war
and reach for the stars,
Yippee! War!
It seems Obama's strategy in Iraq is working without significant American Boots on the ground, or at least it seems that the Shiites have defeated the Sunni's in Ramadi, or on the verge of freeing the city.The real question is, how much of this apparent success belongs to our Special Forces , & how much to the Shiite Fighters, & can we now leave Iraq in the hands of the Shiites, & lastly,is this the beginning of the end of ISIS ? Hold the bouquets it's not over until it's over.
6
Ultraliberal wrote: "Hold the bouquets it's not over until it's over."
Yes, yes. We will hold the bouquets until the good guys raise and solute the flag, and the bad guys raise their hands and say "ok, we give up, its over." ... which will happen only in the vast imagination of our militant patriots of all sides. Endless wars serve many purposes that cannot be met with peace.
My best advice, don't buy stock in flower hot houses.
Yes, yes. We will hold the bouquets until the good guys raise and solute the flag, and the bad guys raise their hands and say "ok, we give up, its over." ... which will happen only in the vast imagination of our militant patriots of all sides. Endless wars serve many purposes that cannot be met with peace.
My best advice, don't buy stock in flower hot houses.
There are pssimists and optimist in this world -- I think this is good news.
7
Did the Iraqi's do this or was it the Iranians with U.S. air support? How many Iranian controlled militias were involved? I would much prefer seeing a real pluralistic Iraqi state and I do not know if that is possible given the religious infighting. So then what? Until Iran becomes a moderate, non-ideological country, I do not have much confidence that things will get better in the mid=east. Oh, the Saudi's are probably equally culpable. Dictators need to create illusory "nationalistic" diversions that will support their kleptocratic regimes, since there is no or very little democratic support.
1
OBL was surrounded, much as Ramadi was. How did the escape work?
OBL bought his way out.
History has a nasty way of repeating itself.
The question is did they pay to gain safe passage, or were they paid to leave?
300 Isis fighters at 400 a month ($120,000.00) cost less than one Hellfire missile mission. Not to mention the damage bill.
My money is on a buyout.
OBL bought his way out.
History has a nasty way of repeating itself.
The question is did they pay to gain safe passage, or were they paid to leave?
300 Isis fighters at 400 a month ($120,000.00) cost less than one Hellfire missile mission. Not to mention the damage bill.
My money is on a buyout.
This is a city of 1 million, so capturing the center did not mean they control the city. There is still a lot of work to come to contain the whole city.
This one statement say it all:
..."while the Iraqi government has kept some of its most effective fighting forces — Iranian-backed Shiite militias — out of the fight for fear of alienating the local population."
There are three Iraqs. One is Sunni and one is Shia and one is Kurd. Iraq is still so divided that even after being invaded by barbarians, they cannot unite to rid themselves of pure evil. That fact on the ground proves that Iraq must be partitioned. So long as Iraq remains fragmented and weak, the Sunni areas will be vulnerable to future attacks and upheavals. Our bombs cannot fix that no matter how many tens of thousands we drop. Under the current political framework, the Sunni areas will never be strong and we will never be able to leave.
..."while the Iraqi government has kept some of its most effective fighting forces — Iranian-backed Shiite militias — out of the fight for fear of alienating the local population."
There are three Iraqs. One is Sunni and one is Shia and one is Kurd. Iraq is still so divided that even after being invaded by barbarians, they cannot unite to rid themselves of pure evil. That fact on the ground proves that Iraq must be partitioned. So long as Iraq remains fragmented and weak, the Sunni areas will be vulnerable to future attacks and upheavals. Our bombs cannot fix that no matter how many tens of thousands we drop. Under the current political framework, the Sunni areas will never be strong and we will never be able to leave.
37
What makes you think the US is dropping tens of thousands of bombs? Obama protects ISIS by forcing 75% of US bombing missions to return without dropping their bombs
1
Larry, that slander against our President is ridiculous. Accusing him of protecting the savage Daesh, well, that's a horrible cowardly lie. I hated president Bush but I never accused him of any such nonsense. Luckily, you are just an anonymous blogger with no real credibility.
7
One intervention after another producing more and more maniacal terrorists of one stripe or another. And some readers celebrate this "victory."
George W Bush's regime change in Iraq led to an insurgency. The failure of Bush to retain Hussein's military led to untold carnage because of sectarian fighting. The space created by endless war created the monsters of terror that filled the power vacuum.
The defense industry has had a field day with immense profits and no lessons have been learned...
George W Bush's regime change in Iraq led to an insurgency. The failure of Bush to retain Hussein's military led to untold carnage because of sectarian fighting. The space created by endless war created the monsters of terror that filled the power vacuum.
The defense industry has had a field day with immense profits and no lessons have been learned...
34
ISIS was born because Obama yanked troops out too soon for cheap political points. Obama was warned by the entire world that his reckless move was irresponsible, foolish and would end in disaster, but Obama thinks he smarter than everybody and removed troops anyway. Now he's scrambling to return troops to Iraq.
2
so, Iraqis shouldn't try to recapture their own territory? not quite seeing your point.
3
“People will greet the [U.S.] troops with sweets and flowers" Dick Cheney
you must still be waiting for sweets/flowers..
you must still be waiting for sweets/flowers..
3
The recapture of Ramadi by the Iraqi Army is a "much-needed lift" to the Shia-led government under Haider al-Abadi. Although it can't be seen as another "Sunni Awakening", without the help of Sunni tribal fighters, the military action might not have been successful. Now it is up to the government in Baghdad to reach out and reconcile with the Sunnis in the Anbar province. If not, ISIS would return.
73
Retaking control of Ramadi from the Islamic State is significant gain for Iraq but real victory would lie in retention of the recaptured city and willingness to enlist support of the Sunnis and accommodate them in the governance.
70
They are by all appearances trying to do precisely that. Best of luck to them.
1
Any gains in the middle eastern arena of our quasi war..... will unfortunately no doubt be offset by export of incident to the US and Europe.. we have seen rather telling recent examples.... Is it not painfully obvious that American actions
have been critically incorrect and have shown little accomplished and likely little to be seen accomplished ? We may well have painted ourselves into a corner from which the only solutions will be ones we would never consider. Or perhaps this is the chosen mode of operation in intended stalemate.... as with Berlin, Korea, Cuba, and VietNam
have been critically incorrect and have shown little accomplished and likely little to be seen accomplished ? We may well have painted ourselves into a corner from which the only solutions will be ones we would never consider. Or perhaps this is the chosen mode of operation in intended stalemate.... as with Berlin, Korea, Cuba, and VietNam
2
america was roundly and humiliatingly defeated by vietnam
there was no stalemate
there was no stalemate
3
A battle won, but the war continues. To early to declare another "Mission accomplished!" I wonder how many civilians were killed at Ramadi. Any information?
4
It begs the question as to why Ramadi had to be retaken...
4
Because it is there?
1
I guess Obama needs a success. I am amazed at the willingness of the NYT to serve as a vehicle for such PR, Not that I wouldn't be happy to see ISIS wiped from the face of the earth but we've seen these "victories" turn quickly into fantasies.
9
If you have evidence this report is false, post it. Otherwise it seems strange to attack the Times for reporting on events that actually occurred.
5
Would you have preferred American armed forces fight in Ramadi, where Bush and Cheney were so successful!
3
what we all need is for countries to fight their own battles. that seems to be happening here. Iraq needs a success, and Iraq needs to fight for it.
5
Looking at the bigger picture, I'm expecting that the Iraqi Army might well move on to Fallujah next - it's now isolated from any support coming from ISIS anywhere else.
But the simple fact, now becoming more visible, is that ISIS is losing, slowly but surely, and Obama's strategy has largely worked.
But the simple fact, now becoming more visible, is that ISIS is losing, slowly but surely, and Obama's strategy has largely worked.
187
Obama has a strategy? Since when? Obama himself said he had no strategy. If there is an Obama strategy, it's to play golf, make speeches, and kick the can down the road
2
Yes, this is very good news. I am surprised some commentators do not seem to appreciate how important this success is . It seemed inconceivable some time ago. After Ramadi, the next step will be Mosul. Barbarians have always been defeated--- eventually-- in the history of mankind. Obama's strategy is working.
5
Of course President Obama has a strategy. Larry, you haven't been paying attention. The strategy, as Ecce Homo has stated succinctly, is to support moderate Islamic forces to defeat radical Islamic forces. It is a subtler strategy than the Bush-Cheney strategy of mounting a shock-and-awe American invasion. Perhaps that's why you don't get it.
10
President Obama knows what President Bush never learned - radical Islam can only really be beaten by moderate Islam. American and other Western powers can assist, but should not lead. Military victory by itself is no victory at all, as "Mission Accomplished" demonstrated. Radical Islam must be delegitimized, which can only be done by moderate Islam.
politicsbyeccehomo.wordpress.com
politicsbyeccehomo.wordpress.com
164
I hadn't noticed thst he's learned this lesson but I hope you are right!
1
This is one of the best ways I've ever heard it be said, as well as the most simplified. We all must learn this lesson before it is too late... Shi'ites and Sufis (and moderate Sunnis, if that even exists) need to stand up for themselves.
5
Obama is right, and, by the way, Hillary Clinton. Only Muslims can defeat radical muslims. And America can assist. It is exactly what they are doing, helping the Kurds who need to be helped.
6
Good news for the Iraqis and for Mr. Obama. Unfortunately, Republicans and their media arm, Fox News, will not see it as good news.
92
Well at least the event was mentioned on Fox News. No mention of the coalition's airstrikes however.
Yes.
Good news on the economic, diplomatic, and war front is a perpetual conspiracy by the Obama administration.
Good news on the economic, diplomatic, and war front is a perpetual conspiracy by the Obama administration.
2
Great news. Hopefully this will be a confidence and momentum builder for the Iraqi military.
22
Presumably the opponents of bombing ISIS who insisted that bombing was 'just what they wanted' will now tell us that being driven out of Ramadi is 'just what they wanted'.
6
I don't recall hearing anyone say "bombing" was just what ISIS wanted. I do recall that "a ground war directly involving US / Western troops is just what ISIS wants" because, well, it is just what ISIS wants in order to fit ISIS prophecy.
5
The ISIS-supporting Democrats are already spinning as yet another ISIS victory
1
It's a start, that requires continual resolve to eradicate this evil from the face of the earth. God bless our President, and especially our military, for their perseaverance in assisting freedom fighters around the world!
15
I find it sad how easily some can be led to see themselves as martyrs fighting for what they believe is a worthy cause when it is so obviously against the civilized world. Who are these people and what makes them tick? Who in their right mind would claim society should give up thousands of years of social advancement and revert to an age ruled by ignorance? What makes them believe it makes sense to sacrifice their lives for the cause of turning us back into savages. ISIS has all the hallmarks of a religious cult that has the power to induce savage acts only by claiming the command for such behavior comes from a god. This is the only mindset powerful enough to make people give up their lives in the mistaken belief they will receive some type of reward for sacrificing themselves in the name of a god. Surely future generations will discover what goes wrong in certain people's minds that makes them so susceptible to irrationality and delusion where they key element is believing an imaginary friend in the sky commands you. This is faith at its worst and should set off alarms that any amount of faith is a potential slippery slope into a disconnect from reality. The proper term for this today is mental illness. Faith is an informational virus that has spread throughout humanity for thousands of years though the cure has finally been developed that will finally free us from this disease. It's called the internet.
11
.....I do fear the worst...I do fear that you actually believe what you wrote....which in turn, ironically, is called faith
1
the sad thing is that fighting with isis is the only way some young men believe they will ever be treated with respect, be part of a group regarded as "winners" or have any material advantages. driving cool jeeps and eating nutella are huge draws, apparently.
4
So, what happens to all the liberated comfort women? Are they granted asylum in the USA or do they sort of drift across the Mediterranean?
1
Not so fast. Let us see what is the headline next week.
6
I can tell you next week's headline: Obama goes golfing
Good job, Iraqis. I hope the people of Mosul are freed soon too.
23
"and the rest have escaped,” ...?
How did that happen when the city is surrounded, and all the bridges blown up, except the one provided by the American military?
More fog, from the fog of war.
How did that happen when the city is surrounded, and all the bridges blown up, except the one provided by the American military?
More fog, from the fog of war.
14
This may be turning of the tide. Who knows? Baghdadi may not live to preside over the 'Caliphate' for long. This will need a lot doing by all sides.
12
No accomplishment by the "Iraqi army" is going to mean anything as long as they are viewed as proxies of the USA. And as long as the USA has skin in the game, the "Iraqi army" is going to be looked upon as proxies of the USA. Only way out is to do a full Vietnam. They win, and in 10 years, the rapprochement begins. (And no doubt by the time the USA will be bogged down in another Iraq/Afghanistan/Vietnam.)
17
The difference with Vietnam is (amongst other things), people of like ideology to ISIS attacked American civilians on their home territory, killing 3000, well before America invaded Iraq and Afghanistan. That was Pearl Harbor-style aggression except highly despicable due to attacking defenseless people taken unawares. America will never forget that, nor should they, so "they win" and a "rapprochement" are non-starters.
1
As Colonel Warren said, this is a proud moment for Iraq. U.S. air support helped, but the Iraqis did it! May this be an example to all in the region of what can be accomplished when Sunni and Shia join as brothers to fight against evil.
43
you should be aware that Shia were kept out of this battle, so the rescued people's feelings wouldn't be hurt...
3
Nobody said that reconciliation would be quick or easy, but this is a start.
So it took 6000 plus fighters plus western air forces to dislodge in the end 300 fighters.
How long until this 6000 turn tail, abandon weapons and disappear into the desert or into ISIS ranks?
How many billions did this battle cost us?
There are some flooded, burned,and tornado damaged places in the United States where that money could have been put to good use.
Spilling blood and treasure on sand while expecting a different outcome after 15 years is beyond stupid.
How long until this 6000 turn tail, abandon weapons and disappear into the desert or into ISIS ranks?
How many billions did this battle cost us?
There are some flooded, burned,and tornado damaged places in the United States where that money could have been put to good use.
Spilling blood and treasure on sand while expecting a different outcome after 15 years is beyond stupid.
28
We also cannot stand by when such atrocities against innocents takes place. Pres. Obama is charting the best possible course without the very high spending and losses that putting troops on the ground would entail.
33
There were more than 300 fighters when this "battle" started, and it has been over a year since Iraqi solders abandoned weapons and fled. There are legitimate criticisms of what has happened in Iraqi, and venting is understandable, but do you honestly believe we can leave ISIS in place?
2
Is this some sort of new policy recommendation? Because we certainly have stood by during atrocities, many times previously in our history, and are doing it now, elsewhere in the world, and will in the future, in all likelihood.
2
Iraq, deja-vu. Iraq redux. Who deserves the credit?, who deserves the blame for this "Mission Unaccomplished" in Iraq? President GW Bush and his cabal of Cheney, Rove, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, and the Republican neo-con hawks who threw America and her treasury and the blood of her military dead and maimed and the blood of "the collaterals" into the sands of Iraq for the past 10 plus years. May the coalition of allies win through against Da'esh in the New Year.
64
Please don't forget Condi.
3
Let's not forget Doug Feith and Condi.
3
It will be interesting to see how Republican politicians will spin this into some defect of Obama's policy towards defeating the Islamic State.
115
They'll ignore it and keep on talking about carpet bombing and other idiocy. This story needs to be made very simple to have any impact on present-day Republicans. And to reach them, we'd need to take the self-destructive step of declaring imminent victory based on American superiority.
Simplicity and Certainty: not Reality.
Let us all hope.
Simplicity and Certainty: not Reality.
Let us all hope.
1
Oh, really. John McCain must be writhing in pain trying to acknowledge the fact that there are not thousands and thousands of US troops "on the ground" to accomplish this victory in Ramadi.
Imagine, under the Iraqi leadership of Abadi, and al-Belawi, they have managed to do for their own country without those thousands of proposed United States ground troops. And perhaps President Obama continuing to offer air strikes, which obviously has assisted the Iraqis fight their fight, was correct.
Even Colonel Warren of the United States has commented a success here.
Now, Republicans, get off the troops-on-the-ground plea, (none of which would be your family loved ones probably) and those which would be paid for by us taxpayers.
Let the Iraqis and the rest of the Mideast do what they can rightfully do without our would-be maimed and killed United States soldiers. It worked in Ramadi and can continue to work.
Imagine, under the Iraqi leadership of Abadi, and al-Belawi, they have managed to do for their own country without those thousands of proposed United States ground troops. And perhaps President Obama continuing to offer air strikes, which obviously has assisted the Iraqis fight their fight, was correct.
Even Colonel Warren of the United States has commented a success here.
Now, Republicans, get off the troops-on-the-ground plea, (none of which would be your family loved ones probably) and those which would be paid for by us taxpayers.
Let the Iraqis and the rest of the Mideast do what they can rightfully do without our would-be maimed and killed United States soldiers. It worked in Ramadi and can continue to work.
225
Obama has put boots on the ground. You obviously need to do more reading, the Times had articles about all the Special Forces boots on the ground in Iraq, Syria, etc, etc, etc.
Do you think any right wing nut can comprehend this idea?
There is no proven solution for this quagmires , if you go in, no avail, if you stand by no avail either. because it is quagmire.
There is no proven solution for this quagmires , if you go in, no avail, if you stand by no avail either. because it is quagmire.
1
MIMA - "Oh, really. John McCain must be writhing in pain"... "Now, Republicans, get off the troops-on-the-ground plea, (none of which would be your family loved ones probably) and those which would be paid for by us taxpayers."
Totally unnecessary, degrading, juvenile, foolish and untrue "probably" [really] remarks against fellow Americans. Does it make you feel better to insult people you don't know?
Totally unnecessary, degrading, juvenile, foolish and untrue "probably" [really] remarks against fellow Americans. Does it make you feel better to insult people you don't know?
Great news for Obama who moves quietly with a forceful hand
199
Great news for Obama is also great news for the US and the entire world.
32
carmen
As if this was all part of a plan.
Like republicans, never take credit for disasters, like the spread of ISIS by invading forces Obama refused to attack, but smugly claim victory after months, to take on a thousand!, with the results still unclear.
Hack courtier trash. Many are dead who need not have been and the rgin is more unstable and dangerous than it was if the US had a policy. Take credit for that. Just go through the NYT articles on ISIS or the past two years.
Or read the accompanying article about Obama lying about boots on the ground as he gives special forces exalted status in th military against every american tradition, founded in concern with imperial intigues. But, carmen does not care about such things.
Just market the lies you prefer. Legacy! Drone away!
As if this was all part of a plan.
Like republicans, never take credit for disasters, like the spread of ISIS by invading forces Obama refused to attack, but smugly claim victory after months, to take on a thousand!, with the results still unclear.
Hack courtier trash. Many are dead who need not have been and the rgin is more unstable and dangerous than it was if the US had a policy. Take credit for that. Just go through the NYT articles on ISIS or the past two years.
Or read the accompanying article about Obama lying about boots on the ground as he gives special forces exalted status in th military against every american tradition, founded in concern with imperial intigues. But, carmen does not care about such things.
Just market the lies you prefer. Legacy! Drone away!
The coward Obama spent the battle on his multi-million dollar beachfront mansion. Obama is still busy protecting ISIS by refusing to bomb their propaganda broadcasting stations and by forcing 75% of US bombing missions to return without dropping their ordanance
"Today's success is a proud moment for Iraq", said Col. Steven H. Warren, US military spokesman in Baghdad.
Indeed so. Seems to be a job well-done for the Iraqi army and government of Haider al-Abadi. Hopefully the victory is a harbinger of future Iraqi victories and ultimate defeat of ISIS.
Indeed so. Seems to be a job well-done for the Iraqi army and government of Haider al-Abadi. Hopefully the victory is a harbinger of future Iraqi victories and ultimate defeat of ISIS.
51
Good job, Iraqi Army and others involved in this operation.
Another defeat for the Wahhabi/Saudis who support ISIS.
Another defeat for the Wahhabi/Saudis who support ISIS.
46
But it's not a defeat for the Saudis. We still treat them like honored ridiculous. Boycott Saudi Arabia and freeze their assets. It's time.
12
stop driving your car then
We are net exporters of oil now. There is nothing wrong in buying cheap oil from them to make it value added and then export it back
1
Interesting and important to note that the US is (apparently) assisting the Iraqi's to take back their own city w/o "boots on the ground". Whatever with the Republicans and Fox News say about this? It was supposed to be impossible without a major escalation of the US's efforts which include supply, intelligence and air-strikes.
Expect talking heads to a) explode or b) ignore the advances in Iraq against these terrible enemies of the west and civilization.
Expect talking heads to a) explode or b) ignore the advances in Iraq against these terrible enemies of the west and civilization.
97
They'll call it a Christmas miracle before giving Obama any credit.
My guess is that they simply won't mention it. I saw the successful start up of the Iraqi army's assault on Ramadi two weeks ago--on French television. Very little to nothing on US cable news.
1
Here is where the true war against ISIS is being fought. It is a major story. Thanks NYT for treating it as such. With Fox News hyping up all the fear that terrorism engenders I thought it would be interesting to see how they treated this breakthrough this morning. It was a below the line headline and sprinkled in with a major propaganda tape of an ISIS leader threatening our country. Does anyone really believe that any journalist who works for such a news outlet is an independent reporter prioritizing major news stories as they occur. Hopefully good news from Mosel will also be forthcoming in the future.
178
Congratulations to the Iraqi Army and the people of Ramadi. After the last dozen years of invasion and occupation, this self-determined and internationally supported victory should be a joyous moment for the Iraqis.
97
A temporary situation at best. I wouldn't celebrate too hard as I doubt that the Iraqi army has any staying power.