That may work. I'm sure the Kurds wouldn't think twice about allowing the US basing rights to train and do a bit of "advise and assist" to the Pesh.
ISIS in Iraq and Syria
- Thread starter Suli
- Start date
That may work. I'm sure the Kurds wouldn't think twice about allowing the US basing rights to train and do a bit of "advise and assist" to the Pesh.
Its not the Kurd´s duty to finish ISIS. In the end the central government has to deal with them. The problem with the central government is, that they are idiots and its hard to trust many of them. They have their own agendas. The guy you support today creates instability tomorrow.
Supporting the kurds would help to contain ISIS and take some immanent pressure of, while in the long run its an end in itself. The kurds are willing to build a stable state, that share common values with western countries. Thats pretty fecking rare in this region. So if I had to pick anyone to support around there, its obviously them.
All fair points. Hard to disagree with anything there. Though I don't think the 'common values' thing counts for anything since western countries are happy to cosy up with nations like Saudi Arabia. A secular haven would be nice though.
You could obviously make an moral argument, that its the right thing to help the kurds, but thats not even my point. Nobody cares about moral in international relations, so that wouldnt convince anybody.
My point is, that in the long run western countries would benefit from a stable kurdish state/region. The military and politicans are just blinded by shortsightedness. The investment would be resonable low. Western countries (especially the USA) are already delivering massive amounts of weapons to the region. Sadly just to the wrong guys. Western countries also waste big parts of their development aid on dictators or sink it in completely unreasonable projects. Just take this money and support the kurds. Having a peaceful, tolerant and prospering state in this region would have great implications in the (very) long run. The people in the neighbouring countries/regions would see that and would ask their governments for the same. That has the potential to prevent more terrorism and fundamentalism than 10000000000000 drone strikes. It could be a first step to a better understanding between different parts of the world that are fairly hostile to each other.
So why not invest a small amount of money and political capital with little risk on a project with huge potential? Its the reasonable thing to do.
My point is, that in the long run western countries would benefit from a stable kurdish state/region. The military and politicans are just blinded by shortsightedness. The investment would be resonable low. Western countries (especially the USA) are already delivering massive amounts of weapons to the region. Sadly just to the wrong guys. Western countries also waste big parts of their development aid on dictators or sink it in completely unreasonable projects. Just take this money and support the kurds. Having a peaceful, tolerant and prospering state in this region would have great implications in the (very) long run. The people in the neighbouring countries/regions would see that and would ask their governments for the same. That has the potential to prevent more terrorism and fundamentalism than 10000000000000 drone strikes. It could be a first step to a better understanding between different parts of the world that are fairly hostile to each other.
So why not invest a small amount of money and political capital with little risk on a project with huge potential? Its the reasonable thing to do.
The PKK sent a few hundred to fight near the mountains. It would be a strange sight to see them coordinating together against ISIS.
KRG is better for them economically than a bunch of bearded loons.
Kurdish forces have reached the Shingal mountains. Evacuation has begun but aid is still required.
The bearded morons aren't going to be a threat though. The second they step foot into Turkey they'll be obliterated by Turkey's F-16Cs.
An empowered KRG though with new shiny weaponry will make the Turkish government sweat like Josef Fritzl on MTV Cribs, especially considering their covert ties with the PKK.
Excellent post. Agreed on pretty much everything, especially the counterproductive effect of drone strikes.
I'd respect the US government a lot more if it re-directed the cash it gives to the the Saudis and Egyptians towards vitalising a Kurdish state.
Just talked to a friend in Irbil. Fighting 40km away apparently. Mental stuff.
You'll be completely safe.
I'm going to be there in the next 24 hours.
That's wrong pal. The area he is talking about is completely under Pesh control at the moment. Some people were led to believe it was under attack but it's all under control.
1000 people from the mountains have been rescued so far by YPG and pkk.
Mosul itself is only 88km from Irbil, so 40kms wouldn't be an unreasonable if ISIS are pushing east.
Turkish military jets have just entered Kurdish airspace, they're in the area where clashes are taking place near Mosul.
Respect. Still a good 39,000 to be rescued. Let's hope they're not left behind.
Surreal seeing the PKK involved in such a capacity.
G'wan Turkey!
Wait, which side are they targetting?
Wait, which side are they targetting?
Once Shingal has been completely secured (joint forces have secured most of the surrounding area), the assault of Mosul will begin. Shingal provides a route out of Iraq and into Syria for ISIS if Mosul collapses. By retaking Shingal, they'll struggle to escape. 
They're flying over Kurdish airspace and will probably coordinate bombings of Mosul alongside the Iraqi Air Force.
What's the Iraqi army currently doing? As in where are they fighting at the moment?
I don't keep up to date with the Iraqi army. All I know is that there is now some coordination going on and that an offensive on Mosul is being prepared. They're bombing Mosul at the moment.
A lot of these getting deployed by the Iraqi army not too far from Mosul, I can see there being a lot of civilian casualties if they're intending to using multiple rocket launchers in the city.
Make sure you know how to handle a Kalashnikov if you're going to Hawler, you never know when it might come in handy.
The Iraqi army can't launch a full offensive on Mosul now, or start serious operations there. They can however support the people and the Peshmerga to regain/defend towns around Mosul (mainly with airforce/rockets).
The Iraqi army needs to focus on Tikrit now (where it's slowly advancing, but will need more time before they can totally control the center of the city), in addition continuing to repel attempts for further advances towards Baghdad, which they have successfully done so far.
There is also a delicate area South-West of Baghdad (Jurf Al-Sakhar) that needs to be cleared soon. ISIS have been settling there for a long time (years), and it will be a tough battle to regain full control over it, but it's crucial to protect Baghdad.
The Iraqi army needs to focus on Tikrit now (where it's slowly advancing, but will need more time before they can totally control the center of the city), in addition continuing to repel attempts for further advances towards Baghdad, which they have successfully done so far.
There is also a delicate area South-West of Baghdad (Jurf Al-Sakhar) that needs to be cleared soon. ISIS have been settling there for a long time (years), and it will be a tough battle to regain full control over it, but it's crucial to protect Baghdad.
If there's one time western interference in Iraq would do real good, it's now.
News just in: France will provide weaponry to Kurdish forces. More to follow...
Nice. They have an excellent reputation for winning wars.
It's a start, hopefully they will get some help. They've called an urgent security council meeting where I'm sure there will be all sorts of condemnation to back them up.What does concern me is that from the little outrage there has been amongst western parties on this issue, it seems it's only because there are Christians at risk.
I'm glad this thread is being noticed....
http://news.yahoo.com/obama-considering-iraq-air-strikes-173234202.html
http://news.yahoo.com/obama-considering-iraq-air-strikes-173234202.html
The only problem I see with USA is anytime they "help" a country they end up worse than before, Iraq and Libya comes to my mind.
Next step in our quest for world domination: forming our own Cafliphate.
Don't trust Dwayne. He told us he'd form a terrorist organization with us over at the extremist thread and now he's after a caliphate.
There's an analogy to be made there.
Western Europe, The UK, Carribean Countries, also come to mind.
Turkish boots on the ground starting to look like a real possibility (and I'm not talking about ISIS ).
).Warning: Contains footage of heads on posts.
You have to give it to them, they sure do ride those vehicles well.
Sounds like the beginning of a US mission is underway to drop humanitarian supplies.