Just heard on NBC News that the US is preparing to fly humanitarian missions to air drop food and water to Yazidis trapped on a mountain. These missions will have fighter escorts and it is possible these fighters may also be used to strike ISIS forces. The US has a consulate in Irbil and if that is threatened by ISIS those fighter will be called to strike.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/TvRm7gZ_LhU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>"24 C-130 transport aircraft flying round trips every day would be necessary to keep the Yazidi supplied with water" <a href="http://t.co/dRIojg4Wff">http://t.co/dRIojg4Wff</a></p>— Zack Beauchamp (@zackbeauchamp) <a href="https://twitter.com/zackbeauchamp/statuses/497522718724853760">August 7, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>It seems ISIS don't control Mosul dam, Makhmour didn't fall & it was the Iraqi Air Force that did the strikes <a href="https://t.co/wf38bXMeoi">https://t.co/wf38bXMeoi</a></p>— Liz Sly (@LizSly) <a href="https://twitter.com/LizSly/statuses/497537449321844737">August 8, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Reports out today that ISIS has captured 4 towns only 25 miles from Irbil, Kurds are starting to panic. We can't let Irbil fall. The Kurds are the best allies we have in the region, the only ones worth fighting for at this point in my opinion. Logistically, we can't sustain a humanitarian campaign from airdrops to keep 40K people alive, either. They need relief or they need to flee - meaning, someone needs to break through to them and get them out of there, or they will die. ISIS is exterminating their enemies en mass now. We need to abandon the idea of keeping the Kurds a part of Iraq now. It is preventing us from truly sending them assistance. Let them declare independence, and start sending them money and weapons, trainers, give them air support - NOW. No more time for BSing.
Something needs to be done. that is true. It's a dire situation and if ethnic cleansing is a reason for getting involved, than we are at that point no doubt. But there needs to be a longer term strategy of dealing with ISIS. Saudi Arabia and their financial supports need to be held accountable. U.S. is being way too soft.
I did read that Israeli bombs were found at an ISIS hideout by the Iraqi or Syrian military (have a link but still trying to verify it). Starting to think they are involved in this big time.
f'ing unbelievable how Obama has bungled what was a much more stable situation in Iraq. When ISIS knows that Obama is too chickenschit to send in troops, they act accordingly -- boldly.
irrelevant tangent. Obama had a stable situation, and through his idiotic policy, we now have the Middle East raging in many places.
Obama's walk away policy has been sickening before this. It's about time we rain on these militants' parade.
It's freakin' about time. I was beginning to think that we'd wait until they were busting down the gates of Baghdad!
Hahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahahhahahaha Must be nice to try and blame anything wrong in the world directly to Israel.
Well Obama deserves some blame for how poorly things in Iraq have gone since we abandoned them, but the Iraqi government didn't do themselves any favors by hastening our abandonment of them with their actions. Iraq wasn't ready to take over responsibility for their own security, but they foolishly thought they were and wanted us out. We foolishly paid attention to them and honored their wishes. As a result, Iraq is in really bad shape.
It was a mistake to withdraw, and I bet the Iraqi people are wishing we hadn't left. I think we have to go back. We made that mess. We have to clean it up.
I would hope that we would, but I don't think this administration would admit the mistake like that. I'm thinking if we do go back, it will be under a UN banner. I'm right with you though, we made that mess, we ought to clean it up.
