Sickening display by pro Hamas protesters <object width="560" height="315"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/PNtyLS3Fv_Y?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/PNtyLS3Fv_Y?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
It's one thing if the Kurds really do choose to go their own way. I don't think the US will complain too much. The problem the US has is that for better or for worse, Iraq is an ally, and dropping allies at the drop of a hat is something that you really, really want to avoid doing - it makes you look unreliable, and Obama hasn't done much to restore American credibility over the past few years. It's a real risk to drop Iraq and ally with the Kurds - especially since IS's success against the Peshmerga has shown that while they are still a sight better than the ISF and most Arab armies, they may not be nearly as good as we've assumed they were. Due to these reasons, the best move for the United States is to try to persuade a Iraq reunification movement. Of course, I'll admit that while I respect the Kurds, I have an incredibly dim view of the concept of self-determination in general - the idea that the fighting in the Middle East would not have occurred had it not been for the British and French ****ing up things with Sykes-Picot is a fantasy which misses historical context and buys into Wilson's bs.
The key point for my concern over Baghdad is this: the IS are deranged psychopaths, but as far as I'm concerned, the real long-term threat to American Middle Eastern interests remains Iran. Ideally, I'd be willing to cut a deal with IS and let them have Iraq in exchange for them ignoring us and focusing everything on bleeding Iran. But since IS is filled with deranged psychopaths, such a deal will never work in reality and thus we need to destroy them. But we cannot forget our long-term interests - and while it certainly will be difficult to keep Baghdad out of the Iranian sphere of influence, taking away the Kurds from Iraq will not help, and there's not much the Kurds can offer us against Iran to begin with.
I agree that Iran is an enemy. One war at a time, though. ISIS is the more immediate threat - and one that's far easier to deal with. I think the administration wants to partner with Iran to combat ISIS. I think that is the wrong approach, because it gives Iran leverage and only serves to ultimately stoke Sunni fears about Iran. But that's where I see it heading. I'd rather we told Iran to *** off, threw our weight in with the Kurds 100%. Try to drag Baghdad our way, but ultimately if they want to stay in Iran's orbit there's nothing we can do to stop them. We can work with the Kurds. But ISIS needs to be destroyed before this gets any bigger. After ISIS goes, we can work with some Sunnis against Iran. When your policy relies on Iran to act responsibly and do the right thing, there's a problem with your policy.
You are the perfect caricature of a right winger aren't you. Let me guess... You also believe global warming is a science conspiracy and that evolution is false.
Get with the times, it's not "global warming" anymore, it's "climate change", and it doesn't take 15 minutes to get a quote for car insurance online anymore.
after WWII, every US involvements made things worst ... is it because : -idiot politicians? -lobbyist? -wrong causes -clueless army advisers? -false ,misguided , manipulated fact and info. -all the above choose your poison
It's funny when people say no one cares about the Kurds because Israel isn't involved. When Israeli attacks on Hamas are now buried in the news and everyone is focused on what's happening with the ISIS!
That's impossible to say because you don't have the counterfactuals. Maybe if the US doesn't get involved in Korea or Vietnam, the USSR is booming and all of Eastern Europe is still behind the iron curtain. Maybe if the US doesn't get involved in the Middle East, they are allied today with China and the USSR and and can bring the US down through oil policy. On and on. Just because things are bad doesn't mean they couldn't have been worse. Or better - the point is, we don't know.
Motives for the September 11th attacks ... can't find "pretending we aren't at war with these types of people." Actually, seems like establishing a permanent base on Iraqi soil against the will of the Iraqi government would fit nicely into one of these categories.
Iraqi Prime Minister Finally Sees the Writing on Wall, Resigns http://news.yahoo.com/iraqi-prime-minister-finally-sees-writing-wall-resigns-200542386.html
Mission Accomplished! The war is over! [youtube]ZmFXOgyty4M[/youtube] So, there will be no evacuation - not necessary anymore. Well, slight problem with that... <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Pentagon says about 5,000 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Yazidis?src=hash">#Yazidis</a> still on mountain. Relief orgs report many still dying on way to refugee camps.</p>— Barbara Starr (@barbarastarrcnn) <a href="https://twitter.com/barbarastarrcnn/statuses/499964201709092865">August 14, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Contra Obama, a UN official JUST briefed the press, saying the situation on Mt. Sinjar is exceedingly dire. several thousand stranded</p>— Mark Leon Goldberg (@MarkLGoldberg) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkLGoldberg/statuses/499962002760945664">August 14, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> I suppose if you're a Kurd or Yazidi this is probably pretty distressing news. They thought we were actually going to help them against ISIS. Suckers...
Thanks for nothing Obama...I guess your buddies that you helped arm in the ISIS & Muslim Brotherhood are happy with your little song & dance for the media. As someone with an Assyrian heritage, I actually though you were going to help our people, but we should've known better than to trust someone with the name Barak HUSSIEN Obama...why would you help the Christians? What a weak & pathetic response to probably the most ruthless, violent, vicious & inhumane acts that the world has seen in the last 50 odd years... American Presidents used to have balls & a backbone, standing up for those around the world that needed help, but Obama has tarnished the proud reputation of America around the world with his Dhimmitude & constant pandering to Islamic militants. I'm disgusted. What a pathetic excuse for a leader. I truly feel sorry for my beloved American brothers & sisters. Obama might as well raise the black flag of Islamic Jihad above the White House himself, the low life coward. Oh well, I guess we'll just have to sit back & listen to more stories of women being captured, raped then sold as sex slaves...& watch more videos of ISIS beheading Christians, Shia & whoever else doesn't kowtow to their demands. So sad...
This is honestly the first time where a post from another member actually makes me infuriated enough to claim that he actually might be a dick head in real life. You can disagree with our President's policies but to presume a lack of trustworthiness based on family names is disgusting. Being Bengali American with multiple extended family members with names such as Ahmed(my mother's maiden name) and Mohammad I take this personally. Would you have a problem "trusting" my mother not to support terrorists? Congrats... You're the first poster that I would dislike as a person outside the bounds of the BBS.
Obama's actions speak louder than words & his name. Being in the military you should know that Hussien was the name of Iraq's former leader, who also supported militant Islsmists...if you want to draw a long bow & make the assumption that I judge everyone regarding their name, then that's your prerogative...I have many Muslim friends, with the name Ahmed & also mohummad. I have never judged someone on their colour, race, religion or even sexual preference, but on the content of their character & the way they treat both me & others around me. My post was a bit emotional because we still have family & friends in North Iraq getting either slaughtered, raped or displaced by these Islamic militants...& we were expecting Obama to help us & fix the mess he made. Instead he dropped a few bombs for the cameras & left the Assyrians in no mans land, the Yezidi stuck on the top of a mountain & The Islamic State in power. Like I said, thanks for nothing Obama.
