Ramadi Once Again Has Fallen

[wmenorr67]

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/05/18/iraqi-premier-dont-abandon-anbar-to-isis/

Curious to see if the Iraqis have the intestinal fortitude to do what it takes to take it back or will we have to sacrifice American lives to do it.

[Fitz]

inb4 "it'll be different this time if we go"

[dogmush]

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/05/18/iraqi-premier-dont-abandon-anbar-to-isis/

Curious to see if the Iraqis have the intestinal fortitude to do what it takes to take it back or will we have to sacrifice American lives to do it.

I'll take "Repeat of 2006" for $1000, Alex.

[makattak]

This is what happens when you don't actually defeat your enemy, declare "victory", and then abandon your allies in a position they are unable to defend.

I mean, what else could you expect from the Vietnamese Iraqis?

[lupinus]

inb4 "it'll be different this time if we go"

But but....something!

[Balog]

I was in Ramadi 05-06. I realized at the time that we were just playing at war, and that all my friends who were dying or getting crippled was for nothing. It was the largest part of why I was so depressed and angry when I got back. All that blood for no good reason.

[Fitz]

This is what happens when you don't actually defeat your enemy, declare "victory", and then abandon your allies in a position they are unable to defend.

I mean, what else could you expect from the Vietnamese Iraqis?

Heh

Allies

[MechAg94]

The mistake was thinking they could nation build in the middle east at all.  If they were not willing to just leave after Saddam was taken out, probably should have stayed out and left him there.  Maybe it would have been better to let the neighbors split the place up in the end.

[wmenorr67]

My take on it is either the Iraqis ask for us to come in there full bore and leave nothing behind or we say you're on your own.  Airstrikes alone aren't going to be enough. 

[Andiron]

My take on it is either the Iraqis ask for us to come in there full bore and leave nothing behind or we say you're on your own.  Airstrikes alone aren't going to be enough. 

Even if they asked,  what's the point? 

They're hosed.  Why waste anymore blood or treasure there?

[makattak]

Even if they asked,  what's the point? 

They're hosed.  Why waste anymore blood or treasure there?

Well, the Kurds, if nothing else, would benefit from material support to prevent them from being "hosed".

[Fitz]

Well, the Kurds, if nothing else, would benefit from material support to prevent them from being "hosed".

Personally, I don't give a *expletive deleted*it who benefits. If we don't benefit, why do it?

[MechAg94]

Well, the Kurds, if nothing else, would benefit from material support to prevent them from being "hosed".

They are the only ones it would make sense to support.

We are not willing to go in and lay waste to the area and then pull out.  I don't want our troops tied down as targets in an occupation.  Might as well stay out. 

Can we blockade oil from ISIS people?

[roo_ster]

Rubble the place and then bounce the rubble.  Rubble doesn't make trouble.

[Andiron]

Well, the Kurds, if nothing else, would benefit from material support to prevent them from being "hosed".

Not our fight.  We threw the aholes out once,  if they can't capitalize on it,  more fool them. 

[Hawkmoon]

I think we should just cordon off Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and maybe a couple of others, and let the natives duke it out among themselves.

I'm inclined to leave the Kurdish areas on the outside of the fence, but I don't know how the Turks would like that.

[tokugawa]

I think we should just cordon off Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and maybe a couple of others, and let the natives duke it out among themselves.

I'm inclined to leave the Kurdish areas on the outside of the fence, but I don't know how the Turks would like that.

 IMO- that is exactly what is going to happen- there won't be a cordon though, we will/are import millions of refugees/zealots here. And the fighting will go nuclear asap- the Saudi's have got to get nukes to defend from the now irreversible Iranian nuke program. Egypt , Turkey and a few other states too. We are going to see the mother of all religious wars between the two main sect's of Islam.  Somewhere in the mix is a high likelihood of an "incident" here.

 this topic has been discussed a lot recently at "the Belmont Club". Very astute commentary on Geo-political events.
 

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

I'd never heard of the Belmont Club, but they are indeed worth reading.  Not sure I agree with them, but they're worth reading all the same.