The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant Megathread

[Zanza]

So it is a full-blown sectarian war now that Ayatollah Sistani called the Shias to resist ISIS?

[The Brain]

Shia Modques in Baghdad calling people to come and collect arms.

And LaBeouf?

[Hansmeister]

No, they agreed to a SOFA in the end, but the General couldn't get a response from the White House.  My Cdr was on the General's Staff at that time (he also blamed the General for being too passive and not pushing for an answer, he had a reputation for indecisiveness).

Who was this? Odierno?
Nah, he was back in the States when the SOFA deal went south.

Austin.  Everything I heard about him paints him as terribly indecisive and not up to the job.  Combined with a President who simply didn't give a fuck this was a recipe for disaster.

[Hansmeister]

No, they agreed to a SOFA in the end, but the General couldn't get a response from the White House.  My Cdr was on the General's Staff at that time (he also blamed the General for being too passive and not pushing for an answer, he had a reputation for indecisiveness).

Why didn't you fire that general?  So, in a way, some of this is your fault.

I didn't work for him, so I couldn't fire him. 

[Berkut]

I would have no problem with the US providing air support, simply under the idea that the current government or Iraq is our ally, and we should support them.

No real faith that it will matter in the long run though.

[Valmy]

Until the next reason to hate us happened.

We made everybody who was a close ally of us regret it with that Iraq invasion.  Probably not the best international strategy.

Still better than Obama, who have lost every Egypt, Libya, Syria, etc.

Not exactly a high bar.  These last 14 years have been disastrous.  Oh for the days of Clinton and Bush I.

[Valmy]

I would have no problem with the US providing air support, simply under the idea that the current government or Iraq is our ally, and we should support them.

No real faith that it will matter in the long run though.

ISIS really brings people together doesn't it?  Iran and the US might be allies on the same battlefield coming up here.

[The Brain]

The Commonwealth can provide Air Supply.

[derspiess]

Reports/rumours that Sistani has ruled that it's a religious duty to fight ISIS.

So even less pressure on Salman Rushdie, then?

[Valmy]

Yeah this would be a good time to draw Mohammed cartoons.

[derspiess]

Gonna go draw some right now!  BRB

[Ed Anger]

I drew a penis.

[KRonn]

I would have no problem with the US providing air support, simply under the idea that the current government or Iraq is our ally, and we should support them.

No real faith that it will matter in the long run though.

ISIS really brings people together doesn't it?  Iran and the US might be allies on the same battlefield coming up here.

I guess no surprise if that happens. A major nation like Iraq, with it's prosperous oil money, ruled by ISIS/AQ would be a catastrophe. I wouldn't be surprised if even the UN nation security council all agree on taking some kind of military action.

[Grey Fox]

I would have no problem with the US providing air support, simply under the idea that the current government or Iraq is our ally, and we should support them.

No real faith that it will matter in the long run though.

ISIS really brings people together doesn't it?  Iran and the US might be allies on the same battlefield coming up here.

I guess no surprise if that happens. A major nation like Iraq, with it's prosperous oil money, ruled by ISIS/AQ would be a catastrophe. I wouldn't be surprised if even the UN nation security council all agree on taking some kind of military action.

We need to let that catastrophe happen tho. 10-15 years max and then we can partition it between the Kurds, Iran & Kuwait.

[Valmy]

No it is perfectly good and reasonable they would be so.  I am just thinking how we soon might be hearing something like 'the Iranian Revolutionary Guards called in US Air support'