The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant Megathread

[jimmy olsen]

The shitites are now not helping on the Tikrit operation, because the U.S. is now involved.

The US demanded that as a condition of getting involved.

How did the US expect to succeed without any help from the Shia?  Aragorn's ghost army?

Yeah, that doesn't make any sense. 

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

How did the US expect to succeed without any help from the Shia?  Aragorn's ghost army?

Ask Gen. Austin:

The top U.S. commander in the Middle East testified Thursday that U.S. aircraft only began bombing militants in Tikrit after Iran-backed militias withdrew from the fight.

U.S. Army Gen. Lloyd Austin, commander of U.S. Central Command, told lawmakers that there were a number of preconditions that had to be met before the U.S.-led coalition would come to the rescue of the stalled offensive.

"Once those conditions were met, which included Shiite militias not being involved [in the operation], then we were able to proceed," he said. After "three tours in Iraq commanding [U.S.] troops who were brutalized by some of these Shiite militias, I will not and I hope we never coordinate or cooperate with Shiite militias."

[KRonn]

The enemy of my enemy can still be my enemy.   

[grumbler]

How did the US expect to succeed without any help from the Shia?  Aragorn's ghost army?

Ask Gen. Austin:

The top U.S. commander in the Middle East testified Thursday that U.S. aircraft only began bombing militants in Tikrit after Iran-backed militias withdrew from the fight.

U.S. Army Gen. Lloyd Austin, commander of U.S. Central Command, told lawmakers that there were a number of preconditions that had to be met before the U.S.-led coalition would come to the rescue of the stalled offensive.

"Once those conditions were met, which included Shiite militias not being involved [in the operation], then we were able to proceed," he said. After "three tours in Iraq commanding [U.S.] troops who were brutalized by some of these Shiite militias, I will not and I hope we never coordinate or cooperate with Shiite militias."

He's talking about Shiite militias.  All Shia fighters are not members of a militia.  The Iraqi Army is overwhelmingly Shiite, for instance, and yet is not (technically only, I suppose) a militia.

[Siege]

Is the VJ team still playing?

[Admiral Yi]

JV?

[Siege]

Whatever.
I'm an immigrant.

[Admiral Yi]

So am I. 

[grumbler]

Is the VJ JV team still playing?

Yep.  The Marines are not involved, just Army and Chair Force.

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

He's talking about Shiite militias.  All Shia fighters are not members of a militia.  The Iraqi Army is overwhelmingly Shiite, for instance, and yet is not (technically only, I suppose) a militia.

This tangent started with this comment by Ed:

The shitites are now not helping on the Tikrit operation, because the U.S. is now involved.

To my knowledge, the only Shi'ites "not helping" as a result of US involvement are the militias.  I haven't seen any reports that reference Iraqi Army soldiers refusing to fight or deserting (because of this, at least).

[DGuller]

So am I. 

Yi?  An immigrant?

[Admiral Yi]

Yi?  An immigrant?

Sure.  I was born in Korea.

[grumbler]

He's talking about Shiite militias.  All Shia fighters are not members of a militia.  The Iraqi Army is overwhelmingly Shiite, for instance, and yet is not (technically only, I suppose) a militia.

This tangent started with this comment by Ed:

The shitites are now not helping on the Tikrit operation, because the U.S. is now involved.

To my knowledge, the only Shi'ites "not helping" as a result of US involvement are the militias.  I haven't seen any reports that reference Iraqi Army soldiers refusing to fight or deserting (because of this, at least).

That's why I questioned your agreement with Ed that no Shia were involved, and in fact your further assertion that Shia non-involvement was a precondition for US participation.  That turned out to be a misunderstanding on your part.  Had there been no Shiite involvement, the US involvement would have been completely moot (barring the appearance of Aragorn's Ghost Army).

[grumbler]

Yi?  An immigrant?

Sure.  I was born in Korea.

I thought you were born a citizen of the US, though. 

[Ed Anger]

I wish I had never posted what the BBC scroll said on the TeeVee now.