Iraq’s Military Seen as Unlikely to Turn the Tide

NY Slimes ^

[TigerClaws]

BAGHDAD — As Iraqi Army forces try to rally on the outskirts of Baghdad after two weeks of retreat, it has become increasingly clear to Western officials that the army will continue to suffer losses in its fight with Sunni militants and will not soon retake the ground it has ceded.

Recent assessments by Western officials and military experts indicate that about a quarter of Iraq’s military forces are “combat ineffective,” its air force is minuscule, morale among troops is low and its leadership suffers from widespread corruption.

[Captain Compassion]

Bug out!

CC

[MinorityRepublican]

So Shi’ites will be executed after ISIL enters Baghdad?

[Artie]

“about a quarter of Iraq’s military forces are “combat ineffective,” its air force is minuscule, morale among troops is low and its leadership suffers from widespread corruption.”

But, other than that, they’re in pretty good shape.

[ArmstedFragg]

Isn’t the Times always telling us that all cultures are the same? I wonder what factors they blame the uselessness of the Iraqi Army on? Everything they listed in their story seems to be pretty much endemic to the culture.

[ArmstedFragg]

A couple of more weeks of this, and there’s a risk Maliki will invite Iran to the party. At which point, the Saudis (who REALLY don’t want Iran on their border) will lean on ISIL to back off. That’s if J F’in Kerry doesn’t manage to escalate the process. Iraq’s gonna be a Federalized country.

[ArmstedFragg]

From 34 attacks in 2011 to over 600 in 2012. Gee, I wonder what might have happened in 2012?

[reefdiver]

The Russians could be “invited”. Then they control the oil an a big chunk of the Middle East
That’s not a good ending to this

[MarMema]

I am expecting a massacre. And apparently we have several thousand Americans there that have not been invited to come home? So said a news program this morning...

Obama is a complete idiot.

[DownInFlames]

Yep, the options for Obama are not very reassuring:

1. Do nothing and watch a unified ISIS take over Syria and Iraq
2. Iran intervenes on behalf of Iraq and there will be a Suni - Shite civil war
3. Russia makes a move and stops in Saudi Arabia taking Iraq, Qutar, and Kuwait along the way. Has anyone done a model on how long it would take without US intervention?

[bassmaner]

Unfortunately, the only real option at this point is total committment: a massive bombing campaign, followed up by a full-scale US invasion force (with a giant middle finger raised to the so-called "international community") to push the Islamonazis out of both Iraq *and* Syria. We would then need to set up an occupation regime similar to what was done in Germany and Japan after WW2.

Of course this will never happen, and we will pay the price with new terror attacks here in America.

But remember, 0bama 'responsibly ended' the war in Iraq, just like the New York Times said he would with their 2008 endorsement. And the Left will continue their hand-wringing and GWB-bashing, while the blood of millions drips off their hands.

[Fitzy_888]

ISIS just took the only paved border crossing to Jordan.

The only overland means of foreign supply is now via Kuwait or Iran. The

Our friends the Saudi’s would just as soon watch the Iraqi government fold.

[mojito]

“The militants also captured 52 artillery pieces, including Howitzers, which were abandoned by Iraqi troops as they fled south. It is unclear if ISIS can figure out how to use them, but if it did so that would add to its already substantial firepower.”

If they don’t know now, they can always hire someone to show them.