Al Qaeda seizes partial control of 2 cities in western Iraq

Long War Journal ^ | January 2, 2014 | Bill Roggio

[Brad from Tennessee]

Over the past several days, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham, al Qaeda's affiliate in Iraq, has taken control of large sections of two western Iraqi cities that were once bastions for the terror group.

ISIS fighters entered the cities of Fallujah and Ramadi, the provincial capital of Anbar, after the Iraqi military withdrew from them following clashes with tribes over a political standoff that resulted in the arrest of a Sunni member of parliament.

The ISIS has posted videos of its fighters entering the cities in force after clashing with Iraqi police and overrunning several checkpoints. In the videos, a large convoy of ISIS fighters driving technicals, or pickup trucks with heavy machine guns mounted on the back, is seen moving through Ramadi. The fighters are flying al Qaeda's black banner while singing praises to al Qaeda and its "Islamic state." [See more videos here.]

Officials from the Iraqi Interior Ministry acknowledged that parts of Fallujah and Ramadi are under al Qaeda control.

"Half of Fallujah is in the hands of ISIS (the Qaeda-linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham) group," an anonymous interior ministry official told AFP.

"In Ramadi, it is similar - some areas are controlled by ISIS," the official continued. The other parts of the city are controlled by "tribesmen," likely a reference to the Sahwa ("the Awakening"), the tribal militia that with US backing ejected al Qaeda from control of large areas of Anbar between 2006 and 2009.

In Fallujah, ISIS fighters stormed the main police headquarters, freed more than 100 prisoners, and seized weapons and ammunition. "Other police stations in the city were torched by fighters as most police abandoned their posts," Al Jazeera reported. . .

[mylife]

Prayers and good rest.

[DesertRhino]

Sickening, but the current generation is being forced to learn the Vietnam era term, “wasted”. The politicians have done it again.

[Yaelle]

So a lot of our men died in vain?? This is sad.

[Russ]

It isn’t Al Qaeda, it’s only a random group of concerned Muslims mad about that American made video. It’s our fault...

[exit82]

We lost 51 brave Marines taking Fallujah the second time.

It should have been obliterated from the air after warning the civilians to leave.

Same thing with Ramadi.

This is the only thing Islam understands. Brute force which they cannot overcome.

I don’t care if all of Iraq falls under Al Qaeda.

Even after we spent a trillion dollars and thousands of American lives, it is still an Islamic sh#thole.

I throw my sandals at them.

[TADSLOS]

Wait until the last U.S. helo lifts out of Kabul.

The Taliban will be chopping heads on the soccer field the following day.

I suspect they will start sooner than that. After all, our current ROE won't even stop them from doing it now.

[TADSLOS]

Nation Building is a lousy reason to go to war, and declaring war with a euphemism (War on Terror) is a tepid response.

[left that other site]

Indeed, and Kabul and Kandahar while we we at it.

I have been saying this for a dozen years.

[Patton@Bastogne]

.


The "Sodomite Bastard Kenyan's" new year gift to his false moon-god child-molesting prophet mohammed ...


.

[Valentine Michael Smith]

You are absolutely right.

[Arrowhead1952]

But no, we had to give it back.

But, remember 0 bummer saying "Al Qaeda is dead and GM is alive". Yeah right Barry.

[PGalt]

We should have bombed mecca on day one after 9/11 followed closely, as in minutes, by tehran and medina.

Exactly. Then torn down every totalitarian base camp/mosque/madrass in western civilization. Yet death and plunder, internal and external, are actions that can legitimize totalitarians of all stripes.

1400 years of appeasing BIG TOTALITARIANISM does not work.

But who are we? A couple of hundred years old upstart republic? BIG TOTALITARIANISM is not impressed.

[jpsb]

"It should have been obliterated from the air after warning the civilians to leave."

Heavy artillery, it's cheaper and does a better job.

[caww]

Imagine how the families whose kids died are feeling about this....

My whole family has members who have served and are serving....if my kids came to me today to sign up I would do all in my power to stop them until Obama is out of office!

[Seaplaner]

...if my kids came to me today to sign up I would do all in my power to stop them until Obama is out of office!

I understand the sentiment, my FRiend, I really do.

However, one wonders if this could be what Mister Obama wants...to make our members of our fine Military feel unwelcome and not respected (both the people and the mission), and to leave the service. (I'm not saying this is the case, I'm saying I don't know.)

Given the critical state of the world, and the (sadly) declining state of our wonderful Country, I would try to convince those who consider wearing the uniform to do so, and to weather the bad time with an internal sense of importance and of pride that overcome lack of respect. Their service is vital to us.

.

[caww]

Well, I guess I can agree that it’s worth it for them to join just the same...You never know what Obamas motives are except destruction....I won’t trust a thing this administration presents to the public...they are worse than having an enemy, who at least doesn’t pretend to be otherwise, and we have to pay for this creep!