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U.S. strikes help Iraq Kurds, army advances against Islamic State
Reuters ^ | ARBIL Iraq/MURSITPINAR Turkey Tue Sep 30, 2014 10:14am EDT | Isabel Coles and Jonny Hogg

Posted on 09/30/2014 7:52:24 AM PDT by GonzoII

(Reuters) - Iraqi Kurdish forces captured a strategic border crossing and several villages from Islamic State fighters in northern Iraq on Tuesday, scoring gains as the militants were pounded by heavy U.S.-led air strikes and the Iraqi army advanced from the south.

An Iraqi Kurdish political source said Kurdish peshmerga fighters took control of the Rabia border crossing with Syria in a battle that began before dawn.

"It's the most important strategic point for crossing. Once that's taken it's going to cut the supply route and make the operation to reach Sinjar easier," the source said, referring to a mountain further south where members of the Yazidi minority sect have been trapped by Islamic State fighters.

Twelve Islamic State fighters' bodies lay on the border at the crossing after the battle, said Hemin Hawrami head of the Kurdish Democratic Party's foreign relations department, on Twitter.

The ability to cross the frontier freely has been a major tactical advantage for Islamic State fighters on both sides. Fighters swept from Syria into northern Iraq in June and returned with heavy weapons seized from fleeing Iraqi government troops, which they have used to expand their territory in Syria.

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: airstrikes; iraq; isis; peshmerga
Peshmerga + US Airstrikes = Victory
1 posted on 09/30/2014 7:52:24 AM PDT by GonzoII
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To: GonzoII

It seems like the end result of this mess is an independent Kurdistan. Piss on the Iraqis and the Turks.


2 posted on 09/30/2014 7:59:10 AM PDT by glorgau
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To: GonzoII

They are not being armed!!! Even Senator Lindsay Graham was pissed this morning on Fox & Friends about them not being armed.

watch a video:

http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-TV/2014/09/30/Graham-Questions-Obama-Missed-ISIS-Intel-Claim-as-Not-Paying-Any-Attention


3 posted on 09/30/2014 8:00:57 AM PDT by huldah1776
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To: huldah1776

Sorry, sir, Lindsey.

forgot to correct after finding video.


4 posted on 09/30/2014 8:02:11 AM PDT by huldah1776
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To: GonzoII

Twelve Islamic State fighters’ bodies lay on the border at the crossing after the battle, ............................ What only 12? How many prisoners were taken? (Like that is going to happen.) Once they rid themselves of ISIS and declare an Independent Kurdistan they should be able to live in peace, with only Turkey and Iran as problems. :(


5 posted on 09/30/2014 8:02:15 AM PDT by Bringbackthedraft (Hillary or Warren 2016! Why? Just to have a woman for Historical Purpose?? At least pick a looker!)
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To: glorgau
It seems like the end result of this mess is an independent Kurdistan.

The last thing we need in the world is another muslim nation.

6 posted on 09/30/2014 8:05:37 AM PDT by Ethan Clive Osgoode (<<== Click here to learn about Evolution!)
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To: glorgau

I hope so! The British and French screwed them out of a homeland and it is long past due that the benefactors of the Anglo-Franco blunder get what is coming to them. To hell with Turkey, Iran and Iraq. The only decent Muslims have been the Kurds while the others have just been back-stabbers in waiting.


7 posted on 09/30/2014 8:09:56 AM PDT by trubolotta
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To: GonzoII
Wasn't there a report yesterday indicating that ISIS was only a couple of kilometres from Baghdad?

Now there is this good news report.

So is the report around the Baghdad area true or not true?

Fog of war reporting has me confused.

8 posted on 09/30/2014 8:12:24 AM PDT by hawkaw
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To: trubolotta
The only decent Muslims have been the Kurds

Assyrian Genocide.

9 posted on 09/30/2014 8:20:59 AM PDT by Ethan Clive Osgoode (<<== Click here to learn about Evolution!)
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To: Ethan Clive Osgoode; trubolotta
"Assyrian Genocide."

Times have changed. Where do you think fleeing Christians in N. Iraq fled to? You got it, Kurdistan and they were safe there.

Kurdish President Receives Assyrian Church of the East Delegation

10 posted on 09/30/2014 8:33:03 AM PDT by GonzoII ("If the new crime be, to believe in God, let us all be criminals" -Sheen)
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To: GonzoII
Kurdistan

This Kurdistan you keep talking about, is it made from land that belongs to Christians?

11 posted on 09/30/2014 8:38:23 AM PDT by Ethan Clive Osgoode (<<== Click here to learn about Evolution!)
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To: Ethan Clive Osgoode
"Genocide."

Is the Genocide you are talking about attributable to the present day Kurds?

12 posted on 09/30/2014 8:56:34 AM PDT by GonzoII ("If the new crime be, to believe in God, let us all be criminals" -Sheen)
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To: Ethan Clive Osgoode

Allegiances are volatile no doubt, but the Kurds want independence from the Turks. Also be aware that Christians also fought for the Turks against other Christians and were known as Janissaries. What do we do about their descendants?


13 posted on 09/30/2014 8:58:26 AM PDT by trubolotta
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To: GonzoII

This could be a plant story. Obama will not help the Kurds. No way.


14 posted on 09/30/2014 9:09:07 AM PDT by rrrod (at home in Medellin Colombia)
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To: GonzoII; SeekAndFind

“Telegenic but meaningless pin pricks, meant for the U.S. audience. “Posted by Travis McGee”

ISIS Fighter Calls US Air Strikes Totally Ineffective
Business Insider ^ | 09/30/2014 | Jeremy Bender

Posted by SeekAndFind

In an exclusive interview with CNN, a Syrian fighter with the group known as the Islamic State or ISIS said they were prepared for US airstrikes within Syria and the damage done against the organization was ineffective.

A Syrian ISIS fighter operating under the pseudonym Abu Tahla told CNN through Skype that the US and coalition airstrikes within Syria were expected.

“We’ve been ready for this for some time,” Abu Talha said. “We know that our bases are known because they’re tracking us with radars and satellites, so we had backup locations.”

The ISIS headquarters that were targeted were emptied out, and ISIS fighters moved their supplies into civilian neighborhoods or buried them underground before the airstrikes came, the fighter said.

Abu Tahla taunted the interviewers about recent US strikes against ISIS oil refineries, noting that ISIS had other avenues of income besides oil sales. Abu Tahla also said that even if the US managed to push ISIS back in Iraq, it managed to advance in Syria.

Concerningly, Abu Tahla’s remarks are echoed by the situation on the ground. Despite airstrikes, ISIS has advanced almost completely to the Turkish border in northern Syria. Only the Kurdish city of Kobane remains defiant to ISIS aggression, although the Kurds defending the city are thoroughly outgunned by the recent jihadist advance.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3209437/posts


15 posted on 09/30/2014 10:45:42 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (Our Sunni White house thugs aren't upset with the be-headings. They are upset @ the massive outcry!)
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To: Grampa Dave

This appears to answer the question about Obama’s lapses attending intel briefings. It should be obvious he directed the material to his Muslim advisers for their take on the situation.


16 posted on 09/30/2014 11:07:58 AM PDT by trubolotta
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To: GonzoII
Is the Genocide you are talking about attributable to the present day Kurds?

It is, if they are occupying land taken from Christians by genocide, and if they want to claim this land as part of "Kurdistan".

17 posted on 10/01/2014 3:17:12 AM PDT by Ethan Clive Osgoode (<<== Click here to learn about Evolution!)
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To: trubolotta
Also be aware that Christians also fought for the Turks against other Christians and were known as Janissaries.
Turkish administrators would scour their regions (but especially the Balkans) every five years for the strongest sons of the sultan's Christian subjects. These boys (usually between the ages of 6 and 14) were then taken from their parents and given to Turkish families in the provinces to learn Turkish language and customs, and the rules of Islam. The recruits were indoctrinated into Islam, forced into circumcision and supervised 24 hours a day by eunuchs.

Janissaries


18 posted on 10/01/2014 3:21:10 AM PDT by Ethan Clive Osgoode (<<== Click here to learn about Evolution!)
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