ISIS now controls a supply route from Syria's largest city to Iraq's capital

Business Insider ^ | 5/18 | Jeremy Bender

[TangledUpInBlue]

Despite what the Pentagon may say, the "degrade and defeat" strategy against the Islamic State terror group isn't going well. Instead, the militants gained control of the provincial capital of Ramadi after months of contesting it with Iraqi Security Forces and Sunni tribes.

And that means the Islamic State (aka ISIS, ISIL, or Daesh) now has a superhighway or sorts across Syria and Iraq.

Ramadi is the capital of Anbar, Iraq's largest region. The province is predominantly Sunni and abuts onto Baghdad, which is only a little more than fifty miles away. Now that Ramadi has fallen, ISIS will have much more of a clear shot running supplies and fighters straight to a front against the Iraqi capital.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"20,000 ISIS Fanatics vs 100,000 Iraqi Security Forces?"

Keep in mind, ISIS has only won cities in Sunni dominated areas. To take Bagdad, they will have to take on all of the Shia part of the Iraqi Army along with all of the Shia militias like Muqtada Al Sadr's militia. It will be different.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

Iraq’s main problem is not ISIS acutally IMO. It’s the fact that they don’t think of themselves as a nation state i.e. as Iraqis. They are still tribal. They think of themselves as Sunnis, as Kurds and as Shias. Thinking of themselves as Iraqis is way down the line.

[MinorityRepublican]

A lot of ISIS Fanatics had experience in Saddam’s Baathist Army. What about Shiites in ISF?

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"A lot of ISIS Fanatics had experience in Saddam’s Baathist Army."

The military leadership of ISIS are all the old Baathist from Sadaam's regime. They are also the same ones who were the Fedayeen in 2006. The only differences now is they have taken on a religious component and they don't have to do any of the actual fighting. Instead, they can recruit legions of disaffected fanatical youth who are willing to die for them.