Slick Willy Says Something...

...lefties won't like:

Who Ya Gonna Believe?

Bush is Vindicated on WMDs – NY Times Admits It

No, Bush was not right about Iraq: How conservatives misread new Times bombshell 

That NYT Story On Abandoned Munitions Doesn't Prove Bush Was Right About WMDs

The Secret Casualties of Iraq’s Abandoned Chemical Weapons

I've always believed the biggest weapon of mass destruction was dragged out of a hole in the ground and hanged by the neck until dead.

 

 

 

A Time Honoured Tradition...

...in Iraq, apparently:

Iraq Exhumes 500 Bodies from ISIS Massacre in Tikrit

Ah!

Couldn't have happened to a nicer better guy.

Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi 'incapacitated by spinal injuries after US air strike in Iraq'

Good News!

Hussein deputy, insurgent leader al-Douri killed, Iraqi TV reports

I hope it's true.

What?...

...No winter coats? /sarc:

PM poised to extend, expand mission against ISIS

This Is What Peace Looks Like

Come and get me, assholes:

'Muslim Mafia' author: Muslims working with Facebook to silence critics of Islam

Lawfare: The Use of the Law as a Weapon of War

Another Islamic State Mass Grave Discovered in Kirkuk

Back In Iraq

Retaking key Iraqi city will be no easy task

"For months, Kurdish peshmerga fighters have been taking up positions around Mosul, Iraq's second city and a stronghold for Islamic State extremists.

The city is now surrounded on three sides and in some cases the front lines are just kilometres away, says a spokesman for the peshmerga. But while the world increasingly expects them to take Mosul soon, Kurds don't: they're settling in for a long and bloody siege.

Mosul is strategically important to Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, as its one million-plus inhabitants make up as much as one sixth of the population living in the extremists' selfdeclared caliphate. Wining Mosul back would mark a turning point in the war against IS.

Last week, a U.S. Central Command official said in Baghdad the assault to retake the city would likely be launched in April or May. The attack would involve 20,000 to 25,000 soldiers from eight Iraqi army brigades, three peshmerga brigades and a police force trained in irregular warfare."

It's Back To Iraq

Battle of Mosul could begin in April

"In a rare public disclosure of future battle plans, a U.S. Central Command official outlined the operational planning for reporters in a briefing Thursday.

Current planning envisions that five Iraqi army brigades of "fighting forces," backed by three Kurdish peshmerga brigades, will "contain from the north," the CENTCOM official said."

[---]

Centcom Details Plan for Retaking Mosul[---]Operation to retake Mosul from ISIL 'to begin in April' Nothing like telling your enemy what your plans are. Could be a ruse, I suppose.

About Those WDM In Iraq...

...that supposedly were never found:

Oh yes they were.

This, taken together with the stockpile of yellowcake that was sold to Canada, pretty much vindicates George Bush.

More.

Kurds get Snubbed

This should never have happened:

Kurds angered by anti-ISIL conference snub


Kurds Not Invited To Anti-ISIS Conference Despite Ongoing Battle Against Terrorist Group, Kurdish Leader Complains


Especially after this:

Kurdish fighters fly 250ft 'flag of victory' on hill over Kobane as ISIS supply route is finally cut after four months of bloody siege in 'Syria's Stalingrad'


Kurdish forces: Kobane is free

The Whole World...

...is watching:

Dutch Foreign Minister: We are happy to see Peshmerga victory

Germany to send troops to Kurdistan

US Congressman in Erbil to assess Peshmerga needs

On Flag Day, Kurds show solidarity with Peshmerga Peshmerga, Sunni tribes in Makhmur cooperating in fight against ISIS

Turkey helping pesmerga access Kobani: Cavusoglu

U.S.-led forces launch 13 air strikes in Iraq, three in Syria

Michael Fallon: Hundreds of British troops will go to Iraq

An unlikely alliance set for the long haul against Isil

"With the Royal Navy set to regain a base in Bahrain, and Iranian jets joining allied forces in the fight against Isil, the old rules in the Middle East are crumbling"

Go Kurdistan!!!!

Kurdish forces have ISIS in retreat in Kobane

Kurdish forces kill tens of ISIS foreign fighters near Mosul dam

The Kurds Should Rule the Middle East

Heavy fighting resumes in Kobane between Kurdish forces and ISIS

"Khazyavayi said coalition fighter jets have also bombarded ISIS positions around the city at least four times today.

“ISIS hasn’t been able to make any advance,” he said. “On the contrary the Peshmerga and Peoples Protection Units (YPG) are moving forward and ISIS is on the retreat.”

YPG commanders say that they now control about 80 percent of the city and that coalition airstrikes have taken their toll on the ISIS militants."

I'm Curious...

...did this decision take place before the mid-terms or after?

U.S. Military To Send Up To 1,500 Additional Troops To Iraq

"President Obama will send up to 1,500 additional American troops to Iraq to help security forces there combat Islamic State militants, the White House said."

[---]

"There are currently about 1,400 American troops in Iraq."

Not So Way Back Machine

I'm Afraid...

...you're shit out of luck, folks. Obama will never do that, although I would gladly eat my words:

Iraq asks for US ground troops as Isil threaten Baghdad

Leaders of Iraq's Anbar province call for U.S. ground forces to stop ISIS

Chemical Weapons In Syria

Hmmmmm. And where did they say So-Damned-Insane's chemical weapons went again?

Syria admits it has four more chemical weapons plants, says UN official

Syria discloses four secret chemical weapons facilities, UN says

Four secret Syrian chemical weapons factories revealed

Syria declares new chemical weapons facilities

U.S. Says Syria Still Has Several Chemical-Weapons Facilities

Syria Unveils Four More Chemical Weapon Facilities

Syria Declares 4 More Chemical Weapons Facilities

Diplomat: Syria has four chemical weapons facilities it didn't disclose

That's right. Syria. How strange that they should now show up there, then.

Count Iggy Resurfaces

Iggy was always much better at this sort of Ivory Tower baffle gab stuff than actually implementing solutions to political problems. Here's in interesting interview with him about the current round of slaughter in the Middle East:

Michael Ignatieff Interview:'Those Fighting Islamic State Are the Lesser Evil'

Looks Like The World Is United...

...Europe and North America, in any case:

Kerry, Hagel Urge Coalition Against Islamic State

US Seeks 'Core Coalition' To Combat IS Threat

U.S. Forms Anti-ISIS Coalition at NATO Summit

U.S. says forms "core coalition" to counter Iraq militants

NATO leaders approve rapid response force

NATO members vow to reinvent the alliance to deal with crises

NATO allies unite against Islamic State

It's got people talking:


Debating just-war theory in light of Islamic State and past Iraqi wars

ISIS too extreme for the extremists?