ISIS/ISIL make major gains in Iraq

[danny]

These factions wouldn't have anything to do with the honest and courageous "rebels" we armed and financed in Syria, would they?

No, the only connection is that they are at war with each other.

[PiMp DaDdy FitzGerald]

The Kurds have taken Kirkuk

Iran is sending in support for Maliki

Then we need to support him harder.

[H. Ross Peron]

I do hope the President takes reasonable action (such as a limited round of drone/air strikes) soon.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

I hope we stay the hell out of this other than perhaps accepting refugees.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

I do hope the President takes reasonable action (such as a limited round of drone/air strikes) soon.

No worries, Beanie.  A sternly worded press release is being drafted right now.

[Nhoj]

I do hope the President takes reasonable action (such as a limited round of drone/air strikes) soon.

No worries, Beanie.  A sternly worded press release is being drafted right now.

If he did support air strikes you would suddenly be against them.

[Silent Hunter]

Reason #45 why Saddam Hussein should have been left in power.

I have a feeling that what we'd be seeing had that happened would be far worse than what is happening now. Of course, there'd have been far fewer deaths in the country 2003-10, but after that one assumes there would have been an uprising, just as there was everywhere else, and it would have made Syria's conflict look like a polite disagreement by comparison.

That is of course assuming that he'd still be alive. He'd have been 77 this year - Stalin died aged 74 and Hafez al-Assad at 69.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Reason #45 why Saddam Hussein should have been left in power.

I have a feeling that what we'd be seeing had that happened would be far worse than what is happening now. Of course, there'd have been far fewer deaths in the country 2003-10, but after that one assumes there would have been an uprising, just as there was everywhere else, and it would have made Syria's conflict look like a polite disagreement by comparison.

That is of course assuming that he'd still be alive. He'd have been 77 this year - Stalin died aged 74 and Hafez al-Assad at 69.

Uday and Qusay would still be there.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Almost entirely off topic: my Taid was in this part of Iraq for a while during the War (as in the second world war). Mosul and Kirkuk sound pretty cool in a Welsh accent.

[Silent Hunter]

Reason #45 why Saddam Hussein should have been left in power.

I have a feeling that what we'd be seeing had that happened would be far worse than what is happening now. Of course, there'd have been far fewer deaths in the country 2003-10, but after that one assumes there would have been an uprising, just as there was everywhere else, and it would have made Syria's conflict look like a polite disagreement by comparison.

That is of course assuming that he'd still be alive. He'd have been 77 this year - Stalin died aged 74 and Hafez al-Assad at 69.

Uday and Qusay would still be there.

Do you think they would be half-way competent?

[PiMp DaDdy FitzGerald]

Reason #45 why Saddam Hussein should have been left in power.

I have a feeling that what we'd be seeing had that happened would be far worse than what is happening now. Of course, there'd have been far fewer deaths in the country 2003-10, but after that one assumes there would have been an uprising, just as there was everywhere else, and it would have made Syria's conflict look like a polite disagreement by comparison.

That is of course assuming that he'd still be alive. He'd have been 77 this year - Stalin died aged 74 and Hafez al-Assad at 69.

Uday and Qusay would still be there.

Do you think they would be half-way competent?

Uday's Iraq would probably have a Pol Pot level of brutality.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Reason #45 why Saddam Hussein should have been left in power.

I have a feeling that what we'd be seeing had that happened would be far worse than what is happening now. Of course, there'd have been far fewer deaths in the country 2003-10, but after that one assumes there would have been an uprising, just as there was everywhere else, and it would have made Syria's conflict look like a polite disagreement by comparison.

That is of course assuming that he'd still be alive. He'd have been 77 this year - Stalin died aged 74 and Hafez al-Assad at 69.

Uday and Qusay would still be there.

Do you think they would be half-way competent?

Uday's Iraq would probably have a Pol Pot level of brutality.

Uday was removed from the succession, IIRC.

[PiMp DaDdy FitzGerald]

Reason #45 why Saddam Hussein should have been left in power.

I have a feeling that what we'd be seeing had that happened would be far worse than what is happening now. Of course, there'd have been far fewer deaths in the country 2003-10, but after that one assumes there would have been an uprising, just as there was everywhere else, and it would have made Syria's conflict look like a polite disagreement by comparison.

That is of course assuming that he'd still be alive. He'd have been 77 this year - Stalin died aged 74 and Hafez al-Assad at 69.

Uday and Qusay would still be there.

Do you think they would be half-way competent?

Uday's Iraq would probably have a Pol Pot level of brutality.

Uday was removed from the succession, IIRC.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uday_Hussein
Ah, he was. You're right.
Qusay would still be worse than Assad, even his he is a bit better than daddy.

[Deus Naturae]

Remember how Chalabi, the dude who lied about Saddam's WMD's, turned out to be an Iranian puppet?

Looks like his masters have come to claim their prize.

[Indy Texas]

The Kurds should seize the moment and declare an independent Kirkuk-based Kurdistan.

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

Why? They have a de facto independent state now, with the capital at Irbil, and they just added Kirkuk to their zone of control. It seems to me that a formal, public announcement would have little real benefit, but plenty of potential negatives.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

The Kurds should seize the moment and declare an independent Kirkuk-based Kurdistan.

I was thinking the same thing this morning, but as noted above, that would couting the chickens before they hatch. I hope a completely independent Kurdistan results from this in the long term, though.

[Simfan34]

Reason #45 why Saddam Hussein should have been left in power.

I have a feeling that what we'd be seeing had that happened would be far worse than what is happening now. Of course, there'd have been far fewer deaths in the country 2003-10, but after that one assumes there would have been an uprising, just as there was everywhere else, and it would have made Syria's conflict look like a polite disagreement by comparison.

That is of course assuming that he'd still be alive. He'd have been 77 this year - Stalin died aged 74 and Hafez al-Assad at 69.

Hm. Didn't realise that.

Remember how Chalabi, the dude who lied about Saddam's WMD's, turned out to be an Iranian puppet?

Looks like his masters have come to claim their prize.

This makes zero sense.

MOSUL HUMVEES LAND IN HASAKA

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http://syriadirect.org/main/37-videos/1437-mosul-humvees-land-in-hasaka

[PiMp DaDdy FitzGerald]

The Kurds should seize the moment and declare an independent Kirkuk-based Kurdistan.

I was thinking the same thing this morning, but as noted above, that would couting the chickens before they hatch. I hope a completely independent Kurdistan results from this in the long term, though.

That could cause an adverse Turkish and Iranian response, though.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Idiot warmongers probably want to fight both sides. They want to fight Assad and Iran, but also ISIS/ISIL.

[Beet]

Erdogan seems to be in a strong position. What better time than now to throw up their hands and just invade? Reclaim the Ottoman Empire. Syria, Iraq, the works.

Alternatively, the Iranians could send tank columns to "help" Iraq, vis-a-vis Napoleon-in-Spain. The Iranian army could push north all the way up into Syria and link up with Assad/Hezbollah. The glory days of the Persian Empire await...

[Deus Naturae]

Top Iranian cleric calls Shi'ites to arms.

[Bacon King]

Reason #45 why Saddam Hussein should have been left in power.

[Bacon King]

Seriously though for all the historical parallels people have made between Vietnam and Iraq, I guess this is our Fall of Saigon

[Beet]

The ISIL isn't going to take all of Iraq. A Shiite rump state will remain.