Iraqi forces are claiming major progress in the ongoing war with ISIS saying they seized the town of al-Alam, just north of Tikrit, and have made their “final push” into the major Sunni city.
As is pretty much always the case with statements from Iraqi security officials, they say the invasion is going incredibly well, that they are making huge gains in the city and that ISIS is in retreat.
During the three week offensive against Tikrit last summer, Iraqi security forces were similarly touting their progress from day one, and predicting imminent victory throughout, right up until they fled, leaving the city under ISIS control.
This particular offensive is seen as especially important because it is being done entirely without US military backing, as Iraqi officials chose to seek Iranian support in this offensive after a falling-out with the Pentagon over the timing of a Mosul offensive.
US officials have since been expressing concern that if the Tikrit battle goes well, it may increase Iran’s influence over the Iraqi government, and convince Iraqi officials that they are a more important ally in the ongoing war.
Scrap the Pentagon — Pure wisdom
For surely, Empire USA has no intention of allowing Iraq to achieve a stable and successful democracy, as the people are so filled with vengeance against our invasion and decade of occupation, that declaring war on our Empire would be their first democratic order of business.
"US officials have since been expressing concern that if the Tikrit battle goes well, it may increase Iran’s influence over the Iraqi government".? Iran's influence is already at its highest level.
Re Rabbi Feins comment about everyone having the right to defend oneself. Of course. No one disputes that. It is not in question. The Rabbi, as expected, turns everything on its head. The Palestinians of Gaza are the ones who are trying desperately with home made rockets from the massive U.S. paid for Israeli army and airforce. These entities have the most modern weapons that the U.S. can provide them, and they use those weapons to clamp a vicious blockade around all of Gaza. The Gazans are kept in perpetual poverty by a callous military who brutalize the people of Gaza. The Gazans killed fewer than 10 Israeli civilians with their home made rockets. The mighty Israeli military decimated populated centers in Gaza, killing well over a thousand civilians, including women and children. The Israelis targeted hospitals, schools, U.N. shelters, and high-rise apt. buildings. Mr. Old Testament Rabbi, the Palestinians are the ones under attack: military, social, economic. I say Mr Rabbi that the Palestinians have every right to fire their pathetic rockets at Israel. They are surrounded, kept impoverished, daily humiliated, and I support their right of self-defense with every bit of my body and mind.
In other news,"Iraqi Special Forces said they have arrested several ISIL’s foreign military advisors, including American, Israeli and Arab nationals in an operation in Mosul in the Northern parts of the country.
The Iraqi forces said they have retrieved four foreign passports, including those that belonged to American and Israeli nationals and one that belonged to the national of a Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) member-state, from ISIL’s military advisors.
The foreign advisors were arrested in a military operation in Tal Abta desert near Mosul city.
Last year, a senior aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Mossad of training ISIL terrorists operating in Iraq and Syria." http://www.mintpressnews.com/iraq-arrests-isis-ad…