Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) is continuing to expand its gains in the Anbar Province, seizing a strategically valuable dam on the Euphrates river, giving them considerable control of Iraq’s water supply.
Underscoring just how valuable a prize the dam is, the militants closed a series of flood gates last week, flooding the area along the river being used by the Iraqi military as a staging area for an offensive against AQI-held Fallujah, and forcing the troops to retreat.
The closure of the gates has also significantly lowered water levels downstream, causing major electricity shortages in towns that use the river’s flow to generate energy, and also threatening irrigation in several Shi’ite cities.
AQI didn’t leave the gates closed for all that long, however, and reopened many of them for fear that the flooding might expand into their own territory.
Iraq’s Water Ministry dubbed the move a “heinous crime,” while Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki vowed to exact revenge for the loss of the dam with a full-scale military offensive.
These sick bastards aren't Muslims they aren't even humans. CIA trained and Israeli supported foreign terrorists. Sick criminals sent in to destroy water supplies in a desert region. The NATO/CIA criminals also bombed Libya's great man made water supplies, once the pride of the region
These mongrels should be shot on sight or better still send in a drone laden with chemicals and wipe those mf off the face of the earth. Blame it on the Chosenites.
I think your last paragraph should be directed towards the people who created this mess. Dick Cheney said in the first gulf war. "Taking over the country was a "bad idea" and would have led to a "quagmire." If you take down the central government of Iraq, you could easily end up seeing pieces of Iraq fly off: part of it. WOW!!!!
Is this a job for the Navy SEALS, cause I doubt that the Iraqi army will be very good at retaking the dam since they like other American Allies are spoiled by overwhelming air power. But you can't bomb al qaeda out of a dam so it will be real fighting. This may be one of very few situations where a short deployment could make some sense: clear objectives, small footprint so theres no need to secure supply lines, rural area, and the consequences of al qaeda continuing to hold the dam are devastating for Iraq. We'll see if the RTP folks are willing to recommend re-engagement in Iraq. I would like to think situations like this would keep Obama from arming the Syrian jihadis but hes an absolute moron.
Saddams money hasn’t ran out yet? remember he emptied out all the banks so fighting for victory to the sunnis are closing in on the shias.
In Al-Anbar province, the local population either support ISIL or tribal insurgents. Both groups are rebelling against a Shiite-government that has granted autonomy to the Kurds but remains bent on marginalizing, if not subjugating, its Sunni population in revenge for historic grievances.
Al-Qaida may be condemned for targeting civilians, but they’re pretty much defending their own people here and that’s why their organization is thriving.
Israeli Pirates mass murderers and land thieves also think 'targeting civilians' ie unarmed Palestinians is 'defending their own people" ie defending illegal Israeli squatter settlement on land well outside borders entrenched in the UN.
However targeting Water in a desert is a new low noticed during NATO blitzkrieg on Libya. They protect the Oil but bombed the Water. Sick!
This all masks the nuclear attack that Iraq 2 was, a substitute for Yucca.
Why are they called Al Queda in Iraq? How do you know they are not simply Sunni Muslims who were displaced?
Of course the US is probably supporting them….