ISIS forces have reportedly seized several oilfields today in central Iraq, just outside of Tikrit, and have turned them over to local tribal leaders. Engineers operating the fields have fled.
The fields are connected by pipeline to the Baiji refinery, which ISIS also seized earlier this week, and could given them straightforward access to petroleum and other refined petrocarbons.
ISIS fighters are also trying to attack the Balad Airbase, formerly one of the most important US military installations in Iraq, and the nation’s largest airfield.
The next big target appears to be Haditha Dam, a huge hydroelectric dam in Anbar Province, which if seized would give ISIS not only a major electricity generator but the ability to flood nearby areas.
The Iraqi military appears to also be preparing to use the dam as a weapon, as employees inside reported the army had told them to be prepared to open the floodgates on orders.
ISIS already controls the Fallujah Dam, and used it cut off water access to Shi’ite provinces down river.
Bet there is military hardware laying around for the taking at that air base.
Could that be the long-searched-for WMD? Cheney, Kristol, et al foresaw all of this.
ISIS in Iraq, according to reports, have collected so much USG military
hardware that they are shipping the (surplus) to ISIS factions in Syria.
Politics is always involved in war , That's what war is , is Politics . When one considers at the famous battle of wounded knee in So Dak more meddles of honor were awarded than at any other American battle . We should learn you can't trust what politicians say . The truth is very hard to come by in war , even harder than more friendly politics . And the facts there are always very debatable .