Following reports that Iraqi forces, backed by Shi’ite militias, retook the central district of the city of Tikrit, Prime Minister Hayder Abadi took to the state media to claim victory in the month-long battle over the ISIS-held city.
Taking the provincial government headquarters in the city is an accomplishment, to be sure, but US officials in particular thought the declaration was premature, saying they can’t even confirm how much of Tikrit either side controls right now.
This would not be the first time Iraq declared victory in a battle they ultimately lost, and Abadi’s predecessor Nouri al-Maliki declared victory in Tikrit several times in June, before the Iraqi military finally withdrew and left the city to ISIS.
Having once again promised a quick and easy victory, and once again stalled several times in their offensive, Iraq is keen to show some success against ISIS. This may be encouraging them to jump the gun, however, in a battle that is not over.
I read someplace that there are only a few hundred irregulars defending Tikrit. How is it that a billion dollar army can't drive them out? Are the Evildoers magic? Do they have Star Trek weapons and shields?
There's something very wrong with this story…
No magic, rather the "Evildoers" have the morale advantage. They are Sunnis fighting for autonomy and their homeland. What are the Sh'ite militia fighting for? They already have autonomy in their homeland. So they are fighting to dominate others. As for the "grunts" in the official Iraqi forces, they are there merely because they are poor and uninfluential to avoid serving in it, and have no desire to fight at all.
Antiwar and Jason Ditz seem reluctant to give Iraqi forces credit for their victory. This whole article is around putting doubts on the claims of victory being made.
ISIS got routed out of Tikrit. Let them have their victory against ISIS.
Antiwar and Jason Ditz seem reluctant to give Iraqi forces credit for their victory. This whole article is around putting doubts on the claims of victory being made.
Will,
Antiwar.com and Jason Ditz are reluctant to jump to the conclusion that just because a politician said something, it's true.
You should be too.