US officials in the past few days have kept talking up an imminent invasion of the ISIS capital city of Raqqa, despite so much focus presently on Mosul, and despite the obvious huge problems its going to cause between Turkey and the Kurdish YPG.
Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, the US commander in Iraq, insists the US has decided it doesn’t have a choice in the matter, and feels a “sense of urgency” to take over Raqqa before any of the ISIS leadership in that city is able to plan any retaliatory strikes against Western targets.
“We’ve got to get to Raqqa pretty soon,” Townsend insisted, claiming that the capture of Manbij a couple of months ago uncovered ISIS plots to attack France and the US, and they are convinced even more plots are ongoing within Raqqa.
ISIS is estimated to have around 4,000 troops in Raqqa, and the attack will require the Kurdish YPG to commit substantial portions of its force to the area. That’s problematic, because Turkey has in the past attacked them when they were fighting ISIS, and has warned the US not to allow any Kurds into Raqqa.
First of all Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, what legal authorization do you have from we the people? Answer: None. Congress has not declared war nor has authorized any of what you are doing since Obama took it upon himself to engage ISIS in Iraq and Syria in August 2014. Secondly, what legal authorization do you have from the Syrian Government to attack and take over Raqqa? Answer: None. Assad and his government, contrary to your and your friends the head choppers Saudi Arabia beliefs or wants, is the internationally recognized govt of Syria and unless they have given you permission to do this, you General would be in violation of international law and war crimes. This is the problem with our corrupt establishment. They think they own the world and the law. This is why the world is turning away from these dishonest brokers and rule breakers.