"As The Battle For Mosul Begins, Thousands Of Iraqi..." Topic

… Fighters Have Instead Poured Into Syria To Assist Assad.

"The light was low and the music loud in the "Sun of the Countryside" nightclub. Suddenly, the DJ lowered the drumbeat to a whisper as the lounge singer brought the mic close to his lips. Around him a trio of pouty women in elaborate hairdos and bright colored gowns undulated.

"Let Syria remain under Bashar Assad," he intoned, repeating his phrase of the Syrian president like a mantra. The dancers nodded their head to the rhythm of his words.

As civil war rages in Syria , its outcome has become of vital importance to Iraqis who see the fight there as another front in the battle they face at home. It has pushed some factions of the country's Popular Mobilization Units (PMUs) — paramilitary groups embroiled in their own war against Islamic State — to fly supplies and thousands of men across the border to help battle the rebels fighting Assad.

"For us, the primary battle is in Syria. If it is not dealt with, then we will pay the price here," said Aws Khafaji, head of the Iraqi subsidiary of the Abu Fadl Abbas Brigade, a Shiite faction that emerged in Syria in 2012 and whose membership is dominated by Iraqis…"
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Amicalement
Armand

The Iraqis have to make this a victory. Their literal nation may depend on it. But I did here a former Army Intel Officer say on the News today. Even after Daesh is removed from Mosul and even Iraq. They have to be kept out. However … There will be another Iraqi Civil War. The Kurds, Iraqi military, Shia militia, IRGC, various other militias, etc., …

The victory for the West will be that Iraq will most likely not be a terrorist stronghold. For attacking the West. Plus they may all be too busy killing each other off regardless.

It does seem that ISIS are providing a useful common enemy, and the real struggle happens after Mosul falls…

Hopefully the Iraqi Army will put up a good showing – but their best units are reportedly suffering from combat fatigue as they've been fighting non-stop for a long time now.

Incidentally, the reason why they ran in the first place seems not to have been fear of ISIS, but a fear of a popular uprising by the locals, which they did, to be fair, have insufficient forces to fight.

Doesn't excuse leaving your kit behind though.

Syria has eclipsed Iraq as the pivotal battleground long ago. Iraq is already "in the bag" as far as the shia is concerned, but for shia to gain the upper hand over their sunni rivals in Syria, they have to capture and secure key population areas such as Aleppo and Homs.

As such, defeating a weakened ISIS had taken a backseat in the grand scheme of things.

Incidentally, the reason why they ran in the first place seems not to have been fear of ISIS, but a fear of a popular uprising by the locals, which they did, to be fair, have insufficient forces to fight.

First time I have heard that ? It sounds a bit "glorified", maybe ? That may have been among the reasons why the Iraqis ran away ? But I'm still going with they primarily ran away from Daesh.

Iraq is 60% Shia, 15% Sunni. The Kurds are Sunni as is Daesh. Seems like that report would not support those basic numbers. And the Kurds want to kill Daesh as much as any Shia, Yazidi, Christian, etc., do … And the Shia militia is supported by the IRGC.

Doesn't excuse leaving your kit behind though.

In 2014, IIRC, the Iraqis abandoned :
42 M1 MBTs
52 M109 SP 155s
2300 HMMWVs

Wow !!!!!

Iraq is already "in the bag" as far as the shia is concerned,

Again, just for context, Iraq is 60% Shia. And the Shia militias are being supported by IRGC. And Iran is @ 95%+ Shia …

But the most effective fighters – the Kurds – are Sunni.

Can't see the logic in abandoning an Hum-vee. I mean, if you want to run away, they're quite speedy…

Yes, I was posting that about the Kurds as you were posting … it appears. Regardless, yes, can't see any reason why you'd abandon any vehicle unless it ran out of gas …

Syria has eclipsed Iraq as the pivotal battleground long ago. Iraq is already "in the bag" as far as the shia is concerned, but for shia to gain the upper hand over their sunni rivals in Syria, they have to capture and secure key population areas such as Aleppo and Homs.

As such, defeating a weakened ISIS had taken a backseat in the grand scheme of things.

Totally hitting the nail on the head.

What happens after ISIS is kicked out of Iraq is the crucial point. And in particular does the Iraqi army with it's US advisors enter Syria?

The US [and UK IIRC ?] have SF advisors in Syria now and have been for sometime. The US types advising the Iraqis only will enter Syria if it is ordered by Higher HQs to do so.

As I have said before. There will most likely be an Iraqi+ civil war. Between many of the factions involved.
Kurds
Shia militias supported by IRGC
Iraqi governmental forces
etc., …

As far as Syria, IMO … The Russians will insure Assad remains in power. The various Anti-Assad force will be few and nullified. The Turks should leave [but might not ?]. Daesh will be significantly reduced in numbers and limited in their actions.

Especially with their leader Baghdadi dead or in custody. The latter would only be more cause for Deash to act. So Baghdadi should have the same fate as UBL. At the receiving end of a burst of a US Spec Operator's M4. Or CAS, Drone etc., blast …

And after all that … the Sunni-Shia conflict will remain. And little peace will be seen in the region. Because of it …

The US lost a Spec Operator who died after vehicle ran over an IED. He was supporting the Kurds … RIP SOLDIER … RIP …

ISIS is irrelevant especially in Syrian context. It's also irrelevant to stopping terrorism because most terrorists are lone wolves or independent cells.

The truth is slapping ISIS, AQ and Taliban around is the equivalent of slapping German allies Romania and Slovakia around in WWII whilst leaving the real powerbase and origin of aggression alone (Germans in WWII, Pakistan, Iranians and Arab Gulf states).

As long as Daesh, AQ, etc., kill US and European civilians in their homelands and elsewhere. They are not irrelevant to the average Westerner.

Pakistan, Iranians and Arab Gulf states

Yes they are well known supporters of islamic terrorism … But until the USA, UK, etc., decides to do something about it. Short of war … They will still get away with killing the "infidel".

Many moslems distain for America started when the US decided to support Israel. From '48 on. Which I think was and is the correct thing to do, regardless. But until some can get away from the notion that it is their duty or O.K. to kill the infidel … nothing will change.