Obama Sends Advisers to Baghdad; Aides Say US Could Strike Inside Syria:
"The United States is already flying manned and unmanned aircraft over Iraq to
collect intelligence, a senior administration official said. As part of the
ramp up in US aid, American drones could eventually be used to hit ISIL targets
— even if some of those targets reside in Syria."
See:
http://www.defensenews.com/article/2...e-Inside-Syria
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What the U.S. Footprint in Iraq Will Look Like:
"A senior U.S. official said the first of several small teams — roughly one
dozen each — will begin their mission "very soon."
These are the troops already on the ground or in the region supporting Iraq:"
See:
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/...l-look-n136126
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Here's What Average Iraqis Are Saying About The Return Of US Troops:
""Everybody wants their own side, their own benefit, the Sunnis vote for the
Sunni leader, the Shia for the Shia and the Kurds for the Kurds, nobody votes
for the nation, for Iraq," he said.
Most Iraqis are as skeptical that the country will hold together as they are
that foreign intervention will bring about positive change."
See:
http://www.businessinsider.com/iraqi-us-troops-2014-6
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Turkey Gives Up On Unified Iraq:
"With ISIS advancing on Baghdad, the Turkish government has indicated it may
support the division of Iraq into sectarian provinces."
See:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/article...fied-iraq.html
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Is the A-10 Right for Iraq?:
"The battle over the future of the A-10 has largely centered around the Air
Force’s argument that the plane doesn’t match future needs in a contested air
environment. Proponents of the “Warthog” dispute that, and point to the types
of mission the plane still performs to protect troops on the ground today –
missions they say perfectly fit with battling ISIL forces if President Obama
gives the ok for airstrikes."
See:
http://intercepts.defensenews.com/20...ve-its-moment/
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The Iraqi Government Is Airing This Bizarre PSA To Turn People Against ISIS:
"The Iraqi government, which has been vehemently criticized for failing to fend
off ISIS militants, has apparently tried to ramp up anti-ISIS sentiment using
this very creepy television commercial:"
See:
http://www.businessinsider.com/iraqi...sa-isis-2014-6
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Facing ISIS threat, Kurdish fighters favor US air power:
"Kurds have carved out a semi-autonomous homeland in northern Iraq that's now
threatened by Sunni militants. Kurdish officials say they can help US warplanes
spot targets."
See:
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middl...r-US-air-power
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Of Course Iraq’s Military Is Weak and Incompetent. Maliki Wanted It That Way.:
"At times, Maliki’s government has seemed to be almost purposely corroding the
military’s preparedness:"
See:
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_world..._military.html
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Here's The New Kurdish Country That Could Emerge Out Of The Iraq Crisis:
"Chaos is spreading in Iraq as the militant jihadi group the Islamic State of
Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) and its affiliated members launch operations
throughout the country, and Syria's civil is still grinding on. There might be
only one possible winner in these ongoing and merging conflicts — the Kurds."
See:
http://www.businessinsider.com/heres...-nation-2014-6
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The Monster of Mosul: How a Sadistic General Helped ISIS Win:
"ISIS’s success in Mosul could have something to do with the Iraqi government
putting a general accused of carrying out systematic torture in charge of the
city’s security."
See:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/article...-winning.html#
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250 to 300 workers evacuated from Iraq's Baiji refinery during brief truce in
fighting: witness:
"The last of the trapped workers in Iraq's Baiji refinery were freed during a brief
truce in the fighting between the Iraqi military and Sunni militants for control of
the strategic facility, according to one of the workers who was released."
See:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...0EU0NJ20140619
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Challengers Emerge to Replace Divisive Maliki:
"Iraqi officials said Thursday that political leaders had started intensive jockeying
to replace Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki and create a government that would
span the country’s deepening sectarian and ethnic divisions, spurred by what they
called encouraging meetings with American officials signaling support for a
leadership change."
See:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/20/wo...ref=world&_r=1
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ISIL using Twitter app ‘Dawn’ to keep jihadists updated:
"The Islamic militant group ISIL is using its own Twitter application to keep
jihadists all over the world updated on its terror efforts in Iraq and Syria.
Hundreds of users have signed up for Dawn, or The Dawn of Glad Tidings,
through the Google Play store since its inception in April. Its posting activity
has ramped up since ISIL captured the northern Iraqi city of Mosul last week,
The Atlantic reported."
See:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...dists-updated/