(By AFP)
Clashes kill 32 civilians in Iraq’s Anbar (via AFP)Fighting killed at least 32 civilians on Friday in the Anbar province cities of Ramadi and Fallujah, where Al-Qaeda-linked militants took over areas this week, security officials said. Police and tribesmen in both cities are battling militants from…
Fighting killed at least 32 civilians on Friday in the Anbar province cities of Ramadi and Fallujah, where Al-Qaeda-linked militants took over areas this week, security officials said. Police and tribesmen in both cities are battling militants from…
This post was republished using Repost. Please read it on Informed Comment directly: https://www.juancole.com/2014/01/government-extremists-quarters.html
The Iraqi government is making the same mistake as the US, thinking that force will cause people who do not want to live together to want to live together.
Better to let them go, as the only alternative is rancor and bloodshed; a poor substitute for victory.
OK.
just watched the video.
It is labeled as “Iraqi forces” bombing “Anbar militants.”
*** First, is it a crime to be a “militant ?”
In this case, doesn’t “militant” translate to “protestor ?”
*** Second, where’s the uproar over al-Maliki bombing his own people,
to match the outrage over al-Assad bombing his own people ?
*** Third, this video is indistinguishable from the video Chelsea Manning leaked to Assange, “Collateral Murder.”
6 seconds in, the underside of the aircraft is visible. Me, I can’t tell if it’s a drone or a helicopter. But if that’s a spinning propeller at the right edge of the frame, I don’t think it’s either. From what I’ve read, the Iraqi Air Force is very limited in their air capabilities. That aircraft may not be Iraqi. Or, if Iraqi, it might be flown by someone who isn’t.
And look at those “Heads Up Display” markings. They’re in English.
*** Fourth, the explosion at 25 seconds, that doesn’t look like a gravity bomb to me. I would guess that was either a J-DAM or a Hellfire missile. I’d be surprised if we sold either one to such a close ally of Iran.
.
Hadn’t seen this before writing the above post:
link to bloomberg.com
So,
yes, those are American drones and American Hellfire missiles.
Obviousman
This is not news, Brian. If you recall Professor Cole’s piece on December 27, it was widely reported that the U.S. was sending surveillance drones and Hellfire missiles to Iraq. The first line of his piece is quoted below.
“The Obama administration is sending hellfire missiles and surveillance drones to the Shiite Islamic Mission Party-dominated government of Iraq to help in the latter’s struggle against radical Sunni rebels who have increased their bombings and attacks this year.”
My chagrin is that we did not extract a price from al-Maliki for provision of these weapons: to stop working on behalf of Iran’s interests in the region and begin considering U.S. interests.