yeah the question is whether it's a company of hard lads or actual brigades on the move
if Maliki throws in with Iran to avoid getting Gadaffied with a bayonet then it'll be brigades and the US state department will have blood flowing out the doors
shouldn't laugh really as it's serious but in terms of unintended consequences this has the possibility of taking the world record
then again maybe he'll just panic and run and the Isis people take over in the chaos
Who do you think can save america's bacon right now? Only Iran is willing to do so.
yeah the question is whether it's a company of hard lads or actual brigades on the move
if Maliki throws in with Iran to avoid getting Gadaffied with a bayonet then it'll be brigades and the US state department will have blood flowing out the doors
shouldn't laugh really as it's serious but in terms of unintended consequences this has the possibility of taking the world record
then again maybe he'll just panic and run and the Isis people take over in the chaos
Who do you think can save america's bacon right now? Only Iran is willing to do so.
Rumours now Baghdad International Airport is now closed after some iraqi lawmakers took flights to Jordan. And yes there seems to be fighting on the south side of Baghdad.
ConflictReporter @MiddleEast_BRK · 38m #BreakingNews Limited clashes between Sunni rebels and Iraqi security forces broke out in the southern #Baghdad district of #Doura. #Iraq
yeah the question is whether it's a company of hard lads or actual brigades on the move
if Maliki throws in with Iran to avoid getting Gadaffied with a bayonet then it'll be brigades and the US state department will have blood flowing out the doors
shouldn't laugh really as it's serious but in terms of unintended consequences this has the possibility of taking the world record
then again maybe he'll just panic and run and the Isis people take over in the chaos
Who do you think can save america's bacon right now? Only Iran is willing to do so.
America doesn't need anyone to save its bacon. Iraq's the one in trouble. If the Americans choose to step it will be for Iraq's benefit and for the world's protection against a terrorist base.
How ironic if Israeli machinations lead to a Shia arc led by Iran dominating the Middle East. Israeli foreign policy has two aims in fracturing their neighbours along racial and religious lines as well as drawing Western armed forces in. Epic fail despite initial success.
yeah the question is whether it's a company of hard lads or actual brigades on the move
if Maliki throws in with Iran to avoid getting Gadaffied with a bayonet then it'll be brigades and the US state department will have blood flowing out the doors
shouldn't laugh really as it's serious but in terms of unintended consequences this has the possibility of taking the world record
then again maybe he'll just panic and run and the Isis people take over in the chaos
Who do you think can save america's bacon right now? Only Iran is willing to do so.
America doesn't need anyone to save its bacon. Iraq's the one in trouble. If the Americans choose to step it will be for Iraq's benefit and for the world's protection against a terrorist base.
Do you think Baghdad falling will not be a disaster (at least political) for the USA? And who can prevent that? By the time the americans decide it might be too late, only the iranians are willing to prevent it as of now.
yeah the question is whether it's a company of hard lads or actual brigades on the move
if Maliki throws in with Iran to avoid getting Gadaffied with a bayonet then it'll be brigades and the US state department will have blood flowing out the doors
shouldn't laugh really as it's serious but in terms of unintended consequences this has the possibility of taking the world record
then again maybe he'll just panic and run and the Isis people take over in the chaos
Who do you think can save america's bacon right now? Only Iran is willing to do so.
America doesn't need anyone to save its bacon. Iraq's the one in trouble. If the Americans choose to step it will be for Iraq's benefit and for the world's protection against a terrorist base.
Do you think Baghdad falling will not be a disaster (at least political) for the USA? And who can prevent that? By the time the americans decide it might be too late, only the iranians are willing to prevent it as of now.
The political damage to the USA from the invasion of Iraq has already happened. Everyone has already accepted that that war was a huge mistake. Including the current US President.
yeah the question is whether it's a company of hard lads or actual brigades on the move
if Maliki throws in with Iran to avoid getting Gadaffied with a bayonet then it'll be brigades and the US state department will have blood flowing out the doors
shouldn't laugh really as it's serious but in terms of unintended consequences this has the possibility of taking the world record
then again maybe he'll just panic and run and the Isis people take over in the chaos
Who do you think can save america's bacon right now? Only Iran is willing to do so.
I don't know if they want it saved exactly. They (as in the part of the US administration that wants a war with Syria) want to bounce Obama into Iraq 2.0.
If Obama just holds still and keeps his nerve the facts on the ground should make it peter out imo.
If he wants to do something to actively stop it he just needs to ring the Kurds and tell them to cut the supply routes from the north.
It's Maliki really. If he figures out he's going to be Gadaffied as a pawn in a game over Syria his only sensible move is to throw in with the Iranians.
The Mail attacks on Cameron and Hague are just ludicrous. It is no secret I am not a fan of Cameron's (if you will please excuse the understatement) but he was pushing for action in Syria and did everything he could to try and make it happen. The fact that he did the decent thing and unlike Blair made sure there was a proper informed debate - which he then lost - is to his credit and to then claim he has done nothing is just plain wrong.
Rumours of fighting near Abu Ghraib and Baghdad Airport. ISIS appear to be approaching from the west, rather than the north.
Anyone who's seen "Black Hawk Down" will know driving a convoy of humvees through hostile sections of a city where every man has an AK47 is probably not a good idea.
yeah the question is whether it's a company of hard lads or actual brigades on the move
if Maliki throws in with Iran to avoid getting Gadaffied with a bayonet then it'll be brigades and the US state department will have blood flowing out the doors
shouldn't laugh really as it's serious but in terms of unintended consequences this has the possibility of taking the world record
then again maybe he'll just panic and run and the Isis people take over in the chaos
Who do you think can save america's bacon right now? Only Iran is willing to do so.
I don't know if they want it saved exactly. They (as in the part of the US administration that wants a war with Syria) want to bounce Obama into Iraq 2.0.
If Obama just holds still and keeps his nerve the facts on the ground should make it peter out imo.
If he wants to do something to actively stop it he just needs to ring the Kurds and tell them to cut the supply routes from the north.
It's Maliki really. If he figures out he's going to be Gadaffied as a pawn in a game over Syria his only sensible move is to throw in with the Iranians.
It seems so, Iran is the only option left for Iraq.
The Mail attacks on Cameron and Hague are just ludicrous. It is no secret I am not a fan of Cameron's (if you will please excuse the understatement) but he was pushing for action in Syria and did everything he could to try and make it happen. The fact that he did the decent thing and unlike Blair made sure there was a proper informed debate - which he then lost - is to his credit and to then claim he has done nothing is just plain wrong.
I think the most egregious thing is the idea he can't go out for a meal with his wife and that Hague shouldn't be attending a long planned event to deal with an important issue long neglected. I'm not saying the government response to the situation is brilliant, or even existent, but I think they can be forgiven given it looks like half of Iraq has capitulated in a matter of a day. I suspect they are trying to get a handle on what is going on before diving in with both feet.
How can you take the Conservatives seriously on immigration when the head of the Bank of England is an immigrant? Was there really not a single qualified British person for that job?
Last night I reported that one of Saddam's old lieutenants was about to come out of the shadows. And so today the media is reporting that Izzat Ibrahim al Douri, a senior Baathist is one of the leaders of the Sunni march.
Be clear at this point that ISIS probably do not even represent the largest part of the Sunni effort right now. A lot of tribes, some of whom joined the 'Awakening' to take on the radicals a few years back are in play alongside those same radicals.
Many of the actions closer to Bagdhad from the west and south west are Sunni tribes at work. They are, however, taking some relatively friendly territory on the way south and east to Bagdhad.
This is a sectarian move, not purely a Jihadist one. The Maliki govt knows this and has been aware of it for a while. The idea that ISIS alone could just take Bagdhad or indeed make the extent of the current land grab in anyway permanent is laughable. That government has pursued a heavily sectarian policy and this is the counter. If anyone doesn't believe it, ask yourself why the Iraqi government have opened a new co-ordinating location deep in the Shi'te owned south. If things get that bad thats the retrench point. Not only that, as I mentioned yesterday the government forces are busy running curfews and arresting people in Sunni districts of the capital.
The Iranians have turned up to look at what they can do, the US work effort will likely be symbolic. The external people to watch apart from the Iranians are the Turks, who are gearing for action if they see fit.
Last night I reported that one of Saddam's old lieutenants was about to come out of the shadows. And so today the media is reporting that Izzat Ibrahim al Douri, a senior Baathist is one of the leaders of the Sunni march.
Be clear at this point that ISIS probably do not even represent the largest part of the Sunni effort right now. A lot of tribes, some of whom joined the 'Awakening' to take on the radicals a few years back are in play alongside those same radicals.
Many of the actions closer to Bagdhad from the west and south west are Sunni tribes at work. They are, however, taking some relatively friendly territory on the way south and east to Bagdhad.
This is a sectarian move, not purely a Jihadist one. The Maliki govt knows this and has been aware of it for a while. The idea that ISIS alone could just take Bagdhad or indeed make the extent of the current land grab in anyway permanent is laughable. That government has pursued a heavily sectarian policy and this is the counter. If anyone doesn't believe it, ask yourself why the Iraqi government have opened a new co-ordinating location deep in the Shi'te owned south. If things get that bad thats the retrench point. Not only that, as I mentioned yesterday the government forces are busy running curfews and arresting people in Sunni districts of the capital.
The Iranians have turned up to look at what they can do, the US work effort will likely be symbolic. The external people to watch apart from the Iranians are the Turks, who are gearing for action if they see fit.
That makes a lot more sense than what's in the news.
How can you take the Conservatives seriously on immigration when the head of the Bank of England is an immigrant? Was there really not a single qualified British person for that job?
Yeah, they've always been like that. Just look at Churchill's War Cabinet. Lord Beaverbrook was another bloody Canadian, and he held several posts.
How can you take the Conservatives seriously on immigration when the head of the Bank of England is an immigrant? Was there really not a single qualified British person for that job?
Yeah, they've always been like that. Just look at Churchill's War Cabinet. Lord Beaverbrook was another bloody Canadian, and he had several posts.
Last night I reported that one of Saddam's old lieutenants was about to come out of the shadows. And so today the media is reporting that Izzat Ibrahim al Douri, a senior Baathist is one of the leaders of the Sunni march.
Be clear at this point that ISIS probably do not even represent the largest part of the Sunni effort right now. A lot of tribes, some of whom joined the 'Awakening' to take on the radicals a few years back are in play alongside those same radicals.
Many of the actions closer to Bagdhad from the west and south west are Sunni tribes at work. They are, however, taking some relatively friendly territory on the way south and east to Bagdhad.
This is a sectarian move, not purely a Jihadist one. The Maliki govt knows this and has been aware of it for a while. The idea that ISIS alone could just take Bagdhad or indeed make the extent of the current land grab in anyway permanent is laughable. That government has pursued a heavily sectarian policy and this is the counter. If anyone doesn't believe it, ask yourself why the Iraqi government have opened a new co-ordinating location deep in the Shi'te owned south. If things get that bad thats the retrench point. Not only that, as I mentioned yesterday the government forces are busy running curfews and arresting people in Sunni districts of the capital.
The Iranians have turned up to look at what they can do, the US work effort will likely be symbolic. The external people to watch apart from the Iranians are the Turks, who are gearing for action if they see fit.
A great post Y0kel.
My prediction is that the Turks will draw in the US under the cover of NATO.
The crisis in Iraq may also provide the basis for solving unfinished business in Syria.
If anything is likely to get Obama going it will be getting one over Putin. Since Russia's annexation of Crimea the reluctance to tread on their toes in Syria may now have evaporated.
How can you take the Conservatives seriously on immigration when the head of the Bank of England is an immigrant? Was there really not a single qualified British person for that job?
Yeah, they've always been like that. Just look at Churchill's War Cabinet. Lord Beaverbrook was another bloody Canadian, and he had several posts.
Not unless Cheltenham seceded at some point and nobody told us.
How can you take the Conservatives seriously on immigration when the head of the Bank of England is an immigrant? Was there really not a single qualified British person for that job?
Yeah, they've always been like that. Just look at Churchill's War Cabinet. Lord Beaverbrook was another bloody Canadian, and he had several posts.
Not unless Cheltenham seceded at some point and nobody told us.
Well its the only way they can ensure there are enough prison places available for the following days new convicted! Don't worry they'll catch him and bring him back in good time. Think of it as an extended parole!
There has a bit of support in Ladbrokes banded L/D seats market for the 21-30 market to 100-30.For those playing this market it has to be in the total equation.They could easily end up with the higher end of this band,or even lower.I've already covered this and make it a 9-4 chance ,joint with 31-40 at 9-4 also so 10-3 on offer is still a bet IMHO.
So a Sunni rebellion against the Shia government being misreported in the West to try and bounce Iraq 2.0.
That's makes a lot more sense than 800 dudes in Humvees blitzing half a country.
I suspect the true picture is both and neither. ISIS are clearly involved somehow but there has got to be more to it. There's been a sense for some time that Maliki isn't the person you'd necessarily want in a charged situation like Iraq. The danger is that it escalates into wider regional destabilisation, then we could really be in a mess. The very very last thing we need is trouble brewing for the Saudis etc
There has a bit of support in Ladbrokes banded L/D seats market for the 21-30 market to 100-30.For those playing this market it has to be in the total equation.They could easily end up with the higher end of this band,or even lower.I've already covered this and make it a 9-4 chance ,joint with 31-40 at 9-4 also so 10-3 on offer is still a bet IMHO.
I'm closing tonight with this observation. The junior coaltion Labour party in Ireland has fallen to just 4%, proves that being a junior member in coalition is very unhealthy. (Also Gerry Adams has his popularity up since his arrest)
OK, so entertaining match but marred by that dodgy penalty! Croat goalie was unlucky not to save it!
Comrade Chancellor. If you count Coventry as still being in Warks, then yes!
I have driven through Coventry.
Once.
I had no idea of where it was at the time.
I went to Coventry once. I got in trouble for suggesting that it's difficult to pin down the bigger crime the Nazis bombing the Cathedral or the way it was rebuilt.
OK, so entertaining match but marred by that dodgy penalty! Croat goalie was unlucky not to save it!
Comrade Chancellor. If you count Coventry as still being in Warks, then yes!
I have driven through Coventry.
Once.
I had no idea of where it was at the time.
May I ask why the enquiry into my dining habits, Comrade?
I thought you were meeting Messrs. Brooke and Observer for the evening.
There was a frantic hunt for your telephone number earlier in the day.
I can confirm I made contact with Mr Brooke this morning, although it was too late to fix any plans for tonight, but we hope to meet up sometime over the next two weeks.
There has a bit of support in Ladbrokes banded L/D seats market for the 21-30 market to 100-30.For those playing this market it has to be in the total equation.They could easily end up with the higher end of this band,or even lower.I've already covered this and make it a 9-4 chance ,joint with 31-40 at 9-4 also so 10-3 on offer is still a bet IMHO.
I'm closing tonight with this observation. The junior coaltion Labour party in Ireland has fallen to just 4%, proves that being a junior member in coalition is very unhealthy. (Also Gerry Adams has his popularity up since his arrest)
OK, so entertaining match but marred by that dodgy penalty! Croat goalie was unlucky not to save it!
Comrade Chancellor. If you count Coventry as still being in Warks, then yes!
I have driven through Coventry.
Once.
I had no idea of where it was at the time.
I went to Coventry once. I got in trouble for suggesting that it's difficult to pin down the bigger crime the Nazis bombing the Cathedral or the way it was rebuilt.
I have always associated it with Benjamin Britten's War Requiem which was written for consecration of the rebuilt Cathedral in 1962. I have a video recording of the performance.
The two seem inseparately linked and completely complementary.
OK, so entertaining match but marred by that dodgy penalty! Croat goalie was unlucky not to save it!
Comrade Chancellor. If you count Coventry as still being in Warks, then yes!
I have driven through Coventry.
Once.
I had no idea of where it was at the time.
May I ask why the enquiry into my dining habits, Comrade?
I thought you were meeting Messrs. Brooke and Observer for the evening.
There was a frantic hunt for your telephone number earlier in the day.
I can confirm I made contact with Mr Brooke this morning, although it was too late to fix any plans for tonight, but we hope to meet up sometime over the next two weeks.
It does explain your benevolent disposition tonight.
OK, so entertaining match but marred by that dodgy penalty! Croat goalie was unlucky not to save it!
Comrade Chancellor. If you count Coventry as still being in Warks, then yes!
I have driven through Coventry.
Once.
I had no idea of where it was at the time.
I went to Coventry once. I got in trouble for suggesting that it's difficult to pin down the bigger crime the Nazis bombing the Cathedral or the way it was rebuilt.
Strictly speaking it wasn't rebuilt per se, but a new structure built on a slightly different site.
OK, so entertaining match but marred by that dodgy penalty! Croat goalie was unlucky not to save it!
Comrade Chancellor. If you count Coventry as still being in Warks, then yes!
I have driven through Coventry.
Once.
I had no idea of where it was at the time.
May I ask why the enquiry into my dining habits, Comrade?
I thought you were meeting Messrs. Brooke and Observer for the evening.
There was a frantic hunt for your telephone number earlier in the day.
I can confirm I made contact with Mr Brooke this morning, although it was too late to fix any plans for tonight, but we hope to meet up sometime over the next two weeks.
It does explain your benevolent disposition tonight.
The Kurds are forming the right-horn (stand-down Scots born "Yorkshire" lawyers); the Shias are retreating from an open plain - ok, desert - into more favourable ground. This is the enticing left-horn (no; not redragcompouter-vX)!
The West should deploy ELINT/SIGINT to capture the Muzzies electronic messages and Jordan - with their upgraded Chally-Is - should be able to snip the Islamists' tin-pot Toyotas at 5600yds. A few Reapers with - sadly rushed - dual-mode Brimstones will see ISIS looking for 72-virgins (albeit in Hellfire)....
Look for the locally popular, but also high profile Libdems, history has told us that the voters don't tend to like decapitation strategies in these circumstances.
There has a bit of support in Ladbrokes banded L/D seats market for the 21-30 market to 100-30.For those playing this market it has to be in the total equation.They could easily end up with the higher end of this band,or even lower.I've already covered this and make it a 9-4 chance ,joint with 31-40 at 9-4 also so 10-3 on offer is still a bet IMHO.
I'm closing tonight with this observation. The junior coaltion Labour party in Ireland has fallen to just 4%, proves that being a junior member in coalition is very unhealthy. (Also Gerry Adams has his popularity up since his arrest)
The Kurds are forming the right-horn (stand-down Scots born "Yorkshire" lawyers); the Shias are retreating from an open plain - ok, desert - into more favourable ground. This is the enticing left-horn (no; not redragcompouter-vX)!
The West should deploy ELINT/SIGINT to capture the Muzzies electronic messages and Jordan - with their upgraded Chally-Is - should be able to snip the Islamists' tin-pot Toyotas at 5600yds. A few Reapers with - sadly rushed - dual-mode Brimstones will see ISIS looking for 72-virgins (albeit in Hellfire)....
If it's what the news is saying - small numbers of jihadists from Syria on what is basically a raid - then yes but if that's a load of the usual bollox and what's actually happening is a widespread Sunni rebellion in the north of Iraq that has been sparked off by the flood of western weaponry into Syria (via whoever) then it's a different kettle of fish entirely because then you're talking about fighting the whole of Sunni Iraq - again.
Also if it's the second option then a lot of these towns being "captured" won't have been captured at all, just the locals joining the rebellion.
OK, so entertaining match but marred by that dodgy penalty! Croat goalie was unlucky not to save it!
Comrade Chancellor. If you count Coventry as still being in Warks, then yes!
I have driven through Coventry.
Once.
I had no idea of where it was at the time.
I went to Coventry once. I got in trouble for suggesting that it's difficult to pin down the bigger crime the Nazis bombing the Cathedral or the way it was rebuilt.
Strictly speaking it wasn't rebuilt per se, but a new structure built on a slightly different site.
Today's YG looks like an outlier on the high side for Labour, just as yesterday looked on the low side. Doubt if much will happen for a while, but the clock is ticking away without many of those elusive Tory leads.
How can you take the Conservatives seriously on immigration when the head of the Bank of England is an immigrant? Was there really not a single qualified British person for that job?
This is a silly argument. If there's one type of immigration we should be completely comfortable with, it's highly skilled people at their top of their profession from a culture that's extremely similar to our own.
OK, so entertaining match but marred by that dodgy penalty! Croat goalie was unlucky not to save it!
Comrade Chancellor. If you count Coventry as still being in Warks, then yes!
I have driven through Coventry.
Once.
I had no idea of where it was at the time.
I went to Coventry once. I got in trouble for suggesting that it's difficult to pin down the bigger crime the Nazis bombing the Cathedral or the way it was rebuilt.
Strictly speaking it wasn't rebuilt per se, but a new structure built on a slightly different site.
The Kurds are forming the right-horn (stand-down Scots born "Yorkshire" lawyers); the Shias are retreating from an open plain - ok, desert - into more favourable ground. This is the enticing left-horn (no; not redragcompouter-vX)!
The West should deploy ELINT/SIGINT to capture the Muzzies electronic messages and Jordan - with their upgraded Chally-Is - should be able to snip the Islamists' tin-pot Toyotas at 5600yds. A few Reapers with - sadly rushed - dual-mode Brimstones will see ISIS looking for 72-virgins (albeit in Hellfire)....
If it's what the news is saying - small numbers of jihadists from Syria on what is basically a raid - then yes but if that's a load of the usual bollox and what's actually happening is a widespread Sunni rebellion in the north of Iraq that has been sparked off by the flood of western weaponry into Syria (via whoever) then it's a different kettle of fish entirely because then you're talking about fighting the whole of Sunni Iraq - again.
Also if it's the second option then a lot of these towns being "captured" won't have been captured at all, just the locals joining the rebellion.
Indeed. We need to worry about ISIS, but if it's mainly local sectarians without hardcore Islamist leanings, then we should let them sort it out themselves.
The electoral clock is also ticking away when it comes to showing any actual chance of the Labour party as the main Opposition now proving that it could become the voters actual choice when it comes to a Government in waiting at the next GE.
Today's YG looks like an outlier on the high side for Labour, just as yesterday looked on the low side. Doubt if much will happen for a while, but the clock is ticking away without many of those elusive Tory leads.
How can you take the Conservatives seriously on immigration when the head of the Bank of England is an immigrant? Was there really not a single qualified British person for that job?
This is a silly argument. If there's one type of immigration we should be completely comfortable with, it's highly skilled people at their top of their profession from a culture that's extremely similar to our own.
It's not a silly argument at all. It's just exposes the usual hypocrisy and class warfare nonsense from the right to create different rules for the rich, educated and caucasian.
There is no incentive for local workers to be educated, trained and promoted when you can import experienced foreign workers, and those people have absolutely no allegiace to the UK and UK workers.
The next but one claimant Joseph Wenzel is a rather attractive young man.
Is he on JohnLoony's list of royal male hotties ?
No, but Prince Louis of Luxembourg is. The most delightful fact about Louis is that he became a father at the age of 19. I've not heard of Joseph Wenzel (of Liechtenstein) before; he seems to be cute (ish) but not as gorgeous as Louis.
The six royals who have been in the WAAAAGH League Table are: Peter Phillips (1998 to date) b. 15 Nov 1977 Prince William (1998 to 2010) b. 21 June 1982 Prince Harry (2001 to date) b. 15 Sep 1984 Prince Louis of Luxembourg (2006 to date) b. 3 Aug 1986 Prince Hamzah of Jordan (1999 to 2003) b. 29 March 1980 Prince Hashem of Jordan (2003 to 2004) b. 10 June 1981
In case anyone hasn't been paying attention, WAAAAGH stands for the Orldwide Ssociation for the Ssessment, Ppreciation and Dvancement of Orgeousness and Unkiness.
Comments
Imagine the decisions the ref will give Qatar in their opening game in eight years' time
His secret method is not quite as mysterious as the products of Jacks ARSE. He played all the group matches on subbutteo over the last fortnight.
I was hoping that we would hear from PB's man on the spot.
And who can prevent that? By the time the americans decide it might be too late, only the iranians are willing to prevent it as of now.
Sri Lanka 10.5
Draw 2.76
http://www.betfair.com/exchange/cricket/event?id=27203214
To my mind UKIP is subject to alot of weighting vagaries.
If Obama just holds still and keeps his nerve the facts on the ground should make it peter out imo.
If he wants to do something to actively stop it he just needs to ring the Kurds and tell them to cut the supply routes from the north.
It's Maliki really. If he figures out he's going to be Gadaffied as a pawn in a game over Syria his only sensible move is to throw in with the Iranians.
Mexico 1 Cameroon 0
Chile 2 Australia 0
Spain 1 Netherlands 1
I have paid him his winnings tonight (minus a small deduction for the beer fund)
Do you think IDS is?
Be clear at this point that ISIS probably do not even represent the largest part of the Sunni effort right now. A lot of tribes, some of whom joined the 'Awakening' to take on the radicals a few years back are in play alongside those same radicals.
Many of the actions closer to Bagdhad from the west and south west are Sunni tribes at work. They are, however, taking some relatively friendly territory on the way south and east to Bagdhad.
This is a sectarian move, not purely a Jihadist one. The Maliki govt knows this and has been aware of it for a while. The idea that ISIS alone could just take Bagdhad or indeed make the extent of the current land grab in anyway permanent is laughable. That government has pursued a heavily sectarian policy and this is the counter. If anyone doesn't believe it, ask yourself why the Iraqi government have opened a new co-ordinating location deep in the Shi'te owned south. If things get that bad thats the retrench point. Not only that, as I mentioned yesterday the government forces are busy running curfews and arresting people in Sunni districts of the capital.
The Iranians have turned up to look at what they can do, the US work effort will likely be symbolic. The external people to watch apart from the Iranians are the Turks, who are gearing for action if they see fit.
IDS calm under fire. He has grown on me.
My prediction is that the Turks will draw in the US under the cover of NATO.
The crisis in Iraq may also provide the basis for solving unfinished business in Syria.
If anything is likely to get Obama going it will be getting one over Putin. Since Russia's annexation of Crimea the reluctance to tread on their toes in Syria may now have evaporated.
If Hislop has publicly identified with the Lib Dems it will have been a flag of convenience.
He is Tunbridge Wells Tory through and through.
That's makes a lot more sense than 800 dudes in Humvees blitzing half a country.
http://news.sky.com/story/1281272/armed-robber-on-the-run-from-open-prison
WTF?
http://live.aljazeera.com/Event/Iraq_2/118243418
Linc Ind 342 Con 119 Lab 38
Sleaford Quarrington Linc Ind gain from Con
Linc Ind 527 Con 477 Ind 178
Have you been dining in Warwickshire this evening?
The junior coaltion Labour party in Ireland has fallen to just 4%, proves that being a junior member in coalition is very unhealthy.
(Also Gerry Adams has his popularity up since his arrest)
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/red-c-poll-labour-at-a-dismal-4pc-30349314.html
Ind 570 Con 338 UKIP 311 Lab 102
Once.
I had no idea of where it was at the time.
There was a frantic hunt for your telephone number earlier in the day.
I went on 13/2 after Newark, but as a Cleggite would be pleased to see the LDs over 40 seats, but it is not likely.
The two seem inseparately linked and completely complementary.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Isandlwana
The Kurds are forming the right-horn (stand-down Scots born "Yorkshire" lawyers); the Shias are retreating from an open plain - ok, desert - into more favourable ground. This is the enticing left-horn (no; not redrag compouter-vX)!
The West should deploy ELINT/SIGINT to capture the Muzzies electronic messages and Jordan - with their upgraded Chally-Is - should be able to snip the Islamists' tin-pot Toyotas at 5600yds. A few Reapers with - sadly rushed - dual-mode Brimstones will see ISIS looking for 72-virgins (albeit in Hellfire)....
Also if it's the second option then a lot of these towns being "captured" won't have been captured at all, just the locals joining the rebellion.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Luke's_Church,_Liverpool
There is no incentive for local workers to be educated, trained and promoted when you can import experienced foreign workers, and those people have absolutely no allegiace to the UK and UK workers.
The six royals who have been in the WAAAAGH League Table are:
Peter Phillips (1998 to date) b. 15 Nov 1977
Prince William (1998 to 2010) b. 21 June 1982
Prince Harry (2001 to date) b. 15 Sep 1984
Prince Louis of Luxembourg (2006 to date) b. 3 Aug 1986
Prince Hamzah of Jordan (1999 to 2003) b. 29 March 1980
Prince Hashem of Jordan (2003 to 2004) b. 10 June 1981
In case anyone hasn't been paying attention, WAAAAGH stands for the Orldwide Ssociation for the Ssessment, Ppreciation and Dvancement of Orgeousness and Unkiness.
"3:1 was foxinsoxuk jr's prediction. I got 15/1 for that."
Quite brilliant Foxy - Shadsy should sign him up immediately!