Yanks are "reviewing staffing requirements" at Baghdad embassy.
i.e. evacuating....
I can't imagine it would top of the list's for where diplomat's want to be sent to LOL!
Actually, it can be popular. I know someone in the US Foreign Service who jumped at the chance of a Baghdad posting. Serving a tour of duty in such a place not only gives kudos in the service, but virtually guarantees cushy postings thereafter.
Not always cushy, oldnat.
The last four of our men in Baghdad have travelled as follows
Dominic Asquith - Iraq to Egypt (Arab Spring at end) to Libya (post Gadaffi) Christopher Prentice - Iraq to Italy (the exception) John Jenkins - Syria to Iraq to Libya to Saudi Arabia Michael Aron - Kuwait to Iraq to Libya
Their rewards: Asquith - KCMG Prentice - CMG (still serving in Italy) Jenkins - KCMG Aron - no gongs as yet (see incident in Kuwait)
And of course Asquith's US counterpart in Libya, Christopher Stevens, returned from Benghazi in a box.
Well, they could have lied to him, of course. Nah. The US Government would never tell lies!
Probably Hillary telling 'em about the wonderful Roman remains to be found locally as well as all those jacuzzi baths with gold taps in airconned five star hotels in the region.
Yanks are "reviewing staffing requirements" at Baghdad embassy.
i.e. evacuating....
I can't imagine it would top of the list's for where diplomat's want to be sent to LOL!
Actually, it can be popular. I know someone in the US Foreign Service who jumped at the chance of a Baghdad posting. Serving a tour of duty in such a place not only gives kudos in the service, but virtually guarantees cushy postings thereafter.
Not always cushy, oldnat.
The last four of our men in Baghdad have travelled as follows
Dominic Asquith - Iraq to Egypt (Arab Spring at end) to Libya (post Gadaffi) Christopher Prentice - Iraq to Italy (the exception) John Jenkins - Syria to Iraq to Libya to Saudi Arabia Michael Aron - Kuwait to Iraq to Libya
Their rewards: Asquith - KCMG Prentice - CMG (still serving in Italy) Jenkins - KCMG Aron - no gongs as yet (see incident in Kuwait)
And of course Asquith's US counterpart in Libya, Christopher Stevens, returned from Benghazi in a box.
Lesson here, when you start getting posts to the middle east, you get stuck in the middle east.
Not really. Most of the above are Middle Eastern specialists who made their choices very early on in their careers. They will have been let out of the area for only one or two postings (except for being posted back home in London for short periods).
Thats true, its best to have specialists in those posts. Compare that with america were ambassadors are usually those who give a lot of money to the president.
The Times of London @thetimes 15m Syria joins Iraq in battle to halt rebel march on Baghdad http://thetim.es/1uw7ebB (Reuters) pic.twitter.com/kpOoQRYkf7
Oh and: PzFeed Top News @PzFeed 1h BREAKING NEWS: ISIS and affiliate Sunni tribesmen confirm that military offensive on Baghdad has begun.
I bet all the advice and warnings from me and SeanT will now become more official policy by default.
A number of foreign embassies are getting staff out of their Baghdad. This can be seen as precautionary but really the Sunni march shouldn't be able to take Bagghad on paper, terror attacks maybe (some incidents in the Green Zone tonight) but not an invasion force.
The move is perhaps an indication of the lack of confidence in the range of forces Maliki has under his command. Stories also have it its not much his command, the Iranians have come in and taken charge. Still, the Sunni march though halted in some areas, is still on in others.
There are reports as well that a number of border posts in the West of Iraq have been abandoned as well. Nothing like unguarded borders to disturb the neighbours.
This world cup game is hacking me off. I have money on Bosnia in a series of spreads and fixed odds regarding this game, this group and the tournament. I fancied them to do business but get a feeling their luck is out tonight.
A number of foreign embassies are getting staff out of their Baghdad. This can be seen as precautionary but really the Sunni march shouldn't be able to take Bagghad on paper, terror attacks maybe (some incidents in the Green Zone tonight) but not an invasion force.
The move is perhaps an indication of the lack of confidence in the range of forces Maliki has under his command. Stories also have it its not much his command, the Iranians have come in and taken charge. Still, the Sunni march though halted in some areas, is still on in others.
There are reports as well that a number of border posts in the West of Iraq have been abandoned as well. Nothing like unguarded borders to disturb the neighbours.
This world cup game is hacking me off. I have money on Bosnia in a series of spreads and fixed odds regarding this game, this group and the tournament. I fancied them to do business but get a feeling their luck is out tonight.
Pretty lucky we didn't bomb Iran. Can ISIS and co., use the american heavy weapons they captured for a quick move to blast through?
Big ethnic movements inside Baghdad over the years due to the civil war with the west of Baghdad becoming more Sunni and the north and east becoming more Shia
A number of foreign embassies are getting staff out of their Baghdad. This can be seen as precautionary but really the Sunni march shouldn't be able to take Bagghad on paper, terror attacks maybe (some incidents in the Green Zone tonight) but not an invasion force.
The move is perhaps an indication of the lack of confidence in the range of forces Maliki has under his command. Stories also have it its not much his command, the Iranians have come in and taken charge. Still, the Sunni march though halted in some areas, is still on in others.
There are reports as well that a number of border posts in the West of Iraq have been abandoned as well. Nothing like unguarded borders to disturb the neighbours.
This world cup game is hacking me off. I have money on Bosnia in a series of spreads and fixed odds regarding this game, this group and the tournament. I fancied them to do business but get a feeling their luck is out tonight.
Pretty lucky we didn't bomb Iran. Can ISIS and co., use the american heavy weapons they captured for a quick move to blast through?
Not in a city if there's resistance but if the locals are on their side (in particular areas) then they don't need to blast through.
"Hospitals buy special fridges to store overweight bodies as obesity crisis escalates Doctors warn Britain's obesity crisis could 'cripple' the NHS as hospitals are being forced to buy and rent specialist equipment to deal with overweight patients"
Politicians are the last people who should be allowed to run things, in the same way parents are the last people who should be allowed to have children.
Off to Bedfordshire now but my parting thought is that it seems UKIPs anti interventionist stance has reignited the thirst for invading middle eastern countries from supporters of the other three
There is no doubt Sunni forces, possibly originating from within Baghdad, possibly from without are fighting within the city limits. Certainly most of the within city limits focus of government activity is in the West & South West of the city.
The Americans will defend their own. US Marines have already been put on standby to go in in considerable numbers to hold and if necessary evacuate the facility amongst a welter of other buildings.
There is a lot of US activity in Bahrain in readiness, a lot. Plus US has capabilities out of Jordan & Kuwait though that Western route might be problematic for any airlift.
The Americans will defend their own. US Marines have already been put on standby to go in in considerable numbers to hold and if necessary evacuate the facility amongst a welter of other buildings.
There is a lot of US activity in Bahrain in readiness, a lot plus US has capabilities out of Jordan & Kuwait though that Western route might be problematic for any airlift.
"though that Western route might be problematic for any airlift"
Comments
Compare that with america were ambassadors are usually those who give a lot of money to the president.
You don't want to be like England and fry yourselves just to get out the group.
The Times of London @thetimes 15m
Syria joins Iraq in battle to halt rebel march on Baghdad http://thetim.es/1uw7ebB (Reuters) pic.twitter.com/kpOoQRYkf7
Oh and:
PzFeed Top News @PzFeed 1h
BREAKING NEWS: ISIS and affiliate Sunni tribesmen confirm that military offensive on Baghdad has begun.
I bet all the advice and warnings from me and SeanT will now become more official policy by default.
A number of foreign embassies are getting staff out of their Baghdad. This can be seen as precautionary but really the Sunni march shouldn't be able to take Bagghad on paper, terror attacks maybe (some incidents in the Green Zone tonight) but not an invasion force.
The move is perhaps an indication of the lack of confidence in the range of forces Maliki has under his command. Stories also have it its not much his command, the Iranians have come in and taken charge. Still, the Sunni march though halted in some areas, is still on in others.
There are reports as well that a number of border posts in the West of Iraq have been abandoned as well. Nothing like unguarded borders to disturb the neighbours.
This world cup game is hacking me off. I have money on Bosnia in a series of spreads and fixed odds regarding this game, this group and the tournament. I fancied them to do business but get a feeling their luck is out tonight.
Can ISIS and co., use the american heavy weapons they captured for a quick move to blast through?
Big ethnic movements inside Baghdad over the years due to the civil war with the west of Baghdad becoming more Sunni and the north and east becoming more Shia
http://socialistworker.co.uk/imageFiles/Image/2007/2068/bagmap.jpg
That should make Baghdad unlikely to "fall" as a whole.
However the green zone itself looks like it's reachable from the west.
http://www.jobtimes.info/uploads/55513.JPG1406413471.jpg
and that's where the embassy is, right by the bend in the river
http://iraqslogger.powweb.com/images_full_column/HaifaStreet2.jpg
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/15/iraq-isis-arrest-jihadists-wealth-power
Doctors warn Britain's obesity crisis could 'cripple' the NHS as hospitals are being forced to buy and rent specialist equipment to deal with overweight patients"
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10901487/Hospitals-buy-special-fridges-to-store-overweight-bodies-as-obesity-crisis-escalates.html
Cheney predicted it all 20 years ago - THEN WENT AHEAD ANYWAY...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EstVJo6URdQ
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/10901651/Blairs-Iraq-invasion-was-a-tragic-error-and-hes-mad-to-deny-it.html
PzFeed Top News @PzFeed · 25m
BREAKING NEWS: Baghdad airport is now under attack by ISIS rockets.
I've no idea if thats happening but i'm to sleepy to bother.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Don2WKx9xpM
http://www.flightradar24.com/33.67,44.21/9
(I'm mangling that Wilde quote badly).
Gnight
There is a lot of US activity in Bahrain in readiness, a lot. Plus US has capabilities out of Jordan & Kuwait though that Western route might be problematic for any airlift.
yeah.