JFC Iraq Again?

All the news stations are buzzing about Shiite versus Sunni violence in Iraq. Have we learned NOTHING in twenty years of trying to intercede in sectarian violence ???

JFC

I see the "new" sectarian violence in Iraq as the same old political/economic bullshit that we see elsewhere. Religion is a great tool for recruiting idiots to die for the benefit of those at the top who are seeking power and wealth, not salvation.

ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq & Syria) is working to create a pan-Arabic sharia state in the Middle East.  They (or the Islamic Brotherhood, or any number of other splinters) have been working on this since 1949.

If it comes to pass goodbye Israel.

But with Islam being the 2nd largest and fastest growing religion what hope is there of stemming this tide?  Understatement of the week:

Quote :

ISIS was believed to have only 2,000–3,000 fighters up until the Mosul campaign, but during that campaign it became evident that this number was a gross underestimate

"Goodbye Israel"? More like "Goodbye Middle East."

I am not a big fan of the country of Israel. It is a belligerent, expansionary country which really should bring it down a notch or two. But I pity the Arab or Persian country that starts a war with them. And pity the American tax payers, of course, for we will be coughing up billions of dollars every month to support the Israel forces. Oh, wait, we do something near that now, don't we? Of course, the American and other Western "defense" industries will do quite fine, thank you very much. Come to thank of it, the Russian, Chinese and other "defense" industries will probably do quite well also supplying the other side (after they run out of the weapons we have left there for them to use).

And when it's all over, the average person will be worse off than now, while the honchos will still be living quite nicely.

_Howard wrote:

"Goodbye Israel"? More like "Goodbye Middle East."

If the past is any harbinger of the future, Islamic peace will not come to the Middle East with the establishment of a region-wide sharia state. Sectarian violence will continue, fueled by oil revenue and religious jihad and endemic ignorance.

I wonder if that future is escapable? I wonder if it's necessarily a bad thing for the West?

Obama is sending 300 "advisors" who if they're smart will turn right around and recommend we seal the borders.

That doesn't sound good. I was once an "advisor" and it didn't turn out well.

Iraq is coming apart at the seams.  Airstrikes notwithstanding its collapse into a failed nationstate is already well underway.

Which is exactly what critics of the Iraq war warned would happen.

Which makes you wonder, what did our $1.1 trillion buy, exactly?  That money could have gone a long way toward repairing our infrastructure and that money would have 100% gone back into the economy.  Where would our economy be today with a $1.1 trillion stimulus?

Heard a lovely news report the other day about ISIS troops driving around with the heads of opponents mounted to their truck hoods.

Mass executions.

Governance by fear.

JFC.

For decades the US tolerated Saddam because, despot that he was, he still kept the place from degenerating into Lord of the Flies. Everyone knew it would happen without some strongman to keep order.

Everyone except Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld/Wolfowitz.

They should be forced to live there.

(Anyone who argues religion is a net positive force in the world should have to live under sharia law too.)

Not only is Biden pulling the last US troops out of Afghanistan, Congress is also repealing the 2002 Iraq War Authorization which has been used for the last 20 years to maintain a military presence in the Middle East. 'Bout time.

Wally Shawn was right: "Never get involved in an Asian land war." Or Middle Eastern either.

One big sharia law Islamic caliphate across the whole area, just as the oil fields dry up and the money gusher is capped. Perfect. Let them eat sand.