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Iraqi Kurds have now decided to boycott any further cabinet meetings and are calling for PM Maliki to step down. Egypt is calling for a Israeli-Hamas cease fire. ISIS is still largely un-checked in NW Iraq/NE Syria. How much worse is it all going to get before it is over? What should the US do if anything at all? Military commitment? More "advisors"?
Iraq
ISIS
Israel
Posted >1 y ago
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I blame Paul Bremer and his cronies. If they hadn't gone against everyone else and dismantled the Iraqi military and police forces, we probably wouldn't be looking at this situation right now.
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SFC (Join to see)
I do believe that the situation would be different in Iraq. However, the rest of the Levant and Egypt would still likely be in the turmoil that they are. And the Israeli-Hamas fight isn't going to stop anytime soon.
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SSG (Join to see)
The Israel/Hamas thing has always been going on and probably always will be unless they manage to completely incinerate all traces of each other.
I could have my timeline wrong, but everything in Egypt and Syria happened AFTER we left Iraq, didn't it? Our immediate presence was removed, so whoever is behind it all saw an opportunity to stir things up. I don't think that it's just a band of terrorists parading around and inciting discord. I think that there's a larger force behind it, be it Saudi Arabia, Iran, Russia.. who knows?
All I know is it'd make a nice glass factory.
I could have my timeline wrong, but everything in Egypt and Syria happened AFTER we left Iraq, didn't it? Our immediate presence was removed, so whoever is behind it all saw an opportunity to stir things up. I don't think that it's just a band of terrorists parading around and inciting discord. I think that there's a larger force behind it, be it Saudi Arabia, Iran, Russia.. who knows?
All I know is it'd make a nice glass factory.
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SFC (Join to see)
The Arab Spring by some accounts began about 1 year prior to our final withdrawal from Iraq to include the transition in Egypt. However, the Lebanon and Syria violence really kind of started as we were leaving.
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SFC Douglas Eshenbaugh
4th Stryker Bde, 2ID was the last major unit to pull out of Iraq 19 August 2010 leaving 50,000 troops remaining in country in an advisory roll. Officially the last troops left Iraq 18 Dec 2011
The first protests of the Arab Spring started in Tunisia on 18 December 2010. Egypt's Arab Spring started on 25 Jan 2011 (I was stationed in the Sinai at the time). Syria started about 45 days later on 11 Mar 2011.
All these facts are pulled straight from the Wikipedia page for both the Arab Spring and Withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq pages.
So how does our involvement or movement out of Iraq (Persian gulf) create an awakening in Tunisia? (Central North Africa) and why is this movement or involvement not listed in any of the top ten reason why the Arab Spring happened? I'm not a geopolitical expert so I just don't see it.
The first protests of the Arab Spring started in Tunisia on 18 December 2010. Egypt's Arab Spring started on 25 Jan 2011 (I was stationed in the Sinai at the time). Syria started about 45 days later on 11 Mar 2011.
All these facts are pulled straight from the Wikipedia page for both the Arab Spring and Withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq pages.
So how does our involvement or movement out of Iraq (Persian gulf) create an awakening in Tunisia? (Central North Africa) and why is this movement or involvement not listed in any of the top ten reason why the Arab Spring happened? I'm not a geopolitical expert so I just don't see it.
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We don't have exactly a winning record in dealing with the Middle East, Our overthrow of the PM of Iran in 53 lead to our current problems there. Our Closest Ally attacked one of our ships the USS Liberty and we captured one of their Spies in our Military Intelligence Community Jonathan Pollard. No matter what we do it is a No Win Situation. Break out the Popcorn and Weenies and watch the Show. All the damn borders were written by the Brits after WWI when the Ottoman Empire sided with Germany and Austira.
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MAJ (Join to see)
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel And don't forget, Bin Laden was our alley when he was fighting the Russians just 30 years ago.
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The irony is that this is kind of what the objective was when we went into Iraq (WMD bs aside) - but in the opposite of the intended direction. The Bush administration knew that removing Saddam would have a massively destabilizing effects in the region, but they thought it would lead to an emergence of democracy. Instead, the critics are again being proven correct. Destabilization happened, and led to massive sectarian disputes/violence.
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LCpl Steve Wininger
LTC Paul Labrador I agree with what you are saying. America has to commit to Iraq for longer than 12 years.
Other than three warring factions trying to unite into a democracy there is another agitator at work. The terrorists have a vested interest in keeping these factions from uniting. By keeping them fighting and blaming each other ISIS was able to move in.
I think the only long term solution is the same thing we did in Germany, Korea, and Japan. Put a permanent US base in Iraq.
I do not see Iraq fixing itself as long as the terrorists are there.
Other than three warring factions trying to unite into a democracy there is another agitator at work. The terrorists have a vested interest in keeping these factions from uniting. By keeping them fighting and blaming each other ISIS was able to move in.
I think the only long term solution is the same thing we did in Germany, Korea, and Japan. Put a permanent US base in Iraq.
I do not see Iraq fixing itself as long as the terrorists are there.
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MAJ (Join to see)
LCpl Steve Wininger Not sure if you remember, but Obama and Bush had both proposed a long term presence in Iraq. Nouri al-Maliki told us to get out. Honestly, besides the inter-faction fighting. al-Maliki is THE problem in Iraq.
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LCpl Steve Wininger
MAJ (Join to see) It seemed like Obama made it a priority to withdraw forces within a certain time frame to keep a political promise he made. I also see the same mistake happening in Afghanistan for the sake of a political promise.
I still think a permanent American presence (Base) in Iraq is needed.
I still think a permanent American presence (Base) in Iraq is needed.
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The Elephant in the room. I really think, if the US is going to 'commit' to Iraq or any other Middle East conflict again, it should be done decisively with all the cards on the table and with legitimate buy-in, both from the american people and the Middle east. Not naming names, or pointing out specific instances, but pretty much the occupation of both Afghanistan and Iraq were boondoggles from the start for precisely the lack of genuine motivation to really be there. The utter mess many of the contractors got themselves into, among other things, is proof of that.
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Sadly, I think the failure of US foreign policy has helped construct this Frankenstein monster. Main thing is to follow the terrorists. It is easier to move about in the midst of chaos. Another thing the US needs to watch is the movement of weapons.
The biggest worry for the United States is Iraq and Syria. This is where the greatest threat of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction can materialize. Israel has already bombed suspected chemical weapons plants in Syria. How much more, and what else is being manufactured in Syria.
What else is there in Iraq that can be made functional again. If the US cannot contain what is going on now, eventually there may have to be boots on the ground.
The biggest worry for the United States is Iraq and Syria. This is where the greatest threat of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction can materialize. Israel has already bombed suspected chemical weapons plants in Syria. How much more, and what else is being manufactured in Syria.
What else is there in Iraq that can be made functional again. If the US cannot contain what is going on now, eventually there may have to be boots on the ground.
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