Losing Mosul, Regenerating in Diyala: How the Islamic State Could Exploit Iraq’s Sectarian...

this is a good article and makes some serious points...

I spent most my two tours working in Diyala, province, and he is locked on with everything, he said,this is where most of the Insurgence started. The big thing here is this was and is the main base of Saddams Fedayeen, they they had lead in building the insurgence.

As for Terrain , he is correct, it was one of the hardest areas to move around lost of danger crossings, and chock points, and easy for them to move around, and blend in.During the invasion this area was an Engineers worst nightmare, as all the River crossings, and canals. We placed more bridges in this area than another place during the invasion. We repaired the main Bridge over Diyala, so forces could start to enter into Baghdad. Just in that one crossing there are five different bridges, and us and Marines had to build seven different bridges, Two Rib Pontoon Bridges, for all the tanks, and lav to cross in and set up perimeters, for entry into Baghdad, along with one MGB patch on a blown bridge. Then the main Bridge itself had a ALVB and we built a Maybe on the other side both as patches, then after we got into and Baghdad was taken, we went out and built a Double crossing to aid locals crossing, Two Maybe Jonson's.

The second time, was with a JTF and was working with local government and IP, and Iraqi Military for all the transition of government, coordinating, and working with SOF MiTT,PRT's and Department of state, dealing with Diyala was harder than dealing main areas of Baghdad and Ramadi. I can see why this would and could be there new HQ, and this could be bad for Iraq as central location too all Provinces, they take this area, and it will be bad.

Long, but very interesting article on Mosul, and ISIS.