The challenge in Mosul won’t be to defeat the Islamic State. It will be what comes after.

If at first, you don't succeed, try, try again. Afghanistan and Iraq have made it clear if a new paradigm isn't developed using the geographical ME nations taking on the care and feeding of our successes, it will revert just as it has since 2014.

Can't read the article SGT Damaso V Santana, as you only have so many free reads. Good points you and SGT Ben Keen make.

Hopefully after ISIS and all its supporters are terminated with extreme prejudice or the remote possibility that some will surrender, the infrastructure will be repaired and Kurdish and other expatriates welcomed back to the neighborhoods SGT Damaso V Santana.
Once the refinery and all storage and distribution nodes are cleared I hope that oil will once again be drilled, refined and distributed to benefit the people of Mosul and the surrounding area primarily and all of Iraq secondarily.