Posted: 9/13/2016 10:41:16 PM EDT
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http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-37353081 Is Mosul heading for a last 'apocalyptic' IS stand? Whatever else the battle for Mosul may involve, it will not be the element of surprise.
The operation to drive so-called Islamic State (IS) from Iraq's second-largest city has been long promised and much delayed. The latest indications are it could begin next month, more than two years after IS took Mosul and proclaimed its caliphate. The northern city is now the last bastion of IS in Iraq. The authorities in Baghdad say the liberation of Mosul will spell the end of IS on Iraqi soil. Some predict the likely power-struggle afterwards could spell the end for Iraq, in its current form. For the Peshmerga (whose name means "Those who confront death") the push to Mosul cannot come soon enough. |
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Quoted:
No way. Too much history that's way too valuable in that town. More valuable than the lives that surround it. Quoted:
Quoted:
just start dropping nukes all over the fucking place and be done with it lol No way. Too much history that's way too valuable in that town. More valuable than the lives that surround it. Have they not destroyed pretty much everything historical over there already ? Not calling for nukes but what is left other than real estate and occupation that has significant importance anymore ? |
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Two things jumped out at me from that article:
In their push against IS, the Kurds are already redrawing the map of northern Iraq. They have expanded the area under their control by an estimated 50%. Over glasses of hot, sweet tea, veteran Kurdish commander Gen Wasta Rasul said there would be no pulling back. "Why should we withdraw? If we do, the enemy [IS] can come back in. We should have new negotiations with Baghdad, and these areas should be part of Kurdistan."
The general, who has 23,000 men under his command, insisted the Peshmerga would enter Mosul to help drive IS out, in co-ordination with the Shia-dominated Iraqi army. Once the extremists are defeated (estimates range from weeks to months) he says both forces should withdraw from the city, where most of the population are Sunni Arabs. After the Mosul offensive, he says the Kurds will be pressing ahead with a referendum on independence in their areas. "Iraq can't stay as one unit, " he says. "There should be three federations - Sunni, Shia and Kurds. For me there is no unified Iraq." And also: The IS group has reportedly created a network of tunnels around the city, stocked with provisions "They have underground tunnels, all around Mosul, six metres [20ft] below ground," he said. "They have underground bunkers with bathrooms, and they have stockpiled enough food to last for five years. "They have many cars full of C4 [explosives] and they are trying to modify 120mm canons to use mustard gas." |
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Quoted: No way. Too much history that's way too valuable in that town. More valuable than the lives that surround it. Quoted: Quoted: just start dropping nukes all over the fucking place and be done with it lol No way. Too much history that's way too valuable in that town. More valuable than the lives that surround it. |
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Quoted:
Two things jumped out at me from that article: Quoted:
Two things jumped out at me from that article: In their push against IS, the Kurds are already redrawing the map of northern Iraq. They have expanded the area under their control by an estimated 50%. Over glasses of hot, sweet tea, veteran Kurdish commander Gen Wasta Rasul said there would be no pulling back. "Why should we withdraw? If we do, the enemy [IS] can come back in. We should have new negotiations with Baghdad, and these areas should be part of Kurdistan."
The general, who has 23,000 men under his command, insisted the Peshmerga would enter Mosul to help drive IS out, in co-ordination with the Shia-dominated Iraqi army. Once the extremists are defeated (estimates range from weeks to months) he says both forces should withdraw from the city, where most of the population are Sunni Arabs. After the Mosul offensive, he says the Kurds will be pressing ahead with a referendum on independence in their areas. "Iraq can't stay as one unit, " he says. "There should be three federations - Sunni, Shia and Kurds. For me there is no unified Iraq." And also: The IS group has reportedly created a network of tunnels around the city, stocked with provisions "They have underground tunnels, all around Mosul, six metres [20ft] below ground," he said. "They have underground bunkers with bathrooms, and they have stockpiled enough food to last for five years. "They have many cars full of C4 [explosives] and they are trying to modify 120mm canons to use mustard gas." Underground tunnels are a great idea with a heavier than air gas. |