Monday, June 23, 2014



IRAQ’S BATTLE FOR PERCEPTION IS ALREADY LOST

If reports of the main oil refinery at Baiji has truly been captured, even temporarily, then the battle, the battle for “Perception” is all but lost for the Iraqi government.

Stacked on top of that story is the possible pending capture of the dam at Haditha.

So, if you’re sitting in your house in Baghdad and you hear the government, what is left of it, telling its citizens not to fear for the city is safe, what do you believe?

When you wake in the morning, your neighbors warn you the gas lines are over a day long and that is if you have the gas to sit in line for a day to get a tank of gas!

As you talk to your neighbor, you hear the media talking about the US Secretary of State asking the Iraqi government to expedite some form of “coalition and you think to yourself, “Really…… do the Americans think the ISIS will settle for a “coalition government”?

By midday, you’ve heard once again the Iranian’s warn the US over involvement in the Iraqi crisis.

Ok, stop me when you start to get the picture!

What Iraqi citizen truly believes there is a way out of this?

At what point does staying in Baghdad become meaningless?

Does the ISIS and its supporters have to occupy Baghdad?

What Has Baghdad become?

The final sanctuary for the Shia?

Let’s face the truth, Baghdad in nearly under siege and the world knows it.

Rescue:

Who comes to the rescue?

Can Baghdad be rescued?

Is it the Iranians?

How do they achieve such a goal without killing thousands of trapped Shia Arabs, the same Shia Arab they claim to be protecting?

Is it the West?

Who?

The EU?

Not even close.

The US?

How?

As good as the US military is, can it conduct close order combat with citizens mixed in with the attackers?

How many citizens will that cost?

By the end of the day today, I heard the words I knew had to be coming from the so called “experts”…… Baghdad is where the Iraqi government, Shia will make their stand.

Two days ago, the message was, the assault to retake lost land was underway with busses stuffed full of eager young men fresh from marching up and down the street waiving privately owned weapons in the air.

Soon, those buses will encounter those who do not fear parades!

Tonight, I sit and wonder if the Battle of Baghdad is about to take place and something tells me that battle is already over!

The Shia must pray for one thing and one thing only…..over extension!

A battle hardened group is a very difficult adversary.

An overconfident force moving on an enemy that is far more capable than Iraqi’s is an entirely different story.

Will the ISIS move on Jordan, Kuwait or even Saudi.

In the history of conflict, overconfidence has gone hand in hand with disaster.

Iraq is all but lost, but what force will stop the ISIS.

Will Iran invade Iraq?

What seemed impossible just a few days ago is now on the table for consideration.

One group gets a vote on this issue and it is not the West.

Enter the GCC.

Yes.. Perhaps it’s time the GCC show the world a new day is coming in the Middle East.

Peace is not based on one religion or one sect.

Peace is a goal of all civilized people and perhaps someone is about to show they believe in being civilized.