Monday, October 06, 2014

More bombings, more plagiarism, very little diplomacy

Dutch News reports, "Dutch F-16 fighter jets were in action above Iraq this weekend but did not use any weapons, the defence ministry said on Sunday evening." However, they are expected to begin bombing later this week.

What a proud moment for them, joining the failed 'plan' after it's obvious to everyone that the plan is a failure.


Daniel Hurst (Guardian) reports that Australia's Minister of Defense David Johnston is stating the Islamic State "will adapt very quickly" to the bombings -- a point the US military made last week, not as a prediction but as a comment on what was already happening.


If that's news to you, check out the September 30th press briefing at the Pentagon where spokesperson Rear Adm Jack Kirby declared:


 We've been pretty honest about the fact that military action alone will not win this effort, but that shouldn't be taken as an admission of ineffectiveness, and one of the ways we know we're having an effect is precisely because the terrorists have had to change their tactics and their communications and their command and control.  Yes, they're blending in more. Yes, they're dispersing, and yes they aren't communicating quite as openly or as boldly as they once were. That's a good thing, because if they aren't operating as freely, then they aren't as free to achieve their goals.
That doesn't mean ISIL doesn't still pose a threat. It doesn't mean they aren't still trying and in some cases succeeding at taking and holding ground. No one said this would be easy or quick, and no one should be lulled into a false sense of security by accurate airstrikes. We will not, we cannot bomb them into obscurity.


Guess Johnston has to pretend otherwise in order to justify sending Australian fighter jets into a losing battle?



Actually, sending Australian forces to do a lot more than that.  David Wroe (Sydney Morning Herald) reports, "Australian special forces have been cleared to start work on the ground in Iraq, helping local troops as they face the grinding task of driving Islamic State fighters out of their stronghold towns and cities."

The United States escalated its involvement yesterday, sending helicopters into combat against targets west of Baghdad — the first time low-flying Army aircraft have engaged in President Obama’s new campaign in Iraq, despite promises it would not include “boots on the ground.”
Until yesterday, U.S. airstrikes in Iraq had involved Air Force and Navy jets and drones. The use of the low, slow-flying helicopters also suggests the security situation in Iraq’s Anbar province is deteriorating. Last week, the Islamic State terrorists overran numerous Iraqi bases and towns.


Wait, Boston Herald.

I'm confused.

Not by what you or 'you' wrote, but by your byline.

The Sydney Morning Herald carries a report by Mitchell Prothero with that same passage.

And of course, many McClatchy Newspapers and their websites are carrying the story in today's print editions and online yesterday in Mitchell Prothero's article (for McClatchy).


Oh well.  They say all is fair in love and war -- apparently that now includes plagiarism.

Well the BBC did rip off Reuters last week . . .



And the failures continue to pile up.  How's that political solution coming?

You know, the one Barack's now spent months (yes, months -- plural, it's been that long) insisting is the only thing that will solve the current problems in Iraq?

Well there is news on the US and the diplomatic effort.

Time was taken out of measuring each others' dicks and seeing who would join in with bombs from the sky to work the phones and speak to other countries.  And the effort actually got international attention -- for example, here at Alsumaria.

Of course, it's US Vice President Joe Biden.

And, of course, his calls to the UAE and Turkey are not about how to help Iraq become more inclusive and work towards a political solution.  No, Joe's making calls to apologize for declaring the two governments supported terrorism.

And it's not just the US that's failed and continues to fail to help promote a political solution.  It's also the Iraqi government whose prime minister seems to feel that his duties include spitting out claims about attacks outside of Iraq, wearing a sash and posing for photos.

Is anyone other than Amar al-Hakim, leader of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, working to build a dialogue with all sides?

Doesn't really look like it.



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