In Iraq, the operation to liberate or 'liberate' Mosul is now on day 44.
Hayder al-Abadi is insisting it will (finally) wrap up by the end of the year.
This despite Elise Labott of CNN making like she was at a county fair pig hollering contest by hollering "NO!" in the midst of an October State Dept press briefing when a reporter offered that it was a slog.
It's not a slog?
Day 44 and it's not a slog, Elise?
Mosul was seized by the Islamic State in June of 2014.
Despite having over two years to plan an effort, the Baghdad based-government and the White House did not bother to factor in the refugees that would be created by this effort or the suffering of the civilians who remained in Mosul.
WORLD BULLETIN notes, "Up to 500,000 civilians in Mosul face a 'catastrophic' drinking water shortage as Iraqi forces advance on the ISIL group in the city, the United Nations warned on Wednesday." AL JAZEERA adds:
"We are facing a humanitarian catastrophe," said Hussam al-Abar, member of Mosul's Nineveh provincial council, adding that 1.5 million people were still inside Mosul.
"Basic services such as water, electricity, health, food are non-existent."
AFP notes, "Some residents said the sudden water shortage was caused by air strikes from the US-led coalition that damaged the main carrier bringing water from the western side of the city."
So not only are they suffering, some are saying it's because of the US-led coalition.
(It may or may not be because of the US-led coalition. That'll be determined at a later date most likely. Right now, the point is that the actions of the US-led coalition have been so destructive that some residents believe this is also their fault.)
The refugees, the ones who have made it out?
They're not fairing any better.
BBC News (World)
Iraq refugees: 'We are dying here. The dirt is consuming us.'
Where was the planning?
Why wasn't the US State Dept leading on this?
Where's the outcry?
None of that troubles Elise Labott.
The woman who wants to be the third Mrs. John Kerry is too busy lusting after the Secretary of State -- doubt it, check out her Twitter feed.
Secretary @JohnKerry comments on U.S. leadership at #WFPG2016.
This is the speech where Kerry gets his little jab in.
Not mentioning @realDonaldTrump by name, @JohnKerry aims criticism toward using "pithy tweets" to address global concerns @medillonthehill
Pithy Tweets?
Poor John.
For years he wanted to be America's chief diplomatic officer.
The highest he made was Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
But then he got it, he finally got it.
And once he became Secretary of State -- possibly still hurting over the mocking of his war record -- all he wanted to do was pretend he was Secretary of Defense.
And as he leaves office, all he wants is full out war with Syria.
John Kerry was supposed to prize diplomacy and offer a sure hand but instead he lurched around the globe like . . . Well, like Lurch on THE ADAM'S FAMILY.
And US President Barack Obama was forced to ice John out of key decisions and to elevate Brett McGurk to a higher post and, for all practical purposes, let Brett be Secretary of State.
Disgraced and with his tail between his legs, John will soon be heading home.
If only John had confined himself to Tweets -- pithy or otherwise -- the world might be a safer place. Instead, he was constantly trying to egg on war -- with Syria, with Russia . . .
What a sad and embarrassing end to the career of a one-time grandstander (tossing those medals doesn't look so brave now as John ends his career, it just looks like another example of rank hypocrisy -- and that was the best moment in his life).
He'll be the one who looked the other way as War Crimes took place in Iraq -- carried out by the people the White House supported.
- Iraqi army crimes
عاجل الحشد الشيعي الارهابي يذبح العراقيون السنه التركمان في تلعفر
تطهير عرقي واباده جماعيه بتواطىء ودعم
حسبنا الله - pics from Tal Afar
Genocide and ethnic cleansing
Iraqi Sunnis civilians killed by Iraqi army
#Warcrimes
#MosulAid
#MosulOffensive
#IRAQ شمرية العراق
John Kerry is an embarrassment and will have to live with the shame of his inactions for years to come.
Isaiah's THE WORLD TODAY JUST NUTS "Recount" went up last night and the following community sites updated:
The world's assassins
9 hours ago
Tuesday
9 hours ago
QUANTI-NO!!!!
9 hours ago
Standing Rock
9 hours ago
Things to do
9 hours ago
Disappointed in Stein
9 hours ago
Cold hard truth
9 hours ago
Nonsense
10 hours ago
And we'll close with this press release
Indie singer and decorated war veteran, John Preston,
will release his new song, Superman Falls, for presale mid-December.
Preston said, “My whole purpose in life is to create music that heals
the souls of veterans who have served. It is a battle every day for so
many to stay mentally healthy after serving our country. There are too
many men and women who have fought for our freedom that end up taking
their lives because of depression and PTSD. This cycle needs to stop.
Working in partnership with the Valkyrie Initiative to release this song
has been a step in the right direction in helping those who need
healing. I am truly grateful for this opportunity.”
Preston has had his life experience with PTSD
after returning from Iraq. He struggled with alcohol and depression for
15 years before pulling himself out of it. His brother was not as lucky;
he ended up taking his life in January. “My brother was so strong
mentally and physically I just didn’t see his suicide coming,” said
Preston. “We are taught in the military not to show weakness, but they
need to know it’s okay to ask for help. I don’t want anyone ever to
think they are weak because they have PTSD and need some extra support
services.”
Preston partnered with the Valkyrie Initiative
because it is a non-profit aligned with his purpose to help veterans
with Post Traumatic Stress by treating the mind, body, and soul. The
proceeds from the CD will all go to help fund programs for Veterans. The
CD will feature ten artists and 14 tracks. Some of the other well-known
artists include Dave Bray, the Scooter Brown Band, Ryan Weaver, and Dee
Rock.
About the Valkyrie Initiative:
It is a non-profit dedicated to the to successfully facilitating the transition of Veterans, First Responders and their families using jobs and life skills training, animal therapy, systems education, and stress reduction for those who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress.
It is a non-profit dedicated to the to successfully facilitating the transition of Veterans, First Responders and their families using jobs and life skills training, animal therapy, systems education, and stress reduction for those who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress.
About Singer John Preston:
John Preston is a Pacific Records recording artist and full-time firefighter. Preston was a Marine Corps field wireman from 2000 to 2004 achieving the rank of Sergeant in his 4 years of service and with Second Battalion Seventh Marines (2/7) served as a mission squad leader for 2/7 H&S running over 100 combat missions while in theater.
John Preston is a Pacific Records recording artist and full-time firefighter. Preston was a Marine Corps field wireman from 2000 to 2004 achieving the rank of Sergeant in his 4 years of service and with Second Battalion Seventh Marines (2/7) served as a mission squad leader for 2/7 H&S running over 100 combat missions while in theater.
John began his music career while in Iraq
writing his song "Good Good America" which became an overnight success
and gave him his first shot at the music industry signing a record deal
upon his return from Iraq. The song and video inspired by Iraqi school
children was a national media topic and was viewed hundreds of thousands
of times in 2004.
John returned to the music industry in 2014
signing with Pacific Records and quickly releasing his first single
"this IS war" in October of 2014. The song also became a national media
topic when the Marine veteran made a call to action to veterans across
the nation to stand against ISIS which had just made a surge through
Syria and Iraq. The music video had thousands of views and secured a
second release with Pacific Records.
Later in 2014, Preston released his Los
Angeles Music Awards nominated EP "Your War is Over.” In 2015, he
released in the Top 100 New Alternative Albums chart with his second EP
"Day to Night." The album released on the one-year anniversary of the
death of the Marine for whom he had written the song. John's video for
Day to Night has had hundreds of thousands of views.
John's life took a turn of tragic irony when
in January of 2016 his brother fell victim to post-traumatic stress and
took his own life. The passing of his brother was enough to make him
consider ending his career, but has instead fueled his passion.
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