The Common Ills: 2017-10-08

Saturday, October 14, 2017

Hayder the liar al-Abadi

He said that the Iraqi army would never attack the citizens of Iraq.

He said that on Friday, in fact, "Our forces cannot and will not attack our citizens, Arab or Kurd."

And 24 hours later?

‏ @iraqiinfo_eng

#Iraq demands the withdrawal of #Kurdish forces from areas occupied since 2014 including #Kirkuk by 02:00 or they will be taken forcibly.

4 replies11 retweets12 likes

IRAQI DAY took sides yesterday and has continued to. In a recent Tweet, the outlet offered:

‏ @iraq_day

The #Peshmerga said “ we will teach the #PMU a lesson if they advance toward our positions”

#ISIS said the same thing & look what happened.

12 replies27 retweets62 likes

What happened to ISIS?

Oh, right, the US-led coalition bombed them (and thousands of civilians) to death.

Let's not pretend that the militias -- let alone the Iraqi military -- accomplished anything significant.

The US military judgment is that Iraqi forces can still not defend Iraq.

The Peshmerga?

It has defended northern Iraq -- which is why that portion of Iraq has had relative peace over the last 14 years.

So boast away, IRAQI DAY, but it's an empty boast based on what's happened.

That doesn't mean the militias would lose in a face off with the Peshmerga.

But it could happen.

And if it does?

‏ @nadiabelush

Baghdad's inability to defeat the #Kurds politically & militarily will encourage many other groups in Iraq to seek autonomy or independence.

1 reply9 retweets6 likes

So this is where it stands?

‏Verified account @KRSCPress

Iraqi forces have threatened to attack Peshmerga positions in South West of Kirkuk at midnight unless all forces stand down.

41 replies355 retweets363 likes

And the US government's response?

‏Verified account @ABCPolitics

Defense Sec. Mattis urges Iraqi and Kurdish Peshmerga forces to focus on defeating ISIS, not fighting each other http://abcn.ws/2z7R2qm 

5 replies11 retweets14 likes

All out war could break out.

Where's the US response?

Brett McGurk, the Special Envoy to Iraq, hasn't Tweeted in two days -- maybe he's working on the issue?

Bayan Sami Rahman Retweeted

Sarhang Hamasaeed‏ @sarhangsalar 3 hours ago

My piece w/ @elie022. Need 4 direct talks & int'l community role 2 prevent violence post #Kurdistanreferendum. #Iraq

7 retweets7 likes
Bayan Sami Rahman Retweeted

Dlawer Ala'Aldeen‏Verified account @Dlawer 17 hours ago

Either side can start a war but neither side can end it. An all-out war means the END of the political process in Baghdad & the END of Iraq

4 replies77 retweets173 likes
Bayan Sami Rahman Retweeted

Walid Phares‏Verified account @WalidPhares 13 hours ago

Pr @realDonaldTrump should invite IraqiPM & KRGPres 2 CampDavid 2 discuss & resolve the crisis peacefully under US mediation @HouseForeign

6 replies27 retweets48 likes