Thread: Obama Declares End to Iraqi War

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon said Friday it was moving to increase the number of American troops in Iraq amid new strikes this week that killed the Islamic State's finance minister and other senior leaders. Still, top U.S. defense officials say the deaths won't "break the back" of the extremist group, which is in a fierce fight for an ancient city in Syria and claimed responsibility for bombing a soccer stadium in Iraq.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter said the U.S. progress in eliminating members of the IS "cabinet" was hampering its ability to conduct and inspire attacks against the West. The announcement came as the battle to retake the Syrian city of Palmyra entered its third day and Iraqi forces continued their march to recapture Mosul. A suicide bombing in a soccer stadium south of Baghdad, killing nearly 30 people, underscored the difficult fight ahead.

Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Pentagon reporters that recommendations on ways to increase U.S. support for Iraq's ground fight against IS will be discussed with President Barack Obama soon.

"The secretary and I both believe that there will be an increase in U.S. forces in Iraq in coming weeks, but that decision hasn't been made," Dunford said. He did not say how big that increase might be.

He and Carter said accelerating the campaign against the Islamic State will include more assistance like the artillery fire and targeting help that U.S. Marines provided earlier this week to Iraqi forces advancing on Mosul. But they said American forces remain well behind the front lines.

"I think there's a lot of reasons for us to be optimistic about the next several months," Dunford said. "But by no means would I say that we're about to break the back of ISIL or that the fight is over."

Using an acronym for the militant group, Carter said the U.S. is "systematically eliminating ISIL's cabinet," killing several key members in strikes this week.

Carter would not provide details about the strikes, but a senior U.S. official said the group's financial minister was killed along with two associates in a U.S. raid in Syria. The official was not authorized to discuss the operations so spoke on condition of anonymity.

Carter said the finance minister, who is known by several names, including Abdul-Rahman Mustafa al-Qaduli and Haji Imam, was a "well-known terrorist" who had a hand in terrorist plots outside of Iraq and Syria.

He said al-Qaduli has been associated with IS dating back to its earliest iteration as al-Qaida in Iraq. He said he had worked under Abu Musab al-Zarqawi as a liaison for operations in Pakistan and was "responsible for some external affairs and plots." Carter said he was not aware of any link between al-Qaduli and this week's terrorist attacks in Brussels.

In a separate operation, a U.S. airstrike in Mosul killed another top IS leader, the official said. Carter identified the man as Abu Sarah and said he was one of the leaders charged with paying militant fighters in northern Iraq.

The successful attacks are part of a string of recent strikes targeting the leadership of the group, which has lost territory in both Iraq and Syria. Earlier this month the Pentagon said it killed Omar al-Shishani, described as the Islamic State's "minister of war," in an airstrike in Syria. In November, the Pentagon said an airstrike in Libya killed Abu Nabil, another top IS leader.

Earlier this week, U.S. military officials confirmed the creation of a Marine outpost, dubbed Fire Base Bell, in Iraq. U.S. Marines operating from the small base provided targeting assistance and artillery fire to support Iraqi troops retaking several villages in the initial stages of their march to Mosul. It's the first such base established by the U.S. since it returned forces to Iraq in 2014.

Carter has also said the U.S. is looking at a number of options to "accelerate" the fight against IS. Those options have not yet officially been submitted to the White House for approval. They could include sending additional U.S. forces to Iraq, using Apache helicopters for combat missions, deploying more U.S. special operations forces or using American military advisers in Iraqi units closer to the front lines.

Asked about the impact of the latest killings, Carter said it was important "but not sufficient."

"Leaders can be replaced," said Carter. "However, these leaders have been around for a long time. They are senior, they are experienced, and so eliminating them is an important objective and it achieves an important result."

In Syria Friday, government forces recaptured a Mamluk-era citadel in Palmyra from the Islamic State, Syrian state media and monitoring groups said. Syrian and Russian warplanes struck at least 56 targets inside IS-held areas of the city and pro-government militias supported the army's advance, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group.

In Iraq, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility after a suicide bomber blew himself up during a match in the small soccer stadium in the city of Iskanderiyah, 30 miles from Baghdad. The attack killed at least 29 people and wounded 60, security officials said.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/...d=ansmsnnews11

We’ve shared here previously the efforts of the U.S. company, Boeing, relating to aircraft sales to Iran. We support the free market, but we don’t support crony capitalism enabled by corrupt government. As well, we don’t support enabling the economic growth of a sworn enemy. However, it appears the Obama administration doesn’t share the same sentiment. Funny… the left always talks about Republicans being in bed with large corporations.

Well, look who’s been doing a little dancing under the sheets now.

As reported by the Washington Free Beacon, “Obama administration officials are orchestrating an international campaign to encourage businesses and governments to reengage in the Iranian marketplace, prompting accusations from leading members of Congress that the White House is behaving as the Islamic Republic’s top global “lobbying shop,” according to conversations with lawmakers and multiple sources tracking the issue.

The administration’s efforts on Iran’s behalf—which go far beyond the requirements under last summer’s nuclear agreement—are said to have pressured the world’s foremost financial task force to reduce counter-terror efforts impacting Iran, despite Tehran’s role as the globe’s top exporter of terrorism. The Financial Action Task Force’s decision coincides with multiple efforts, both public and private, by top U.S. officials to promote increased international trade with Iran.

The pro-Iran effort, which is being helmed by the State Department, has caused internal rifts in the Obama administration among top officials who object to the effort. Top lawmakers are now going on the offensive to combat these efforts following a decision late last week by the FATF, an intergovernmental body that counters money laundering, to roll back measures blocking business with Iran.

Secretary of State John Kerry has been open in recent weeks about his efforts to help Iran’s economy outside of the nuclear accord. “I have personally gone beyond the absolute requirements of the lifting of sanctions to personally engage with banks and businesses and others who have a natural reluctance after several years of sanctions to move without fully understanding what they are allowed to do and what they are not allowed to do,” Kerry said earlier this month.”

This truly earns a “Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot” designation.

Has the Obama administration forgotten Iran is the world’s number one sponsor of Islamic terrorism — oops, perhaps the question should be do they even care?

We have a secretary of state ADMITTING he’s going above and beyond to advance the financial interests of Iran. This is the country that hangs gays. This is the country that imprisons and tortures Christians, and this Obama administration wants to advance its economic growth? Doggone, I wish Obama and Kerry were so adamant about our own economic growth. Obama is seeking to provide Iran an economic stimulus package — while he’s up in Canada blathering on about climate change.

“Sources told the Free Beacon that the Obama administration is moving forward with efforts to provide these businesses with legal cover from sanctions and other measures that could impact their business relations with Iran.

“The Obama administration is now regarded as Iran’s lobbying shop both in Europe, where companies are eager for Washington’s cover to go back into Iran, and on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers blame Treasury officials for lying to them in confidential briefings about sanctions relief,” said one foreign policy adviser who works intimately with Congress on the matter.

“Meanwhile inside the White House the deals’ supporters are so far gone they say they support dropping anti-terror measures against Iran even while they admit that Iran is the world’s foremost state sponsor of terrorism,” the source said. Terrorism experts are warning that the administration’s efforts will open U.S. businesses to involvement in Iran’s export of terror and corruption.”

Sure seems like Barack Obama is so concerned about his “premier foreign policy” achievement success, the Iranian nuclear deal, that he’ll do anything for the Iranians. And let’s be honest, there’s been no change in belligerence and behavior by the rogue Islamist regime. Imagine the message this sends to Israel, supposedly our best ally. Here we are standing by while other nations impose sanctions against Israel — yes, the Obama administration makes weak proclamations — and Obama is actively pursuing investments for Iran. The Obama administration is now in the business of being a venture capitalist for Iran — how amazingly absurd.

But, in a careful analysis, this is not just absurd; it’s truly criminal, and yes, treasonous. How many of our young men and women in uniform were killed or lost limbs due to the explosive force penetrators provided to Islamic jihadists by Iran? And this administration is providing material support and comfort…this administration is aiding and abetting the enemy. Yes, Iran is our enemy. Anyone that promotes propaganda calling for your destruction — well, they ain’t your friend.

This is very disturbing, don’t you think? Our secretary of state is traveling about encouraging capital investment into a terrorist state. Damn, you cannot make this stuff up. Nah, no one is going to be impeached, but what needs to happen is a complete repudiation of Barack Obama and his acolytes with a resounding defeat of these maniacal progressive socialists in November.

And I mean the presidential election, in the House and Senate, statewide elections, and down to county and municipal elections. This cancer has to be crushed.

http://www.allenbwest.com/allen/that...chable-offense

We’ve shared here previously the efforts of the U.S. company, Boeing, relating to aircraft sales to Iran. We support the free market, but we don’t support crony capitalism enabled by corrupt government. As well, we don’t support enabling the economic growth of a sworn enemy. However, it appears the Obama administration doesn’t share the same sentiment. Funny… the left always talks about Republicans being in bed with large corporations.

Well, look who’s been doing a little dancing under the sheets now.

As reported by the Washington Free Beacon, “Obama administration officials are orchestrating an international campaign to encourage businesses and governments to reengage in the Iranian marketplace, prompting accusations from leading members of Congress that the White House is behaving as the Islamic Republic’s top global “lobbying shop,” according to conversations with lawmakers and multiple sources tracking the issue.

The administration’s efforts on Iran’s behalf—which go far beyond the requirements under last summer’s nuclear agreement—are said to have pressured the world’s foremost financial task force to reduce counter-terror efforts impacting Iran, despite Tehran’s role as the globe’s top exporter of terrorism. The Financial Action Task Force’s decision coincides with multiple efforts, both public and private, by top U.S. officials to promote increased international trade with Iran.

The pro-Iran effort, which is being helmed by the State Department, has caused internal rifts in the Obama administration among top officials who object to the effort. Top lawmakers are now going on the offensive to combat these efforts following a decision late last week by the FATF, an intergovernmental body that counters money laundering, to roll back measures blocking business with Iran.

Secretary of State John Kerry has been open in recent weeks about his efforts to help Iran’s economy outside of the nuclear accord. “I have personally gone beyond the absolute requirements of the lifting of sanctions to personally engage with banks and businesses and others who have a natural reluctance after several years of sanctions to move without fully understanding what they are allowed to do and what they are not allowed to do,” Kerry said earlier this month.”

This truly earns a “Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot” designation.

Has the Obama administration forgotten Iran is the world’s number one sponsor of Islamic terrorism — oops, perhaps the question should be do they even care?

We have a secretary of state ADMITTING he’s going above and beyond to advance the financial interests of Iran. This is the country that hangs gays. This is the country that imprisons and tortures Christians, and this Obama administration wants to advance its economic growth? Doggone, I wish Obama and Kerry were so adamant about our own economic growth. Obama is seeking to provide Iran an economic stimulus package — while he’s up in Canada blathering on about climate change.

“Sources told the Free Beacon that the Obama administration is moving forward with efforts to provide these businesses with legal cover from sanctions and other measures that could impact their business relations with Iran.

“The Obama administration is now regarded as Iran’s lobbying shop both in Europe, where companies are eager for Washington’s cover to go back into Iran, and on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers blame Treasury officials for lying to them in confidential briefings about sanctions relief,” said one foreign policy adviser who works intimately with Congress on the matter.

“Meanwhile inside the White House the deals’ supporters are so far gone they say they support dropping anti-terror measures against Iran even while they admit that Iran is the world’s foremost state sponsor of terrorism,” the source said. Terrorism experts are warning that the administration’s efforts will open U.S. businesses to involvement in Iran’s export of terror and corruption.”

Sure seems like Barack Obama is so concerned about his “premier foreign policy” achievement success, the Iranian nuclear deal, that he’ll do anything for the Iranians. And let’s be honest, there’s been no change in belligerence and behavior by the rogue Islamist regime. Imagine the message this sends to Israel, supposedly our best ally. Here we are standing by while other nations impose sanctions against Israel — yes, the Obama administration makes weak proclamations — and Obama is actively pursuing investments for Iran. The Obama administration is now in the business of being a venture capitalist for Iran — how amazingly absurd.

But, in a careful analysis, this is not just absurd; it’s truly criminal, and yes, treasonous. How many of our young men and women in uniform were killed or lost limbs due to the explosive force penetrators provided to Islamic jihadists by Iran? And this administration is providing material support and comfort…this administration is aiding and abetting the enemy. Yes, Iran is our enemy. Anyone that promotes propaganda calling for your destruction — well, they ain’t your friend.

This is very disturbing, don’t you think? Our secretary of state is traveling about encouraging capital investment into a terrorist state. Damn, you cannot make this stuff up. Nah, no one is going to be impeached, but what needs to happen is a complete repudiation of Barack Obama and his acolytes with a resounding defeat of these maniacal progressive socialists in November.

And I mean the presidential election, in the House and Senate, statewide elections, and down to county and municipal elections. This cancer has to be crushed.

http://www.allenbwest.com/allen/that...chable-offense