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Iraqi forces launch operation for Kurdish-held oil fields, military base

Bum

Bum

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BAGHDAD — Clashes broke out early Monday as Iraqi forces moved to recapture Kurdish-held oil fields and a military base near the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, after demanding that they return to the positions they occupied before collapsing in the face of an Islamic State advance three years ago.

Iraqi forces launch operation for Kurdish-held oil fields, military base

Who didn't see this coming? The US insistence of backing two opposing sides meant it was just a matter of time before it turned to open conflict.

I hope this can be resolved without US troops getting between these two groups......it didn't work very well when we attempted to get between the Shia/Sunni groups in Iraq previously.
 
Polar Bum said:
BAGHDAD — Clashes broke out early Monday as Iraqi forces moved to recapture Kurdish-held oil fields and a military base near the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, after demanding that they return to the positions they occupied before collapsing in the face of an Islamic State advance three years ago.

Iraqi forces launch operation for Kurdish-held oil fields, military base

Who didn't see this coming? The US insistence of backing two opposing sides meant it was just a matter of time before it turned to open conflict.

I hope this can be resolved without US troops getting between these two groups......it didn't work very well when we attempted to get between the Shia/Sunni groups in Iraq previously.
Click to expand...
Sunnie Iraqis now fighting Kurdish who would have seen that coming
 
Polar Bum said:
BAGHDAD — Clashes broke out early Monday as Iraqi forces moved to recapture Kurdish-held oil fields and a military base near the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, after demanding that they return to the positions they occupied before collapsing in the face of an Islamic State advance three years ago.

Iraqi forces launch operation for Kurdish-held oil fields, military base

Who didn't see this coming? The US insistence of backing two opposing sides meant it was just a matter of time before it turned to open conflict.

I hope this can be resolved without US troops getting between these two groups......it didn't work very well when we attempted to get between the Shia/Sunni groups in Iraq previously.
Click to expand...

Those Iraqi forces will find they bit off more than they can chew. The Kurds have gotten quite a lot of experience fighting ISIS and they won't give up those oil fields.
 
iguanaman said:
Those Iraqi forces will find they bit off more than they can chew. The Kurds have gotten quite a lot of experience fighting ISIS and they won't give up those oil fields.
Click to expand...

I am all too aware of that fact....when I was in Iraq the Kurds were actually the more professional of the two groups, and I never worried about turning my back on them.

Iraqi's? Not so much.

But I think the more pertinent issue is how the US will handle it.....back off completely, get involved as a negotiator, or pick a side....and none of those options are appealing.
 
iguanaman said:
Those Iraqi forces will find they bit off more than they can chew. The Kurds have gotten quite a lot of experience fighting ISIS and they won't give up those oil fields.
Click to expand...

This is exactly what a lot of folks expected would happen once it was clear that the vast majority of the best Iraq forces were getting eaten up in MOSUL. Which was the OBAMA plan for those who dont recall, that the Golden Division had to be sacrificed to get MOSUL, they being the only force with a chance to hold the place together, which has always been the AMERICAN PLAN.

What a mess, Putin must be enjoying this on some level.
 
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Polar Bum said:
I am all too aware of that fact....when I was in Iraq the Kurds were actually the more professional of the two groups, and I never worried about turning my back on them.

Iraqi's? Not so much.

But I think the more pertinent issue is how the US will handle it.....back off completely, get involved as a negotiator, or pick a side....and none of those options are appealing.
Click to expand...

When our plans turn to dust like this the main result is that we lose credibility and influence.

AGAIN
 
Polar Bum said:
BAGHDAD — Clashes broke out early Monday as Iraqi forces moved to recapture Kurdish-held oil fields and a military base near the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, after demanding that they return to the positions they occupied before collapsing in the face of an Islamic State advance three years ago.

Iraqi forces launch operation for Kurdish-held oil fields, military base

Who didn't see this coming? The US insistence of backing two opposing sides meant it was just a matter of time before it turned to open conflict.

I hope this can be resolved without US troops getting between these two groups.....
.it didn't work very well when we attempted to get between the Shia/Sunni groups in Iraq previously.
Click to expand...
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It worked out great for the Shia regime in Iran when The USA put their Shia brothers in charge of Iraq.

:lol:

The majority of the Muslims on this planet are Sunnis.Saudi Arabia and the Kurdish people are Sunni.

Think about that a little bit.
 
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Hawkeye10 said:
This is exactly what a lot of folks expected would happen once it was clear that the vast majority of the best Iraq forces were getting eaten up in MOSUL. Which was the OBAMA plan for those who dont recall, that the Golden Division had to be sacrificed to get MOSUL, they being the only force with a chance to hold the place together, which has always been the AMERICAN PLAN.

What a mess, Putin must be enjoying this on some level.
Click to expand...

Actually the Shia Iraqi forces ran from Mosul mostly because they wouldn't fight for Sunnis or Sunni areas. Americans were not calling the shots since we got kicked out by the Shia terrorist Maliki that Bush installed as President. That was Bush's "plan". But yes we are not in favor of a divided Iraq but I expect the Kurds to demand their "semi-autonomous area" status and will get it. They will not stand for Baghdad stealing their oil money either.
 
The Iraqi government wants the revenue from the Kirkuk oil fields. The real question is what happens then?

Will Baghdad forces keep advancing to militarily crush the Iraqi Kurdish declaration of independence?

Waiting to see how the region/world reacts to the situation in northern Iraq is Erdogan of Turkey.

Then he will decide how to crush the Rojava (northern Syria) Kurdish cantons of (Efrin/Jazira/Kobane).

If the US abandons the Rojava Kurd's, Erdogan will opt for either brutal military occupation or massive ethnic cleansing.

These are the Kurdish militia's (YPG/YPJ) that have been defeating ISIS in Syria with assistance from US special forces.

rojava_march_2016.png

This week the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) composed mostly of Kurdish militia will capture the ISIS capital city of Raqqa
 
Rogue Valley said:
The Iraqi government wants the revenue from the Kirkuk oil fields. The real question is what happens then?

Will Baghdad forces keep advancing to militarily crush the Iraqi Kurdish declaration of independence?

Waiting to see how the region/world reacts to the situation in northern Iraq is Erdogan of Turkey.

Then he will decide how to crush the Rojava (northern Syria) Kurdish cantons of (Efrin/Jazira/Kobane).

If the US abandons the Rojava Kurd's, Erdogan will opt for either brutal military occupation or massive ethnic cleansing.

These are the Kurdish militia's (YPG/YPJ) that have been defeating ISIS in Syria with assistance from US special forces.

rojava_march_2016.png

This week the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) composed mostly of Kurdish militia will capture the ISIS capital city of Raqqa
Click to expand...
.
If Iraq doesn’t prevent Iraqi Kurdish independence Turkey will. With no guarantee Turkey will leave over the medium term at least. Should Turkey, Iran and Iraq agree outside assistance to the Kurds would not occur without potential war
 
iguanaman said:
Actually the Shia Iraqi forces ran from Mosul mostly because they wouldn't fight for Sunnis or Sunni areas. Americans were not calling the shots since we got kicked out by the Shia terrorist Maliki that Bush installed as President. That was Bush's "plan". But yes we are not in favor of a divided Iraq but I expect the Kurds to demand their "semi-autonomous area" status and will get it. They will not stand for Baghdad stealing their oil money either.
Click to expand...

I have no idea where you were attempting to go but this is what I was talking about:

How Iraq’s Army Could Defeat ISIS in Mosul—But Lose Control of the Country - POLITICO Magazine

The Kurds are very aware that the Iraq Government is weak now, which is why they did the referendum even though pretty much everyone tried to talk them out of it, because they think now is the time to make a move. I am not quite sure what makes them think that Turkey is going go let them keep selling oil though, in spite of this:
And Baghdad's own northern output is at risk. After losing its pipeline to Turkey, the Iraqi government has been shipping crude produced by its North Oil Company through the Kurdish infrastructure. However two-faced officials must be about the operation -- they denounce oil sales by the KRG as illegal -- they've got no choice but to use it during the long period it will take to develop an alternative.Kurdistan is clearly in a very vulnerable position. It is heavily dependent on revenues from oil exports, but those in turn are entirely dependent on transit across Turkey. There is no other viable route to get Kurdish crude to international markets in any meaningful quantity.
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https://www.bloomberg.com/gadfly/ar...distraction-the-urgent-problem-is-kurdish-oil
 
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Hawkeye10 said:
I have no idea where you were attempting to go but this is what I was talking about:

How Iraq’s Army Could Defeat ISIS in Mosul—But Lose Control of the Country - POLITICO Magazine


The Kurds are very aware that the Iraq Government is weak now, which is why they did the referendum even though pretty much everyone tried to talk them out of it, because they think now is the time to make a move. I am not quite sure what makes them think that Turkey is going go let them keep selling oil though, in spite of this:

https://www.bloomberg.com/gadfly/ar...distraction-the-urgent-problem-is-kurdish-oil
Click to expand...

I was giving you a little history lesson, you need a program to know the players.
Turkey is what will force the Kurds to remain part of Iraq. They will agree to the semi-autonomous State that they have had for years. It may expand to include parts of Syria too. The Kurds are our best friends in the ME but given Trumps love for the Turkish dictator he may order the U.S. military to fight them, unfortunately. It will not end well if that is the case.
 
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iguanaman said:
I was giving you a little history lesson, you need a program to know the players.
Turkey is what will force the Kurds to remain part of Iraq.
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What makes you think they would be successful? (or indeed foolish enough to try) they still havent been able to keep a lid on their own Kurdish region after 30 years. I expect any attempt to occupy Iraq long term would be Turkeys Vietnam.
 
Red_Dave said:
What makes you think they would be successful? (or indeed foolish enough to try) they still havent been able to keep a lid on their own Kurdish region after 30 years. I expect any attempt to occupy Iraq long term would be Turkeys Vietnam.
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Only Turkey, being an authoritarian regime, would be more than willing to roll out the tanks on any attempt at a protest movement.
 
Red_Dave said:
What makes you think they would be successful? (or indeed foolish enough to try) they still havent been able to keep a lid on their own Kurdish region after 30 years. I expect any attempt to occupy Iraq long term would be Turkeys Vietnam.
Click to expand...

Haven't you heard? Endokan is despotic maniac who will use the persecution of the Kurds to rally his troops. The Kurd are wise to that and will choose to stay as a semi-automous part of Iraq. Trump will not be able to get his Generals to help the Iraqi's against our ally even if he tries. Therefore, IMO Baghdad will make a deal with the Kurds to stay.
 
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