That was not true and the real problem, as it has always been, is leadership. As the old saying goes, “there are no bad troops, only bad officers.”

 

I don't think I agree.  Certainly bad officers can more easily make a mess of things.. But there are bad troops... and I think blaming things entirely on the officers is a gross oversimplification.

 

"....2011 had since left the military"

 

Where did all these supposedly reliable, trained troops go?  Regular jobs? Unemployment line?  Or perhaps signed up with the various militias or other dubious groups?  (first two.. I have no issue with.. the latter.. and what I think most likely... is a problem)

 

"The unannounced withdrawal of army forces caused a panic among the thousands of police and militia fighters in the city and these forces tended to panic and depart quickly when they found out about the army retreat. "

 

 Panic is not an indication of a well trained / prepared force...

 

"The ISIL advance into Ramadi was such a surprise because ISIL has shown continued inability to defeat organized combat units. "

 

And what does that say about all the regional forces they (ISIL) have completely routed?

 

It would seem that Iran will ignore modern history on the fate of a power subduing and occuping a foreign country by force. The slow incursion into Iraq is better than a quick outright victory over the Iraqis as a lot of the ISIL psychotics will be killed or self immolated for their deity; and take a few Iranian commanders/Quds ops with them.

 

The conquering of Iraq will be great for the 'News' media since big News can use the same stories published during the American interlude. The terms like 'terrorists' need only be changed to 'freedom' fighters', and then find and replace evil 'American' with 'Iranian'. The inevitable Iraqi righteous uprising against the Iranian satans will drag out for decades slowly but steadily eroding Iranian resources, and probably goading the Iranian mad monks into using Nukes against infidels and heretics. Even without nuclear holocaust, the suicide bombers, renamed glorious patriots, will chip away at Iranian troops/assets and decimate the most blatantly fanatic, homicidal Iraqis.

 

As this process evolves, surrounding countries (and distant friends like China) will begin to exert further pressure on Iran and its resources. This fragmentation and dissolution of Muslim theocracies is, after all, now the primary focus of American policy anywhere an Islamic jihad-like mentality exists. It widely reported that only 10-20% of Muslims actively support world domination and conversion or genocide of infidels. Since this only amounts to a paltry 150 to 300 Million self-righteous, there is no reason to be concerned.

 

It is essential that Muslims fanatics be assisted in returning to their oft prayed for 7th Century hallucination which has the following characteristics: ""No arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death: and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short." There is a modern addendum, "no modern military technology."

Some ordered Army to pull out for no reason ? How about sabotage, on purpose ? Iranians seem to be inside Iraqi chain of command, Gen. Soleimani was relieving some Iraqi officers of duty in the past. What if they did it to demonstrate how indispensable their militias are ?

 

>How many People in Iraq can order a Division to retreat ?

 

Exactly.. it shouldn't be a tough question.. I wouldn't think a division commander would accept some random call to retreat...  

 

And considering the division likely had more more manpower / equipment / support... than ISIS could possibly focus in a single area.. someone entrusted with running a division might reasonably be expected to question a "retreat" order on general principle.. 

 

More importantly.. given the well publicized treatment of people under ISIS "rule".... What the ^@&*! .. ^*@^* individual(s).. would abandon their own city and citizens to this.. without even token resistance..

 

 

More importantly.. given the well publicized treatment of people under ISIS "rule".... What the ^@&*! .. ^*@^* individual(s).. would abandon their own city and citizens to this.. without even token resistance..

That's an easy question. Commander is, most likely, Shiite, and citizens are Sunni. He couldn't care less. Or, he might be even more hostile to them than IS is.

 

Here. 

 

One of those responsible was someone named, Fadhil Jalil al-Barwari, commander of a Iraqi special forces brigade who abandoned his post without orders or cause, 

 

 Al Jazeera article. 

 

It's wrong of course. Timidity not speed is the crippler.

 

As Sherman said; "WAR is all hell." So unleash the hell.

 

>That's an easy question.

 

yeah.. you are likely correct.. it's still something I have a hard time wrapping my mind around.. to view an entire group like that..

 

As a poor example... I generally have no use for politicians (almost regardless of group affiliation).. but I think I'd still grab a rifle if the Brit's tried to put DC to the torch again.. and that's absolutely no comparison to what ISIS does to people...

 

Even so.. even if I had no use for the people in the city.. I'd consider what ISIS had done to my fellow cohorts.. (I don't think I'll call them soldiers....) Fighting ISIS.. would seem to be something they could do regardless.. they simply need to be fought..

 

That said.. the various militias don't appear much better (or any better behaved.. in some cases)... guess I just need to give up trying to understand these people... 

Joe, I honestly can't tell who is more friendly or hostile to Sunni population, IS, Shiite militias or Shiite dominated Army. I suppose that average person would prefer to be without any of them. But, they don't get to choose.

Someone might be interested in a piece of information I found om i24 today. The author of the article says that Iran is reluctant to conduct airstrikes against IS because they are afraid they could lose aircraft to IS air defenses. I have always been puzzled why Iran only used ancient F-4 on few rare occasions. I expected them to use their MiG-29's or locally made variants of F-5's. Perhaps they are only willing to risk those old F-4's ?

 

Those air defenses seem to be no problem for US airstrikes. I suppose USAF is dropping precision munitions from beyond the reach of IS air defenses. And, perhaps, Iran might not have such capability.