khad
15th August 2014, 14:18
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/08/14/uk-iraq-security-anbar-exclusive-idUKKBN0GE16J20140814
(Reuters) - The governor of Iraq's Anbar province in the Sunni heartland said he has asked for and secured U.S. support in the battle against Islamic State militants because opponents of the group may not have the stamina for a long fight.
Ahmed Khalaf al-Dulaimi told Reuters that his request, made during meetings with U.S. diplomats and a senior military officer, included air support for battling the militants who have a tight grip on large parts of Anbar and the north.
Dulaimi said the Americans had promised to help.
"Our first goal is the air support. Their technology capability will offer a lot of intelligence information and monitoring of the desert and many things which we are in need of," he said in a telephone interview.
“No date was decided but it will be very soon and there will be a presence for the Americans in the western area," he said.
"I held several meetings since one month ago with the American Embassy and the commander of the central troops all in this regard, and very soon there will be a joint coordination centre and operations in Anbar. They gave a promise," he said.
This is a significant, because so far the US has only rationalized "defensive" operations in support of peoples facing genocide. This announcement of operations in Anbar means that the US for the first time is going on the offensive with the intent of defeating IS.
2 things to note going forward:
1) The Islamic State's prestige and credibility in the Jihadi world, if it wasn't already, is going to reach stratospheric heights. Expect all regional rivals to declare their support for or be absorbed by the Islamic State.
2) It will become apparent that the US Empire cannot maintain its control over Iraq without a permanent military occupation.
(Reuters) - The governor of Iraq's Anbar province in the Sunni heartland said he has asked for and secured U.S. support in the battle against Islamic State militants because opponents of the group may not have the stamina for a long fight.
Ahmed Khalaf al-Dulaimi told Reuters that his request, made during meetings with U.S. diplomats and a senior military officer, included air support for battling the militants who have a tight grip on large parts of Anbar and the north.
Dulaimi said the Americans had promised to help.
"Our first goal is the air support. Their technology capability will offer a lot of intelligence information and monitoring of the desert and many things which we are in need of," he said in a telephone interview.
“No date was decided but it will be very soon and there will be a presence for the Americans in the western area," he said.
"I held several meetings since one month ago with the American Embassy and the commander of the central troops all in this regard, and very soon there will be a joint coordination centre and operations in Anbar. They gave a promise," he said.
This is a significant, because so far the US has only rationalized "defensive" operations in support of peoples facing genocide. This announcement of operations in Anbar means that the US for the first time is going on the offensive with the intent of defeating IS.
2 things to note going forward:
1) The Islamic State's prestige and credibility in the Jihadi world, if it wasn't already, is going to reach stratospheric heights. Expect all regional rivals to declare their support for or be absorbed by the Islamic State.
2) It will become apparent that the US Empire cannot maintain its control over Iraq without a permanent military occupation.