Al-Qaeda-linked force captures Fallujah amid rise in violence in Iraq

Well... This isn't the happiest start to the new year, to be sure.

BEIRUT — A rejuvenated al-Qaeda-affiliated force asserted control over the western Iraqi city of Fallujah on Friday, raising its flag over government buildings and declaring an Islamic state in one of the most crucial areas that U.S. troops fought to pacify before withdrawing from Iraq two years ago.

The capture of Fallujah came amid an explosion of violence across the western desert province of Anbar in which local tribes, Iraqi security forces and al-Qaeda-affiliated militants have been fighting one another for days in a confusingly chaotic three-way war.

It's a heck of a legacy to have left behind .... especially given that city in particular and the cost associated with having taken and re-taken it. That is one place where Al Qaeda did actually fight as I've understood events to have come about. So to read this ...

“At the moment, there is no presence of the Iraqi state in Fallujah,” said a local journalist who asked not to be named because he fears for his safety. “The police and the army have abandoned the city, al-Qaeda has taken down all the Iraqi flags and burned them, and it has raised its own flag on all the buildings.”

Source: The Washington Post

It's downright depressing. It's come ALMOST full circle to Vietnam and damned if it isn't ALMOST to the same time frame too, for Iraq at least. Iraq is still getting U.S. military assistance ..for however long that continues. The US still has contractors there, as far as I know. It still has the largest Embassy in the world in Baghdad.

I hope that one has better rooftops than Saigon did. The famous picture wasn't even the Embassy proper, as I recall reading about it. I hope we don't see the full circle close for repetition this time.

Tell me again why we invaded Iraq?
(I think I missed that memo....)

I think we are looking for it to come full circle just as you fear. We can not expect to go in (to any country) and change things to the way we think they should be, get tired, bored, mission (get oil or whatever) accomplished and then go home without things like this happening. We know it will... but it doesn't matter to those in the position where it should.

Collateral Damage is such a disgusting concept that it's astonishing to me how anyone can go to sleep at night with their hands bloody from it.

It's more than tragic.

reply to post by nugget1


Whatever it started as sure had no resemblance to what it ended as, so does it even matter anymore? (sigh)

What a mess it became....and probably never really had a chance to have worked.

OK this has had a day. Thank you for finally greening it up. While McCain has suffered a blow on another thread and how he was elected..( slurping coco )... don't you feel like the guys that served are In vain because we left. Now this.. 9/11 and years of war..then wow john madden.. did you see that...

It is only my opinion.. happy we brought them home...but look at how fast the tide changed...I caught the story earlier today.. and I mean O'dark 30. I feel It was a win less war from the start...the 90's when my father went...

So do we let it unfold..or is this the prez last chance to maintain control...

NOTE: I did not feel Barry was ever in control....only a hussy fit... yet no control....

(((( slurrrrrrrp))))))... coco good...stars are pretty.
Yep still outside..Jupiter almost out of view...what a night!

Also I looked the last 2 days and the water marks on Google maps states 2013...fresh u.s. base pics. Well after we pulled out. But we are there. Why no push to keep the peace...(((slurrrrrp)))). Man why not stop it if the chance was there.

Unless its what Iraq wanted? Did they?

So when are all of the liberals going to come in to preach the need to go into Iraq?

blah- war sucks. terrorists suck. governments suck.

I really dont know what to say, this is just beyond depressing.

The police force are on the outskirts of the city from what I heard.

Obama needs his poll numbers to go up- If we go back in- do you think it will actually help his credibility?

Me- Ive always been one to say that we have no buisness in the middle east anymore, all we are doing is fueling the fire.

Maybe we should let someone else take over ? I really dont know.

reply to post by Wrabbit2000


Then our servicemen and women died for nothing.

Common Good
So when are all of the liberals going to come in to preach the need to go into Iraq?

blah- war sucks. terrorists suck. governments suck.

I really dont know what to say, this is just beyond depressing.

The police force are on the outskirts of the city from what I heard.

Obama needs his poll numbers to go up- If we go back in- do you think it will actually help his credibility?

Me- Ive always been one to say that we have no buisness in the middle east anymore, all we are doing is fueling the fire.

Maybe we should let someone else take over ? I really dont know.

Hmmm...OK. Russia? I agree with you...but who....Canada? Or let it work itself our? (((((Slurrrrp)))))...we failed them.

Iraq, the worlds training mecca for fanatics.

I wonder if random magazines in the middle east feature small classified ad's promising a) regular income to send to your mum and b) a subscription to fight for Allah!

Fallujah, what a horrible rats nest. Imagine a dream,
IRAQ FALLUJAH! You're abandoned on the main road, late, unarmed.. waiting for those Iraqi terrorists to see you.. what do you do?

reply to post by Bigburgh


Russia? Obama would have a hissy fit- he would rather risk the lives of more Americans rather than to be
embarrassed AGAIN by Putin.

Maybe the UN should take action?

Like I said- i dont know.

IMO- all those American lives that were lost over there- for what? We are right back where we started- only this time it is way worse.

starwarsisreal
reply to post by Wrabbit2000

 

Then our servicemen and women died for nothing.

Josh Byers! That's right! He died. IED. We were good friends...I will look at stars tonight and think of him....

By the way it is 308 am and coco good...

But I feel ashamed I let those guys fight for nothing...

Wrabbit2000
reply to post by nugget1

 

Whatever it started as sure had no resemblance to what it ended as, so does it even matter anymore? (sigh)

What a mess it became....and probably never really had a chance to have worked.

Sigh...we agree..so it was all for nothing..wow ATS IS REALLY BUMMING MY HOT COCO AND TELESCOPE TONIGHT.

Nope I enjoy those fond memories of good people from my past...who died in IRAG..sorry spell check...but I'm gonna let that slide. IRAQ..

I unfortunately have become jaded with war...I know it is a necessary evil....but is there a better solution...can't lower west massage parlor broker deals with a better ending? You know where everyone's happy?

OK coco no good anymore....my eyes are cold and foggy.. I resume inside! Then sleep.

reply to post by Common Good


Yep!

As you were writing..as was I! We too agree!
Though I am disappointed...I I feel war sucks...it is a loss.

Star for you! O avatar that collects money!

Edit..I'm going to blow over this...yet feel it's not over...

Bang! Here is our next again war folks.....logging out and slurrping coco....you
All stay sharp...

I will stay lubed for the next Gen ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? (Insert political agenda -----> HERE

Exactly like Vietnam. This is hauntingly sad and depressing. The past decade was chock full of war and destruction and it's like it was all for nothing.

The Islamic front i assume to be international terrorists and Sunni militias, along with perhaps some tribe or so who in reality are fighting everybody...that correct?
Maybe this is too much of a test of Malikis leadership as in Basra, but perhaps too wide a split is breaking between the main contestants to solidify either form of revolt.
Surely the Shia will be reacting and they are the majority....no?

This war on terror and Arab spring has been an absolute disaster for the west. I don't think we have improved the lives of anyone. Not in the regions we went to "liberate" and not back in our own countries. It actually couldn't have been handled any worse.

The Middle East is more unstable, Al Qaeda, more powerful, more innocent lives lost, more refugees heading to Europe. An increase in surveillance and draconian security measures in our own countries and flagging economies.

If you had to ask who was winning? You'd have to say Al Qaeda.

reply to post by Bigburgh


Not collecting money- its Obama stealing peoples money. Honest mistake =)

But you are right- this is a crap situation. I think we can all agree on this.

Part of me wonders now- all of those cries to leave Iraq when we did- was it really a good idea at the time?
I dont want our people there anymore- but was us leaving- or being there in the first place the cause for this to happen?

I just cant believe it. Or can I? thats how confused I am. Im really at a loss- and cant figure it out. Ive never felt so ashamed that we didnt leave that place with focus of them being able to handle the situation on their own.
All of that training we gave to iraqi soldiers- all of the lives lost- I am really really sad about this situation.

Here is to hoping that someone else steps up to combat this problem- because America is at a crossroads right now- we really need our allies on this one.

reply to post by Common Good


Well we are way beyond the cross road... heck we took a left in somewhere new Mexico looking for pismo beach. Sorry gnawing on fudge chocolate with bugs bunny..not me...but the upper gov decided too intervene and bail on the little guy..then leave them out numbered. After some one here said..Wrabbit I think... inflamed fuel.

The U.S. left them with a KFC,BURGER KING,TACO BELL...and a crap load of angry militants..

I failed them...it is my fault for taking what I have for granted..my friends died...their people died because we stepped in...then left...

Let me be clear...failure was not conceived by stepping in...( my opinion. Not anyone here in ATS). Failure occurred when when the U.S. stepped in as it's voice objective..and not the local folks. Then leaving the check!.

Does not matter who the next guy in office was or is. We...no... I did not speak up and left them out to dry....

edit: the soldiers had a task...but were yanked out...yet happy to come home..as friends and family we happy..they spent months at risk. For nothing it feels now..why risk them then?

reply to post by Kangaruex4Ewe


why not, it's worked for every other NATO country?