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Category Archives: Iraq
In Iraq–ISIS is Symptom, the Problem is Worse
In Iraq, Washington is treating a symptom and avoiding the underlying problem. Washington is busy with ISIS in Iraq and reporting substantial progress. On June 28th, Ambassador Brett McGurk reported to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (http://www.foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/062816_McGurk_Testimony.pdf) on progress the … Continue reading
Looming Disaster of “Doing Mosul”
If President Obama pushes ahead to expel ISIS from the major city of Mosul in Iraq, without much better preparation of the post-conflict circumstances, the aftermath with be a disaster. Iraq was bad when he inherited the problem, it may … Continue reading
Mosul – Prepare for Chemical Weapons and Civilian Casualties
Retaking Mosul from ISIS is clearly the next big military objective. Visits to Baghdad by SECDEF Ash Carter and SECSTATE John Kerry clearly presage this movement. Carter announced additional US forces and capabilities. President Obama’s meetings with the GCC clearly … Continue reading
Posted in Iraq, ISIL, ISIS, ISIS Chemical Weapons, Saudi Arabia, Sunni, WMD
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ISIS and CW in Europe
Again this week ISIS has conducted a major terrorist attack in Europe by ISIS. By targeting crowds of people at transportation hubs used by millions, they appear to have been trying to kill as many as possible with as much … Continue reading
ISIS CW Attacks in Europe or Beyond?
In 2016, ISIS may once again take its terror out of the region of its “caliphate.” It had success in Paris last November and is losing ground in Iraq. Watch out for a new horror—they may take chemical attacks overseas—to … Continue reading
Posted in Intelligence, Iraq, ISIL, ISIS, ISIS Chemical Weapons, Sunni, Syria, Syria CW, Terrorism, United Nations, WMD
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Iran Verification – Wobbly
Verification is wobbly. Yes the provisions are better than other IAEA systems, but this is nothing compared to the access and techniques used in Iraq. Moreover, it is very sensitive to how aggressive the IAEA intends to be. And there … Continue reading
Posted in Intelligence, Iran, Iraq, Russia, United Nations, WMD
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Judy Miller’s Book
“The Story” provides a fascinating perspective on a terrible period. For those who want to look at the Iraq mess from various angles, this will add a valuable perspective (she quotes me in it, so I may not be unbiased). … Continue reading
Posted in Intelligence, Iraq, United Nations, WMD
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Inspectors in Iran-Political Science and Physical Science
In the President’s announcement of the Iran Nuclear deal, he highlighted the authorities of the IAEA inspectors under the new agreement–even though the details are not worked out. This will not be the case. The UN inspectors in Iraq had … Continue reading
Posted in Iran, Iraq, Russia, United Nations, WMD
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Monitoring Iran? Don’t bet on it…
There are a series of massive problems with the Iran nuclear agreement. A key one is the assertion of tough inspections. The diminished US objective of “limiting” Iran’s enrichment capacity to a point where there would be a one-year “breakout” … Continue reading
Posted in Intelligence, Iran, Iraq, ISIS, Russia, United Nations, WMD
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Who’s Happy in Iraq?
Watching Iraq and the US actions there is disheartening, unless of course you are Qassem Suleimani, commander of Iran’s notorious Quds force. Suleimani and the Iraqi Shia militia he largely directs, are doing quite well (see the happy chap in … Continue reading
Posted in Intelligence, Iran, Iraq, ISIL, ISIS, Sunni
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