BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL AID TABLE
CRANKY CLINTON GOT BERNIE SANDERS' ENDORSEMENT.
BUT WILL SHE GET HIS VOTERS?
REACHED FOR COMMENT, CRANKY TOLD THESE REPORTERS, "BEING AMERICA'S MOST WANTED IS A FORM OF LOVE IN AND OF ITSELF."
Today, US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter visited Iraq and declared, "And I'm pleased to report today in that connection that we agreed for the United States to bolster the Iraqi efforts to isolate and pressure Mosul by deploying 560 additional troops in support of the ISF and especially at the Qayyarah West airfield."
U.S. Dept of DefenseYes, more US troops are going into Iraq.
More.
If you're surprised you may be remembering previous statements by US President Barack Obama. Such as on June 19, 2014 when he stated "American forces will not be returning to combat in Iraq" and August 9, 2014 when he insisted, "As Commander-in-Chief, I will not allow the United States to be dragged into fighting another war in Iraq. American combat troops will not be returning to fight in Iraq, because there's no American military solution to the larger crisis there."
Or August 11, 2014, when he declared:
But as I said when I authorized these operations, there is no American military solution to the larger crisis in Iraq. The only lasting solution is for Iraqis to come together and form an inclusive government -- one that represents the legitimate interests of all Iraqis, and one that can unify the country’s fight against ISIL.
Or . . .
Get the picture?
Yet today, Secretary Ash Carter spoke in Iraq declaring:
And despite the summer heat, our Iraqi partners, with your support, your intrepid support, pressed ahead with the fight, cleared one town after another, dealing ISIL a series of blows. And just this week, they again demonstrated their strong will to fight in maneuvering north up the Tigris River valley to seize the strategically important Qayyarah West airfield.
Just as you have excelled here in Iraq in support of ISF, our special operators and air crews are also enabling local and capable and motivated forces in Syria to take the fight to ISIL there. After seizing Shaddadi, which is a crucial road juncture between Mosul and Raqqah, our Syrian partners have now surrounded Manbij city. This is also significant. Manbij is one of the last junctions connecting Raqqah to the outside world and one that served as a transit point for external plotters attacking our allies and threatening our homeland.
Simply put, we've been moving out in a deliberate fashion with our local partners in both Iraq and Syria to implement our campaign plan. And with these consequential results behind us, you will now embark on the next major steps of the campaign to collapse ISIL control over Mosul here in Iraq, and Raqqah in Syria. That's one of the primary reasons for my visit today, to confer with our commanders, Prime Minister Abadi, President Barzani, Minister of Defense Obaidi, on what needs to be done next to achieve those objectives.
And I'm pleased to report today in that connection that we agreed for the United States to bolster the Iraqi efforts to isolate and pressure Mosul by deploying 560 additional troops in support of the ISF and especially at the Qayyarah West airfield.
This contingent will help the Iraqis establish a logistical springboard for their offensive in Mosul, which Prime Minister Abadi reaffirmed to me that he wants to accomplish this year. At every step in this campaign, we've generated and seized additional opportunities to hasten ISIL's lasting defeat. And with these additional U.S. forces I'm describing today, we'll bring unique capabilities to the campaign and provide critical support to Iraqi forces at a key moment in the fight.
As we set the stage for Mosul, we must simultaneously continue to go after ISIL in Syria. There, we will enable local partners to isolate and press -- pressure Raqqah once Manbij city is seized. Our efforts will include continuing to find local forces, training their leaders, and enabling them to take the fight to ISIL.
560 more US troops being sent into Iraq.
Despite Barack's promises to the contrary.
The last time I saw Richard was Detroit in '68
And he told me all romantics meet the same fate someday
Cynical and drunk and boring someone in some dark café
You laugh he said you think you're immune
Go look at your eyes they're full of moon
You like roses and kisses and pretty men to tell you
All those pretty lies pretty lies
When you gonna realize they're only pretty lies
Only pretty lies just pretty lies
-- "The Last Time I Saw Richard," written by Joni Mitchell, first appears on her album BLUE
Pretty lies.
And ugly liars.
RECOMMENDED: "Iraq snapshot"
"Hejira"
