Mindfriedo SITREPs to resume!

Touching Base
by Mindfriedo

Commitments and hard times in “Meat Space,” as Saker calls it, have kept me from contributing to the Saker and his unrivalled dedication to the truth. Having said that, I will try and sift as much as I can, from whatever news is out there and post it as often as I can, which I hope to be at least once a week.

Iraq:

I begin with Iraq and where we left off. Iraq is now a Shia country. And looking at how the Shia treat Christians and other minorities, it is more or less inclusive. The ones left out and left with nothing but sand, to their great misfortune, are the Sunnis. For Daash has caused the most damage to Sunni Muslims, to their own self image and their faith. Mosul is with Daash and looks to remain so for a while.

The turning point in Iraq, like in Syria (Qusayr), came with Jurf Al Sakhar (now Jurf al Nasr or the banks of victory). The town, situated to the south of Baghdad, was a staging area for attacks by Daash against the Shia south. The effort to cleanse the area of Daash and safeguard Arbaeen was undertaken in October. (http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/sayed-mahdi-almodarresi/arbaeen-pilgrimage_b_6203756.html). One of the reasons that Arbaeen was so successful, was that Sistani is have reported to have told the Iraqi government to waive the visa fees of those wishing to visit Iraq for pilgrimage. He did this because of Daash’s/Saudi’s plans to prevent Arbaeen from being commemorated. His office agreed to compensate the Iraqi government for any loss in revenue (Rumored to be more than $600 million).

Following the threat to the pilgrims, the Shias decided to act. The Operation carried out in October was named Operation Ashura. That name itself indicates Iran’s involvement, most of whose recent military exercises and human wave attacks against Iraq during Saddam’s Whirlwind War/Khumaini’s Imposed War were named similarly.

The Iranians did what they had done in Syria and in Qusayr. They scorched everything. They gave residents time to flee and then they moved in. details of the actual confrontation are scarce. But the militias backed by Iran and funded by Iraq played a big role. They provide both manpower and are a morale boost for the Iraqi Army. They are also battle tested in Syria.

An example of the type of tactics that were employed can be gleaned from how the battle was fought in Qusayr. Hizballah when fighting door to door with the Takfiris, did not bother about the local architecture or humor the opposition with prolonged fights. They had vacuum bombs brought in from Iran that they used to fire as projectiles, like RPGs, that brought the buildings down on the Takfiri fighters. This was a kind of quick martyrdom that severely demoralized the Takfiris there. The militias in Iraq are believed to have demolished the homes of some Sunni residents and asked them never to come back. A kind of preventative ethnic cleansing took place. The militias suffered casualties too. Mortar rounds hit them during a victory dance after they at first thought that Daash was finished. The bodies of Daash fighters were left unburied. To be eaten by “dogs” as carrion.

The fear that Daash had started to feel after the fall of Jurf Al Nasr can be gauged by the fact that they detonated a bridge leading south from Mosul on the 31st of December 2014. But over time the fear dissipated.

The tactics of Daash also evolved. They have tried repeatedly and at times succeeded in eliminating high value targets (http://www.northsouthnews.com/index.php/mena/9790-iranian-general-killed-by-sniper-in-the-iraqi-city-of-samara). The Israelis were even reporting the targeting and injuring of General Sulaimani. The process of identifying and hitting of high value targets suggests sophistication and guidance.

It is the support being given to Daash by, first and foremost, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the ineffective US air strikes and Israel that is slowing Iran’s progress in ridding Iraq of Daash.

Not to be forgotten here or anywhere is the epic struggle of the Kurds of Kobani in keeping the Daash dogs out of their town, and doing it when all the odds were against them. Turkey’s role in helping Daash became manifest for all to see with its shenanigans of keeping the border open for Daash but closed for the Kurds.

Lebanon:
The latest news has been the killing of Iranian General Abu Ali al-Tabtabani, Senior Hezbollah figure Mohammed Issa, Jihad Mughniyeh, and another four Hezbollah fighters in a missile strike. The attack has left everyone on edge. The fear of retaliation have also resulted in the Israelis communicating directly with Hezbollah trying to contain any backlash and having them give out statements that they were unaware that such a high value target was in the convoy. But as Ian Fleming pointed out there are no coincidences in the intelligence game. The likelihood is that Israel saw this as a good opportunity and worth the sorrow of a limited escalation with Hezbollah. The killing is also in line with the Israeli tactic of killing/assassinating senior officials, nuclear scientists and high value military targets through its proxies in Iraq. For Hezbollah, a measured response---and Israel probably realizes this---is to off a senior Israeli in turn.

Iran Nuclear:
Bhadrakumar’s latest piece (http://blogs.rediff.com/mkbhadrakumar/2015/01/20/india-iran-ties-need-reset/) suggests that a Nuclear deal is imminent. What the repercussions of this deal will be are hard to tell. That Iran will change is inevitable. How long will the Pasdaran hold the dam against the Guccis is to be seen.

Although media coverage suggests that there is a rift between the US, Israel and Saudi Arabia over how to proceed with Iran, with Obama unclenching his fist and the latter two trying to crush the head of the snake, it might be the exact opposite. With all three working to get rid of the Iranian regime either by hook or by crook.

Saudi Arabia:
The mainstream media suggests that Saudi Arabia is trying to break not only Iran’s back by lowering oil prices, but that of the Shale Gas (Ponzi scheme) industry in the US. But that Saudi Arabia would increase prices without the US having a say is highly unlikely. It has also been referred to as a Reagan era tactic of bringing the Russian economy to its knees.

Saudi Arabia has also of late tried to wash its hands clean of Daash (http://www.aawsat.net/2015/01/article55340407/print/). It has gone far enough to suggest that Iran and Assad allowed fleeing Al Qaeda members to enter Iraq and Syria. And that Saudi Arabia was only an innocent bystander.

Daash is now viewed as a project, a sort of Plan B that the West, Israel, Turkey and the Gulf Arabs implemented after all else failed. All else included the wooing of Assad by Saudi King Abdallah back in October 2009, where the King was appalled to see a framed photograph of Hassan Nasrallah on Assad’s bureau.

But Saudi Arabia is the one most responsible for spreading the venom of Takfir. This lecture given by Ammar Nakshawani on the 8th of Moharram, sheds light on this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xArTRV2INSY

The points he puts forward are these:

1 The main culprit is Saudi Arabia: It has been propagating the works of Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya and of Ibn Taymiyyah and that Sunni mosques everywhere have books written by these two. (Both these Wahabi preachers justify the killing of Shias and Christians)

2 Sunni Scholars who come forward to condemn the killing of Shias, in their next sermon praise these two preachers who call for just that: the killing of Shias.

3 He points out that Sunnis are 20% of the Iraqi population. He wants to know what they want: Do they expect to rule Iraq?

4 Sunnis today do not know what they are, there is an identity crisis. Whether they are Ahle Sunnat, Ahle Hadees, Salafi, Wahabi, Maliki, Shafi…

5 Palestinians are fighting on the side of Daash. And that not a single Sunni country is helping the Palestinians today then why are they backstabbing the Shia?

6 The Ideology of Daash allows a Mushrik to live but targets Shias and Christians. The fleeing Christians came to Najaf to the shrine of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) for protection.

7 He points out that so many Imams are buried in Iraq, including Imam Husain (as), so how hard does a man’s heart have to be to continue being a Sunni in Iraq.

8 The Prophet Mohammad (sawa) and his successor Ali (as) both foretold the coming of Daash and that Daash and its kind existed since the Battle of Siffin

At the end of the sermon is a eulogy for Husain’s (as) brother Abbas (as), killed while bringing water for Husain’s children. It moves his audience to tears and captures the essence of Shiism.

Free Speech:

This is part of a cultural war being waged, nothing more, and nothing less. Muslims have to be made to feel embarrassed of their beliefs, their religion, its laws and its Prophet. The same is true of Christians and Christian beliefs. The clash is not Christian vs Muslim or Jews vs Muslim, but more or less faithlessness against faith. The “West” has “cleansed” itself of Christianity and is confronting/making a mockery of other faiths.

The double standard is glaringly obvious. The Former Editor of Charlie Hebdo is being condemned for speaking his mind http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/charlie-hebdo-founder-says-murdered-editor-dragged-staff-to-death-with-provocative-cartoons-9979104.html

The fact that anything spoken against Israel or Zionism can land you in jail in the West, but everything else is game, speaks volumes.

Muslims keep trying to point out that the attackers are worse than the Cartoonist http://thinkprogress.org/world/2015/01/09/3610080/hezbollah-leader-says-islamic-extremists-have-hurt-islam-more-than-cartoonists/

But this makes little difference. The harm the attackers did is already done.

Muslims:

There is a lot of introspection that the Muslims need to make as well, particularly those living in non-Muslim countries. There is a lot of freedom they enjoy that is a luxury in the Middle East. Where I stay I can visit a mosque anytime I want. But in most of the Middle East, UAE and Iran included, the doors of mosques are shut, other than during prayer time. There is a greater level of assimilation needed. More often than not Muslims are being screwed over, by their own co religionist mostly, but to overcome, they have to follow the example of the very man the West is so keen to vilify, Mohammad (sawa).

Short Analysis by Mindfriedo: Struggle for Iraq: Saqlawiyah says it all!

Following is a chronology of events that took place in mid to end September at the Iraqi Army base of Saqlawiyah (Saqlawiyah is located to the north of Fallujah)
-Daash and allied Sunni fighters take over a few villages to the north of Fallujah
-One of the towns taken over is Sijir, close to Saqlawiyah Military Base
-The Iraqi Army sends in 400 men from the 3rd Brigade, an elite SWAT unit, and members from the Ashaib Ahl Al Haq (League of the Righteous) to take back Sijir.
-Stiff resistance by Daash forces the fighters back to Saqlawiyah base; there are now 800 to a 1000 men at the base and they are running short of supplies, food and ammunition.
-Daash captures areas around the base and blocks the only road connecting Saqlawiyah and starts to encircle the base. They now state that the attack on the village was a trap prepared for the Iraqi army and the "Safavid filth."
-Daash starts using loudspeakers telling the troops to surrender
-A tank unit from Ramadi advances north and tries to break the siege. The tanks advance on a stretch of road that is strewn with improvised explosives but make it to 500 yards of the base
-Entrapped troops try to break through to the tanks but are beaten back by Daash that carries out suicide attacks and heavy assaults. The troops are forced back to the base and the tank columns retreat over bodies of dead soldiers
-Entrapped soldiers make desperate calls to military commanders who promise relief and air support but nothing arrives. Senior commanders refer to repeated requests being made by soldiers as unnecessary "whining" in the face of attacks
-Daash fighters dressed in Iraqi Army Uniform send in Humvees in a suicide attack. The soldiers guarding the base are reported to have opened the gates assuming the Humvees to be relief supplies. Huge suicide attacks are followed on by a heavy ambush. Daash overruns the base and only a pocket of soldiers are reported to be holding out.
-Conflicting reports suggest that between 50 (unreliable government) to 600 casualties with 200 soldiers managing to escape. Escaped soldiers were starving after 4 days of hunger and were drinking salt water to survive, they were finding it hard to run
-Daash parades 30 men dressed in Iraqi Army Uniform in Fallujah and releases the following statement:
"After placing trust in Allah, and taking into consideration the means and available capabilities, and by the order of the Ministry of War, al-Fallujah Province mobilized all its military detachments, air defense, support, and raiding detachments, and after making the plan and setting its goals, the detachments launched towards their desired objective, which is liberating the area of al-Sijir from the filth of the Safavids [a derogatory term for Shiites], as a first step to besiege the headquarters of Brigade 30, which is located between the area of al-Sijir and the al-Saqlawiyah sub-district."
-Daash claims to have killed 300 Iraqi Soldiers, captured two M1A1 Abrams tanks and a Russian tank in addition to other supplies that it looted from the base
-Abadi orders an enquiry and Iraqi Army and Air Force Commanders are reportedly suspended but MPs are demanding prosecution and calling Saqlawiyah Iraq's second Spyker
-The government is claiming that Daash used chlorine gas and is using this as an excuse for the base having fallen

Here are some questions that the above events raise:

1) Why was Air Support not provided or supplies not air dropped?
Throughout the conflict Iraqi commanders are reported to have ignored calls for resupply and air support and, shockingly, to have given false hope by suggesting that the base was actually resupplied, when it was not. Sour relations between Maliki's Commanders and Abadi's desire to replace them is being suggested as another excuse for the fiasco.

2) Where are the US air strikes falling?
If Daash was sending such a large number of fighters north why did US airstrikes not target them? Or target the Daash fighters laying siege to the base?
Yazidi fighters have similarly complained of the US not attacking Daash heavy armour in Sinjar while the Yazidis were fighting them, even after the Yazidis pointed (painted) targets for the Americans. The Yazidis were forced to withdraw when they ran out of ammunition from a fight that would otherwise have been easily won.
The behaviour of Turkish troops, preventing Syrian Kurds from crossing the border and help their fellow Kurds fight Daash in Kobani, is also very telling. Also, US strikes outside Kobani were unable to halt Daash's advance.
It all stinks of "Boots on the ground."

3) Where are the Sunni tribes in all this?
So far, those Sunni tribes not on the side of Daash are still undecided in backing the government. The reasons they put forward are continuing indiscriminate artillery strikes on Sunni populated areas (Fallujah, Ramadi) and the detention of a large number of Sunni men. Another reason could be that they still have doubts of the government side winning or holding on to territory taken.

4) Effectiveness of the militias?
The militias have helped prevent the fall of Baghdad and have halted the advance of Daash. But they still have a long way to go and may be an ineffective tool in Sunni dominated areas.
The higher ups in the Ashab Ahl al Haq will be furious that their men at the base were stranded and will want answers if not blood from Iraq's Political/Military leadership. The military leadership of Iraq, politically selected, has shown little or scant regard for its troops and men, and are perhaps more dangerous than Daash.

Iraq SITREP Update 26th September: Enemy of my enemy

NB: These SITREPs that Saker allows to be posted here will now be twice a week. Significant news events will be posted, recurring ones like the repeated failed attempts to take back a city, like Tikrit by the Iraqi military, will be avoided; unless there are other repercussions to that event. Also body counts are too depressing to keep reporting and there are other sources that list the everyday dead of Iraq.

The Saker has been very kind to allow these SITREPs from the start. I am grateful for his efforts and his commitment.

As always these are compilations of news stories from the MSM and non MSM sources. If I express an opinion commentators are welcome to question them, and in some extreme 'Takfiri' cases, my faith as well.
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30th Aug: The Iranians claim progress is being made on developing an indigenous alternative to the S300: http://rt.com/news/183856-bavar373-missile-iran-s300/
The Israelis finger Belarus: http://www.jpost.com/Features/Front-Lines/Iranian-Threat-Belarus-brotherhood-with-Iran
17th Sep: The Islamic practices of Daash: Four minor Yazidi girls are transferred to Mosul Hospital after sever Uterine Bleeding. The girls were reported to have been subjected to repeated sexual assault by "brave" Daash terrorists.
18th Sep: There will be blood: Daash vehicles roam the streets of Mosul calling for blood donations as Daash casualties mount.
20th Sep: Daash releases 49 Turkish hostages including the counsel general of Turkey in Iraq. However, Turkey refuses to participate in coalition airstrikes on Daash.
21st Sep: More than a 100000 Kurds are reported to be fleeing a Daash onslaught in north east Syria with the Kurdish city of Kobani coming under attack. The refugees head north towards Turkey.
22nd Sep: The US and its alliance of the willing (GCC excluding Kuwait and Oman, and non GCC member Jordan, a total of 30 countries) start to bomb Daash targets in Syria. Prior warning is given to the Government of Bashar Al Assad and an Iranian lawmaker states that Iran was also informed about the air assaults on Daash.
US airplanes also target Al Nusra Front positions and also those of the "Khorrasan" terrorist group.
The US authorities state that a female pilot from the UAE also participated in the airstrikes on Daash.
Belgium and The Netherlands send their F16 fighters and Belgium asks its military personnel not to wear their uniforms when not on duty out of fears of retaliatory attacks.
22nd Sep: Daash tries and executes Samira Salih al-Nuaimi, a lawyer and rights activists, on charges of Apostasy for having criticised the DI of Daash's destruction of shrines and mosques in Mosul. Torture marks are clearly visible on her corpse.
23rd Sep: Brigadier General, Ahmad Reza Bordstan, of the Iranian Ground Forces clarifies that Iran will launch a much more penetrating assault on Daash positions in response to any attack on Iran's border with Iraq.
24th Sep: Daash carries out a heavy assault on Baiji refinery. It involves three car bombings and blow up tankers using a suicide bomber. The military personnel protecting the refinery are backed by the Iraqi Airforce but suffer heavy casualties. Senior military commanders warn of a repeat of Spykar if the government does not degrade Daash's capability to assault the refinery.
24th Sep: The US led coalition starts to bomb Daash positions on the outskirts of Kobani in Northern Syria.
24th Sep: Kurdish forces warn of the fleeing of Daash fighters from Syria to Iraq and ask the US led coalition to bomb Daash convoys entering Iraq.
24th Sep: Iraqi Security Forces and Peshmergas work in coordination in Qara Tapa, north east of Baqouba, Diyala to clear villages of Daash presence
24th Sep: Hassan Nasrallah states that he is opposed to the US led coalition that is bombing Daash. He stated that the Hezbollah fought the "infidel" Daash and will continues to do so, but referred to the US as the "mother of terrorism"
24th Sep: German ammunition, anti tank weapons and assault rifles arrive in Iraqi Kurdistan
24th Sep: An Algerian terrorist group with links to Daash beheads French hiker Herve Gourdel after the Afrench Government refuses to stop its participation in the coalition of the willing.
25th Sep: Rouhani blames the West and it's allies (certain intelligence agencies: CIA) of creating Daash, refers to it as a global threat and asks the west to stop supporting dictators.
25th Sep: Two bombings in Baghdad leave 6 dead and 18 wounded
25th Sep: France confirms that it has carried out its first airstrikes on Daash positions in Iraq. The UK is expected to join the coalition of the willing soon.
25th Sep: The UAE claims that its woman pilot, Mariam Al -Mansouri, took part in its raid on Daash positions. Daash vows revenge.
25th Sep: Kurdish forces in Syria repel an assault on Kobani.
25th Sep: Jassim Mohammed Hassan al-Attiyah of the Salah al Din provincial council states that over 13000 US troops are expected at the Speicher Military Base. This is contrary to what Obama has stated, what Prime Minister Abadi has asked for, and what Sadr and Sistani have clearly opposed.
25th Sep: Daash blows up the historic Al Arbain mosque in Tikrit.
26th Sep: Bombing of Daash positions to the North and to the West of Mosul: Sinjar and Zammar has continued for three days ands ongoing. The "coalition of the willing" is bombing the monster it helped create.
26th Sep: Iranian expert refers to US assault on Daash as America's plan B: http://www.almanar.com.lb/english/adetails.php?fromval=2&cid=19&frid=21&seccatid=19&eid=172896


Arabian Nights, night 2: the downfall of Ali Duba:

Reports suggest that Ali Duba was sidelined to make way for Bashar to take over power in Syria. However, a Syrian tale goes like this:

Hafiz Al Assad was having trouble with a senior member of the Muslim Brotherhood and asked his intelligence chief to get rid of the man. Ali Duba however, was made an offer of a large sum of money to let the man slip into exile. Duba took the money and the brotherhood man fled to Germany. Hafiz was assured that the man was with his maker.

Years later, the same man was terminally ill and dying. Away from home, he longed to return. His people approached Ali Duba and offered an even larger pot of gold to the let the man die in Syria. For this, Ali Duba had to approach Hafiz and it is then that Hafiz learnt of his instructions not being carried out. Ali Duba was no longer a trusted man.


Short Analysis: Are the Houthis linked to Iran?

Some commentators suggested that Iran is in no way involved in the Houthi uprising in Yemen, or in Bahrain. Although claims and allegations that Iran is backing rebels in Yemen and Bahrain play into the hands of the Empire, there is a grain of truth to them.

Iran has come under attack, with its embassy staff being kidnapped and shot in Yemen. The now deposed President had also accused Iran of meddling, which Iran denied. Saudi Arabia has also at one point in history been allied to the Zaidis in Yemen against the communist South. Saudi Arabia has more recently been paranoid and accused Iran of backing the Houthis. So why say Iran is siding with them now?

1) A religious argument

Islam in General, and the Shia faith in particular underwent a transformation with the events of Karbala. The Sacrifice of the Grandson of the Prophet reminds the Shia to oppose oppression, and to refrain from it too. While the Sunnis have generally been more pro establishment throughout history, it is the Shia that have resisted over time and over geographic distances. A reading of Shia history after the events of Karbala will show that in every few decades a Shia uprising has taken place against oppressive government.

Iran, perceiving itself to be the centre of the Shia faith, backs its co-religionists in, to name a few places, Kashmir, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, and Nigeria. It even backs opposition to oppression against Muslims in General (Sunnis) in other places: Sudan, Bosnia, Kurds in Iraq, and the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan. It sees this as a religious purpose. Although, the Iranian revolutionary "Islamic" state was more aggressive in the past it has become much more pragmatic, but also a lot more tenacious and politically astute.

So why would Iran not back the Houthis and Bahraini Shias, in the latter case morally if not with material aid (physical, geographic restrictions, the invasion of the island by Saudi troops, and the US Naval base prevent Iran from giving more direct support; However, if Bahrain shared a land border with Iran, weapons would be smuggled across). Not supporting them on Iran's part would be contrary to common sense.

2) A practical understanding

No guerrilla movement survives for long against a government backed by foreign powers for long without external support. A case in point is the Hezbollah. Even though it is a very powerful, if not the most powerful, resistance militia, it cannot survive or wield as much power as it does without Iranian/Syrian support. Similar examples are the Taliban, which no one can defeat as long as the Pakistani state continues to back it.

Although the Houthis may be a majority in the north, how long can they sustain a conflict without material help? Yes everybody in Yemen is armed, but where do you replenish stocks from and sustain an offensive? Why would Saudi Arabia allow the deposed President to negotiate a deal if did not feel threatened?

Now consider the Tibetan resistance against China that withered away after all India did was provide vocal support. The North Vietnamese had Chinese and Soviet support, the rebels in Syria have petrodollars backing them, the MEK had US/Israeli support after Saddam was overthrown. In fact it's hard to point out to any opposition group that can last without external backing.

3) Coincidence: there are none

The first coincidence is the timing of the Houthi takeover. It conveniently occurred after Daash has taken over most of Sunni Iraq.
The second coincidence is form. In this 2010 article by Bhadrakumar: http://www.countercurrents.org/bhadrakumar180110.htm. He mentions that the Houthi armed groups are being modelled on the Lebanese Hezbollah.

Finally, to cut things short, I will agree that there is a remote possibility, a completely illogical one, that Iran is not involved in some way with the Houthis. But it is possible.

Further Reading:

US intelligence flying blind when it comes to the Hezballah
www.scmp.com/news/world/article/1300844/us-spies-knowledge-gaps-china-hezbollah-revealed

September 6th and 7th Iraq SITREP by Mindfriedo: Time for government formation is running out!

6th Sep: Photos appear on twitter showing Abu Bakr al Baghdadi as having been killed in a US airstrikes. However, the authenticity of the photos and the news, which the Pentagon has denied, are being questioned:
http://shoebat.com/2014/09/06/examining-photos-killing-isis-caliph-al-baghdadi/

However Kurdish Bus news is reporting that he was injured and is being treated near the Syrian Iraqi border:
http://m.basnews.com/en/News/Details/Islamic-State-Leader-al-Baghdadi--Not-Dead-/33223

Iraqi airstrikes and artillery strikes on hospitals in Kirkuk and Fallujah, details mentioned below, could have been a follow up of news of Baghdadi being injured and needing medical assistance or senior members of Daash. There could have been leads suggesting that he was there. Both bombings have resulted in a high number of civilian casualties.
6th Sep: The Iraqi Ministry of Defence states that it has targeted a number of senior leaders of Daash in air strikes in Tal Afar district, west of Mosul.

7th Sep: Baldrouz district in Diyala is facing a water crisis. It has been under Daash siege and water has been cut from the district for 10 days now. Lawmakers are demanding swift action by the government to save trapped civilians.
7th Sep: Haider al Abadi has till Tuesday to form a Government or he risks being dropped and the task assigned to another
7th: Mullah Khalid, of the Sunni Iraqi Scientists Group, calls on all political parties to compromise and speed up government formation
7th Sep: Hussain Al Sharistani, the former Minister of Energy, is tipped to be the next Minister of Education and Scientific Research of Iraq.
7th Sep: Haider Al Abadi asks that the Ministries of Oil and Transport shoud be given to Basra and that political blocs can suggest names of lawmakers from Basra
7th Sep: US airplanes carried out airstrikes on Daash positions on the outskirts of Haditha Dam. The airstrikes are aimed at degrading Daash's capacity to stage offensive operations against government security forces and tribal fighters defending the dam and the town of Haditha.
The Iraqi army is able to regain control of Barwana town outside of Haditha after American air strikes weaken Daash
7th Sep: Rohani praises the sacrifice of the Iraqi people, the Marjas (Sistani), and points out that without Iranian help, material and "people," the relative security in Iraq would not have been possible.
7th Sep: Peshmergas retake Zartak mountain outside Mosul in a short battle of 30 minutes that leave between 20 and 25 Daash fighters dead. The Peshmergas gave credit to American air strikes for having made their task "very easy."
7th Sep: After repeated failed attempts the Iraqi a Army backed by militias us planning to attack Tikrit again. Daash has prepared its defences in anticipation of any assault.
7th Sep: The Iraqi Airforce carries out 11 airstrikes in Anbar and claims to have killed more than 40 Daash fighters and another 35 in Babil
7th Sep: Peshmerga forces attack and kill a would be suicide car bomber on the outskirts of Jalawala. The terrorist tried to target a Peshmerga checkpoint besieging Daash inside Jalawala town.
7th Sep: Mortar attacks on the Al Zarkosh tribe in Hamrin, north east of Baqouba have continued for the seventh day today. Mortar strikes left two young girls dead. The tribe is warning of retribution unless government forces stop "Daash" from continuing the daily attacks.
7th Sep: Iranian Foreign Minister, Javad Zarif, states that it is the United States that is not being serious about Daash. He spoke about the two faced approach of the United States where it supported Daash in Syria and has shown little or no seriousness of attacking Daash in Iraq.
7th Sep: The lawyer of Saddam's former henchman Tariq Aziz Badie Izzat, States that Maliki's office had shown willingness to allow the release of Tariq Aziz and Sultan Hashim from custody.
7th Sep: Syrian tactics: The Iraqi Air Force bombs Hawija hospital west of Kirkuk while the Iraqi army launches a rocket/artillery strike on a Fallujah medical facility
7th Sep: Daash warns residents of Northern Tikrit district that if they do not pledge allegiance, their homes will be destroyed

Related:
6th Sep: Daash executes, by beheading, a second Lebanese soldier it kidnapped in Arsal. Daash stated that the soldier had attempted to escape

Further Reading:
A young Yazidis girl talks about her escape:
http://news.yahoo.com/yazidi-girl-tells-escape-islamic-state-kidnappers-121609719.html

September 5th Iraq SITREP by Mindfriedo: Infighting begins...

Short Analysis:
I put this on top because I feel it is very, very important. It talks about the escape of a Shia recruit from Daash in Tikrit during the Spykar base massacre by playing dead. His captors are merciless takfiris, who don't think twice about killing the Shia.
The beginning of his account is depressing and tragic, but what he talks about later is nothing short of amazing and touching. Sunni families give this Shia boy shelter, fear for their lives and guide him to another Sunni Tribe. There they help him hide, feed him, provide him with fake identification, and secure him to the north. They have done this for a number of Shia men, running an Underground Railroad.
These are honourable people, honourable Arabs, honourable Muslims, honourable Sunnis, honourable Iraqis. These are the people who will build Iraq and who are, in my opinion, loved by God:
http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/a-great-will-to-live-how-one-man-survived-an-islamic-state-massacre-586566?pfrom=home-topstories

4th Sep: Hadi Al Ameri, Minister of Transport in the earlier Iraqi Government and head of the Badr Organization that had mobilised its forces to fight Daash, states that the Peshmergas are not a constitutional entity, and that they need to withdraw from all areas that are disputed between Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan. He states that he will work with the Iraqi Army to make sure that Baghdad controls these areas including Kirkuk.
The Kurdistan Regional Government has stated that it will not withdraw from any of its positions nor that it had any plans to do so.
4th Sep: A car bombing in the north of Baghdad, Kadhimiya suburb, kills 9 people and leaves 45 others injured.
A second car bombing hits Baghdad's Sadoun Street killing one and injuring 10
4th Sep: A car bombing in Ramadi targets Iraqi troops, kills one soldier and injured two. It was a suicide car bombing targeting an Iraqi army armoured personnel carrier.
4th Sep: A car bomb in Kirkuk goes off outside a shop selling alcohol; casualties unknown.
4th Sep: Syrian national and assistant to Baghdadi, Abu Hajer, is killed in a government air strike in Mosul.
4th Sep: Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Secretary General of NATO States that it will consider any request for assistance made by Iraq.
4th Sep: Interpol picks up a wanted individual in Erbil Iraqi Kurdistan. The individual is wanted for drug trafficking.
4th Sep: The Iraqi Ministry of Justice announces plans to extend amnesty to prisoners that had escaped Badush prison in Mosul. The prison had been stormed by Daash. Many prisoners are reported to be turning themselves in.
4th Sep: Ashti Hawrami, Minster of Natural Resources in Iraqi Kurdistan, States that the damaged caused to Baiji refinery by Daash fighters will take over a year to fix.
4th Sep: Iraq and BP sign a fresh deal over the Rumaila Gas Fields. The production of the giant fields is expected to fall to 2.1 million bpd from the current 2.85 bpd.
4th Sep: Profiting from Misery: Turkey announces that it has received more than 10 million barrels of crude oil from Kurdistan.
4th Sep: Ibrahim Al Jaafari, President of the National Alliance, is tipped to become the next Vice President of Iraq.
5th Sep: Al Manar is reporting an attempted deal where Israel tried to pay a 10 million USD ransom for Steven Sotloff:
http://www.almanar.com.lb/english/adetails.php?eid=169321&cid=41&fromval=1&frid=41&seccatid=101&s1=0
5th Sep: Hoshyar Zebari, Iraq's Outgoing Foreign Minister, clarifies that there are no Iranian troops in Iraq.
5th Sep: Daash executes three women in Mosul
5th Sep: A car bomb outside Speicher Base targeting a military convoy kills 3 soldiers and injures 9 others
5th Sep: The Iraqi Army is preparing a major push for Northern Mosul
5th Sep: A mortar attack on Northern Baghdad leaves 2 dead and 5 injured
5th Sep: A loosing Daash, loosing its appeal: Indian authorities return 4 engineering students/dropouts who planned to travel to Iraq and fight for Daash to their families. The students claim they were influenced by propaganda online.

Related:
5th Sep: Al Nusra Front releases a video showing captured Lebanese soldiers being made to denounce Hizballah:
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/nusra-releases-video-lebanese-abductees-denouncing-hezbollah
5th Sep: Who won in Syria? Bashar Al Assad. The West only talks to/respects winners:
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/09/syria-us-islamic-state-cooperation-terror-assad-italy.html

Further Reading:
Interesting:
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2014/09/turkey-usa-iraq-syria-isis-fuller.html

August 28th to September 3rd Iraq SITREP by Mindfriedo: MashAllah: Whatever pleases God! The beginning of the end of Daash in Iraq!

Quote of the day (An Angry Iraqi Shia Relative of the young men killed in Spykar, Tikrit): We will march on Tikrit and seek revenge, revenge I tell you revenge. We will make the Sunni tribes pay, blood has been spilt! Why did they (Sunni tribes) allow them (Daash) to do this? We will destroy Tikrit from the face of this earth. No army in this world can stop us.

28th Aug: 6 German soldiers arrive in Iraqi Kurdistan to coordinate with the Iraqi Government and Kurdish authorities and help facilitate the transfer of military and material aid.
28th Aug: The United States decides to air drop essential supplies to the residents of Amerli and bomb besieging Daash forces.
28th Aug: Moqtada Al Sadr meets with Ammar al-Hakim of the Islamic Supreme Council and releases a statement: We agree on the need to do a real partnership in Iraq to meet the security challenges in the country.
Sadr has also stated that he acted on the wishes of the Marja (Sistani) when he opposed Nouri Al Maliki and made sure the latter had to step down.
28th Aug: Nechirvan Barzani, President of Iraqi Kurdistan’s regional government travels to Turkey and meets with its President Erdogan and the new Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.
28th Aug: An American Jury in Washington DC is deliberating the fate of 4 American Blackwater Mercenaries/murderers responsible for indiscriminately shooting at more than 30 Iraqis in Baghdad in 2007. The shooting had resulted in the deaths of 14 and had wounded another 18.
28th Aug: Collapse of Daash: Peshmerga forces are making rapid progress in taking back Zammar and Ain Zala to the north west of Mosul in Nineveh. Peshmergas are advancing from four directions and the Iraqi Air Force and US warplanes are carrying out airstrikes on Daash fighters in the area. In some cases, and in a reversal of sorts, Daash fighters are abandoning their weapons and fleeing.
18 Daash fighters are picked up by advancing Peshmergas to the west of Zammar. 19 vehicles belonging to Daash are destroyed in air strikes.
The Peshmergas are reported close to the centre of town. Daash fighters are mingling with civilians in an attempt to flee.
Daash fighters burn oil drums in Ain Zala in an attempt to slow down advancing Peshmerga fighters.
28th Aug: Another blow for Higher Education in Daash’s Iraq: Ibrahim al-Fahdawi, Dean of the Agricultural Department at the University of Ramadi is killed in a possible road side bombing cum assassination.
28th Aug: Iraqi Security Forces are gathering their forces outside of Tuz Khurmato preparing to liberate Amerli. They are being backed by Shia militias.
28th Aug: Daash terrorists attack and destroy two shrines belonging to the Kakayeen Kurdish clan in Hamdania, Nineveh. 20000 families are displaced by Daash in Hamdania.
28th Aug: Peshmerga fighters attack two vehicles carrying weapons near Jalawla and kill and injure 8 Daash fighters.

29th Aug: Mishan al-Jubouri, the former MP of Salah al Din province states that 280 bodies of Shia recruits killed at the Spykar military base have been returned to relatives in Iraq. The rest of the bodies are still buried in mass graves near Spykar base.
29th Aug: Police Personnel in Anbar are demanding better weapons from the Government in Baghdad in order to fight Daash and take back control of towns and cities in Anbar.

30th Aug: Peshmerga forces enter Zammar
30th Aug: Mwafaq Hawijah Ali a leader of Daash dies from his injuries and proceeds to hell. He was injured in a failed attack on the Baiji Refinery.
30th Aug: MashAllah: The Iraqi Ministry of Defence announces the freeing of 6 villages in Amerli and the destruction of 5 tanks and 5 vehicles belonging to Daash and the culling of 59 Daash Terrorist. Fa Inaa HizbAllah hum fi Ghalibun.
30th Aug: Peshmerga forces carry out a large scale attack to the west of Mosul under US air cover. The aim is to purge Daash from the area.
30th Aug: a Suicide bomb attack on the Mahmudiyah district of Southern Baghdad has left a number of people dead and injured.
30th Aug: US airplanes target and destroy 7 vehicles of Daash fighters near Mosul Dam.
30th Aug: Issuing resolutions that neither Israel nor its patsy Daash wants to follow: The UN passes resolution number 2175 that calls for the protection of UN workers in conflict zones.
30th Aug: Shamelessness: American Secretary of State, who resembles the living dead, John Kerry calls for a broad alliance of nations that will help fight Daash. In a cruel and tragic irony this alliance will include, champion of Poisoned Islam, Saudi Arabia, and American stooge Jordan.
30th Aug: Sunni uprising against a Sunni uprising: Qasim al-Fahdawi, MP from Anbar, states that Tribes in Anbar are drawing up plans to rise up and take back cities under Daash control.
30th Aug: To the victor the spoils: Semi Formal negotiations for Abadi’s future cabinet have distributed Iraq’s ministries as follows:
Shias (National Alliance): Defense and Foreign
Kurds: Oil
Sunnis: Interior
Negotiations are ongoing with the National Alliance still insisting more ministries based on its vote share.
30th Aug: The flesh trade: 300 Yazidi girls are sold by Daash to its fighters in Syria

31st Aug: US aircraft carry out raids on Daash positions around Amerli and airdrop supplies for its residents
The US also carries out 5 airstrikes on Daash Vehicles in the north near Mosul Dam
31st Aug: Salim al-Jubouri, Speaker of Iraq’s Parliament arrives in Babil to inspect the situation on the ground first hand. Conflict is still raging in Babil where security Forces are trying to remove Daash that had occupied the north of Babil on the 10th of June.
31st Aug: Prime Minister of arguably the second most racist country on Earth, where refugees are interred in Desert Caps (Prisons), Tony Abbot, states that the aircraft of his countries Air Force will help the American’s deliver arms to the Kurds.
31st Aug: Rambo to the rescue: US Veterans send a message to a Kurdish Media Outlet stating that they are willing to volunteer in the Peshmergas to help fight Daash.
31st Aug: Brigadier General Hossein Dehghan of the Iranian Ministry of Defense states that Iran is coordinating with Iraqi Forces to ensure the safety of the Iran Iraq Border and that Daash is a phenomenon (project) that Iraq will wipe out on its own.
31st Aug: One time front man of the Americans, Ahmad Chalabi of the Iraqi National Party meets with Massoud Barzani in Erbil to discuss the security and political situation in Iraq.
31st Aug: Iraqi Security forces aided by Peshmerga fighters and backed by Shia militias start to attack Daash and lift the siege of Amerli.
Fighters of Sadr’s Salam Brigades enter the town of Amerli amidst heavy fighting. Iraqi Security Forces and Peshmerga fighters break the siege and the back of Daash.
Local “Shia” militias attack and free three towns to the east of Tikrit. They were backed by the Iraqi Air Force.
The Peshmergas are reporting that the Daash fighters they are now facing have lost their “will.” They are using mosque loudspeakers to ask their fighters to leave the areas of Sulieman Bek.
The Peshmergas retake three villages in Sulaiman Bek.
31st Aug: 3 Martyred men and 8 injured “Shia” militia fighters are brought to a hospital in Tuz Khurmato. They were injured fighting Daash around Amerli.
But do not think of those that have been slain in God's cause as dead. Nay, they are alive! With their Sustainer have they their sustenance (3:169)
31st Aug: Jassim Mohammed Jaafar, a Turkoman Minister, confirms that Government forces and Shia militias have broken the siege of Amerli. He fails to give credit to the Peshmergas that were also fighting.
Like the Nazis fleeing Soviet troops and surrendering to Allied Armies, Daash fighters flee towards the Peshmergas and away from Shia Militias. The Peshmergas report arresting/capturing 36 Daash fighters in their attack on Amerli.

1st Sep: The UN decides to hold a special session that will oversee the dispatching of UN teams to investigate the human rights abuses carried out by Daash. The session was requested by Iraq and backed by both Iran and the US.
1st Sep: Marthiya Afkham, of the Iranian Foreign Ministry congratulates the Iraqi Security Forces, Government, Sistani, and the people of Amerli for breaking the siege of Daash.
1st Sep: Obama plans a visit to Eastern Europe, Estonia, and then the UK to discuss NATO’s expansion, aid to Georgia, the US made crisis in the Ukraine, and the failed US projects of Iraq and Afghanistan.
1st Sep: President of Iraq, Fuad Masum, states that the first priority of the Iraqi Government, on whose formation he states there is considerable progress, will be fighting and defeating Daash.
1st Sep: Ezzat Saber, Minister of Natural Resources in Iraqi Kurdistan, resigns over rising fuel prices.
1st Sep: Protesters gather outside the Kurdish Parliament demanding that the Natural Resources Committee in parliament resign over rising fuel prices. They stated that the rise in prices was senseless as Iraq controls 5% of the world’s oil reserves.
1st Aug: Peshmerga and Iraqi Security Forces carry out a joint operation and surround the sub district of Sulaiman Bek. The morale of Daash fighters is believed to be low and many are fleeing the area.
The Peshmergas and Iraqi Army liberate Suleiman Bek
1st Sep: War crime: Daash terrorists blow up a Yazidi shrine while 15 elderly Yazidis are still inside
1st Sep: The Peshmergas kill 4 Daash terrorist including a would be suicide bomber as they attack a Peshmerga check post on the outside of Jalawla

2nd Sep: Relatives of those killed at the Spykar Military base protest over the deaths of their loved ones at what can only be described as complete incompetence and arrogance on the part of the Head of the Armed Forces Maliki and his rotten Generals. They enter and occupy the Iraqi Parliament Building in Baghdad, set fire to property and break down doors out of anger. May God grant them patience and may they take solace in the grieving of Imam Hussain (as).
Security Forces are called in to control the situation after casualties are reported. The bodyguards of a number of MPs were also beaten up.
2nd Sep: Robert Stephen Beecroft, the US Ambassador to Iraq, has called on the National Alliance and has reportedly applied “pressure” on it to relent and meet some of the demands being made by the mostly Sunni Iraqi forces coalition.
2nd Sep: The Basra police arrest a man 75 km to the north of Basra believed to be a financer of Daash. He was in the possession of counterfeit currency.
2nd Sep: Iyad Allawi of the National Coalition states that he is expected to play a big role in the next government of national reconciliation.
2nd Sep: Hollande of France tells the visiting, one of many dime a barrel Princes, Crown Prince Salman Abdulaziz that France will help Iraq (Kurds) fight Daash.
2nd Sep: A village of the Al-Zarkosh tribe in Hamrin, Diyala is under constant Mortar attack. The Shia tribe has been supporting the government against the insurgency. It is now complaining of a total lack of security or political assistance from the government. More than 280 members of the tribe have been killed so far.
The governor of Diyala, Amer al-Majmaee, has stated that the attack carried out on the Musaib bin Omair mosque that resulted in over 40 fatalities was carried out by three members of the Al-Zarkosh tribe.
2nd Sep: Daash withdraws its forces from Daqouq after the breaking of its siege of Amerli by Iraqi Security Forces.
Clashes are now taking place in al Mutassim near Samarra after Daash attacked security forces there.
2nd Sep: A mourning ceremony is held to commemorate those Peshmergas killed in freeing Yakinja, on the outskirts of Suliman Bek, Salah al Din province. A commander of the Peshmerga forces, Harbi Kokhie and Brigadier Sheikh Serbest were amongst those martyred fighting Daash terrorists. The ceremony was overseen by the former President of Iraq Jalal Talibani.
2nd Sep: Peshmerga forces are preparing to attack and take back the Christian town of Tilkaif, 15 kilometers to the north of Mosul. The US is carrying out air strikes on Daash positions inside the town to soften them up for the Peshmergas. The Curse of God on the Oppressors (Daash)!
Nowhere to hide: US airplanes have also hit Daash targets near Mosul Dam.
2nd Sep: Daash admits to its defeat in Amerli and to the collapse of its siege of the town. It claims that the Shias needed 5000 troops to free a town surrounded by less than 150 Daash fighters.

3rd Sep: PsyOps: Iraqi Air Force drops leaflets over Mosul warning residents to stay away from Daash’s headquarters about to be bombed and to avoid Daash vehicles to avoid being hit.
Daash evacuates its headquarters that are later bombed by the Americans.
3rd Sep: Maliki decides to include the residents of Amerli into those entitled to receive aid under the displaced nationals’ category. He also talks at length about the impeding defeat of Daash “The coming days will prove that Iraq will be a graveyard for ISIS who began fleeing from Salahuddin, Diyala and Mosul.”
Maliki also suggests the forming of a militia of volunteer fighters from Amerli and states that the resilience of the people of the town should be an example for all Iraqis.
3rd Sep: The National Alliance states that it has been unable to comply with the decree of religious authorities (Marjas) and reduce the number of Ministries being set up. It has run into political, legal, and constitutional difficulties in trying to form a lean government.
3rd Sep: Tribal leaders from Anbar have voiced their support for the Iraqi Government and Haider Al Abadi and its fight against terrorism. They have requested the government to empower and allow local fighters to take on the terrorists occupying the cities of Ramadi, Fallujah and towns bordering Syria.
3rd Sept: 10 people belonging to volunteer militias are injured in a car bombing in the centre of Samarra, near the Imam Al Askari (as) Shrine.
3rd Sep: Mohammad Karim al-Rubaie, advisor to the Governor of Diyala, is killed in clashes with Daash fighters in a village near Amerli. Al Rubaie was also a member of Sadr’s Al Salam brigade. He was killed in clashes between Daash and the Security Forces, volunteer militia fighters, and Al Salam brigade fighters.
3rd Sept: Haider Al Abadi, Prime Minister in waiting, states that the perpetrators of the mass killing of recruits at Spykar base will be punished. He also added that anyone who has harmed Iraqis in this turbulent period will be pursued and brought to justice.
3rd Sep: The changing of tunes: America’s lackey, and forever two faced British Prime Minister David Cameroon refers to Daash as being a threat to the people of Iraq, Syria, Britain, and most importantly, his beloved USA
3rd Sep: UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, reacts to the killing of journalist Steven Sotloff and refers to the situation in Iraq as outrageous.
3rd Sept: Obama sends in another 350 “Advisors” to Iraq, raising the total number to 820.
3rd Sep: The Iraqi Army has taken back control of Al Atheem dam in the north of Baqouba. The army’s operation was supported by air strikes and resulted in the death of an unknown Daash commander (Emir)
3rd Sep: Iraqi Security Forces capture a Chinese member of Daash and release his picture. He appears badly bruised in the face. China has estimated that 30 of its nationals are fighting for Daash.
3rd Sep: Govt claims for the day:
20 Daash fighters are killed in air strikes in Dhuluiya, south of Tikrit
More Daash fighters are killed in air strikes on Tikrit including a local Daash leader Khairallah Nayef al-Janabi
45 Daash/rebel fighters killed in Fallujah including a Saudi national in air strikes in Fallujah
3rd Sep: 9 bodies are found in Baghdad in what appear to be summary executions

4th Sep: Statement of the family of murdered US journalist Steven Sotloff:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-29056608
4th Sep: Kurdish and Yazidi fighters carry out a joint security operation and ambush and kill 6 Daash fighters in Sinjar
4th Sep: Haider Al Abadi, Prime Minister in Waiting of Iraq, requests the EU for assistance in fighting Daash
4th Sep: Pope Francis to the Christians of Iraq “the Church is hurting with you and is proud of you.”
4th Sep: Fiedel Castro refers to Daash as being an instrument of US Israeli project aimed at extending their control of the region.
4th Sep: Iraqi Security Forces are hit by a suicide bomber in the south of Tikrit; 7 dead and 17 wounded.
4th Sep: A mass grave is discovered in Sulaiman Bek. It contains 24 bodies believed to be of kidnapped truck drivers.
4th Sep: Shia Peace Brigade Militia fighters’ state that killed 30 Daash fighters in a village on the outskirts of Amerli. They state that the fire fight lasted 6 hours.
4th Sep: Governor of Nineveh, Atheel al-Nujaifi, probably out of fear of reprisals, states that only forces of the Iraqi Government: Army and police, will be allowed to enter the province.
4th Sep: Qais al-Khazali, leader of the Shia sectarian militia Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, calls on all Iraqis to stand up and throw Daash out of Iraq. He refers to Daash as being cowardly and that the government of Iraq will support any group fighting the terrorists.
4th Sep: Villagers in Tal Ali burn a Daash flag and a position of Daash after Daash fighters leave the area. Daash later returns in force and kidnaps 25 villagers.

Related:
2nd Sep: Saudi Arabia arrests 88 of its nationals on terrorism charges and referred to them as having “misguided ideology” and as being those that “glorify terrorist acts.”
Some of those arrested had been prisoners earlier and had been released after going through Saudi Arabia’s Deqaidafication program.
2nd Sep: Israeli sense of humour, predictably based on productivity: Israel announces plans to develop a colony on land it occupied in the West Bank; as much as 400 hectares. The reason for stealing the land was that the Palestinians were not cultivating it with the required intensity.
3rd Sep: Egyptian Religious Athority, the Dar Al Ifta, issues a fatwa against online fraternizing between men and women. The Fatwa reads “as many experiences in our present time prove that this opens the door for evil and frivolity, an entrance for Satan, and is a source of corruption and sedition.” A similar ruling by Iran’s Khamenie also exists.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/09/03/egypt-s-fatwa-against-tinder-clerics-ban-online-chatting.html
3rd Sep: Bosnia arrests 16 individuals accused of collecting funds and recruiting fighters to fight for Daash in Syria and Iraq.
4th Sep: Canadian nationals that joined Al Qaida were involved in the interrogation of US journalists Theo Curtis and Matt Schrier. The captors are also believed to have sent the family members of the hostages letters purporting to be from the hostages, stolen money from the accounts of the hostages, and bought electronic equipment from Ebay using stolen funds. Every single act is contrary to Islam.
4th Sep: Going Native: 100 or more Americans fighting on the side of Daash:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2014/09/03/hagel-100-americans-have-joined-isis.html
4th Sep: US Internet Companies have decided to remove videos and images being posted by Jihadists. The reason they state is that they do not want to become instruments of (enemy-my word) propaganda.
4th Sep: How to be an Asshole: Pakistani Cricketer Ahmed Shehzad tells Sri Lankan Cricket player Tillakarante Dilshan to convert to Islam and go to heaven.
4th Sep: Al Qaeda has established a new branch for the Indian sub continent. Its head is going to be Pakistani Asim Umar and it will concentrate on the regions of Kashmir, Ahmadabad, Assam, and Burma. The sub continent has seen a huge growth in Wahabism with many traditional Orthodox Sunni Muslims becoming the minority. The Petro Dollar has financed a large number of Mosques, Trusts, and Madarsas in the region.
4th Sep: Iranian intelligence reports having thwarted attempts by foreign intelligence services of recruiting Iranian Nuclear Scientists

Further Reading:
Unabashed and to the point: http://takimag.com/article/keep_your_friends_close_unless_theyre_in_washington_taki#axzz3CJtZwLgq
The Women of Daash:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/09/03/the-bride-of-isis-revealed.html
Bhadrakumar:
http://blogs.rediff.com/mkbhadrakumar/2014/09/02/nato-dressing-up-raring-to-go/
http://blogs.rediff.com/mkbhadrakumar/2014/09/03/islamic-state-and-the-afghan-analogy/

Short Analysis: 1700 dead Shia service men, who is responsible? Daash or Maliki?
This is a very short analysis. But the links are very interesting. This first explains the fall of Northern Iraq and the complete mismanagement by Maliki. Maliki has tried to conceal his complete incompetence by referring to it as a conspiracy:
http://musingsoniraq.blogspot.in/2014/08/how-northern-iraq-fell-to-insurgency.html
This second talks about the way in which the 1700 Shia service men were executed. As commander of the Iraqi Security Forces and after having the power and authority to pick his commanders, Maliki is directly responsible for the manner in which the base was evacuated and the 1700 recruits literally led to their deaths.
http://rt.com/news/184893-isis-mass-execution-iraq/
In the last part of this article it can be seen how Maliki is still trying to hold on to power by pushing his favourites for key ministries:
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/us-special-operations-forces-fighting-iraq
I am glad Maliki has gone. But if one of my relatives had died at Spykar because of this bureaucrat’s incompetence, I would want to take more than just power from him.

August 26th-27th Iraq SITREP by Mindfriedo: Sistani, Sistani, Sistani! May God keep you till the Mahdi!

Retraction: Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif was referring to Concessions being given by the West on compromises made in Arak, where nuclear facilities are located, and not on Iraq, its neighbour.

26th Aug: Iraqi Security Forces are stating that they have arrested the terrorist responsible for the bombing that took place in Babil on Monday.
26th Aug: Daash has destroyed using explosives the house of the advisor to the Salah Al Din Governor, Martyr Umayah Jebarah. She was killed fighting Daash on the 22nd of June. May God give her a better home close to Him.
26th Aug: Daash terrorists have detonated the house of Ahmed al-Khalaf al-Ibraheem, a tribal chief in Mosul.
26th Aug: The Peshmergas release a statement stating that they are firmly in control of Mosul Dam and they will legally prosecute anyone spreading rumours to the contrary. This is after an Iraqi media outlet claimed that Mosul Dam had been taken over by Daash and that 200 Peshmerga fighters had been imprisoned by Daash.
26th Aug: Saddam's Tactics: Militants in Fallujah block the flow of water by closing the 10 gates of Fallujah's Dam in an attempt to dry up areas to the south and flood areas around Baghdad. The Iraqi airforce bombs and damages three of the gates. The cracks in the gates start to free water being blocked by the dam.
26th Aug: Enemy of my enemy: Obama authorises reconnaissance flights over Syrian air space in order to be able to bomb Daash fighters in Syria.
26th Aug: Mullah Khalid, head of the Sunni Iraqi Scientist Group, condemns the retaliatory sectarian attacks targeting Shia Muslims: bombings in Karbala, Hilla, and Baghdad and sectarian statements being made by Sunni leaders after the attack on the Sunni Musab bin Omair mosque in Diyala as being irresponsible and nothing short of pouring oil on fire.
26th Aug: Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, the Interior Minister of Iran, states that any attack on the Sacred Shrines in Najaf and Karbala will result in an automatic military response by Iran, no matter who the attacker is. He stated that President Rouhani has given the necessary permission to the people concerned to act in case this red line is crossed.
26th Aug: Massoud Barzani personally receives Javad Zarif at Erbil airport and hosts him at his house. At a joint press conference Zarif stresses that there is no need for Iran to send troops to Iraq as both Iraqi troops and Peshmerga forces are sufficient and strong enough to deal with Daash. Barzani refers to Iran as the First Nation to have come to the aid of Iraqi Kurdistan.
26th Aug: Fool me twice: US congressman Ed Royce talks of arming the good rebels in Syria once more.
26th Aaug: The Iraqi Security Forces kill seven Daash leaders in Al Karama, Baghdad: Samir Khaeed, Arkan Rashwan, Ahmed al-Suedawi, Zamel al-Halbusi, Saddam Rokan and Qatada from Saudi Arabia and Abu Osama from Libya
26th Aug: Daash has expelled 60 families from Nijana village in Al Atheem and killed three residents who refused to cooperate. Daash needed the houses of the civilians to booby trap them to impede the advance of Security Forces. Daash had asked the families to give all their money and belongings to Daash fighters evicting them. Daash has reportedly booby trapped 350 houses north of Baqouba.
26th Aug: Hitler's Youth: Daash starts to prepare young boys as suicide bombers in Saadia in preparation of Peshmerga assaults on the town. Daash was forced to retreat into the town in the face of artillery strikes by Peshmergas and air strikes by the Government.
26th Aug: Daash executes 12 residents of Hawija on suspicion of spying for the Iraqi government. The men executed belonged to Awakening forces or were police personnel.

27th Aug: Embodiment of the Shia faith, a living treasure for Iraq, Marja of Shias the world over, saviour of Moqtada Sadr, Protector of Baghdad, Evictor of Maliki (for unity), the man who single handedly Sanctioned the Americans from himself, bent the will of Iran, endeared the sects of Iraq, crushed the machinations of the Gulf Monarchs, prevented Iraq's descent into civil war, the man whose word made people return looted property, and whose command compels the Iraqi army to act: Sistani expresses concern for the citizens of Amerli and this has the Iraqi army preparing for a major push to fight Daash and end the siege of Amerli. The Iraqi Air Force has also carried out air trikes on Daash positions around Amerli.
(My parents had the good fortune to meet Ayatollah Sistani this year, and my father kept repeating, "what noor (light) he has")
Iraqi Security Forces are reporting that they have now reached Amerli outskirts and fighting with Daash will start soon. Hezbollah hum al Ghalibun.
27th Aug: Nouri Al Maliki criticises remarks made by Kerry that suggested that Iraq be divided on sectarian lines. He has asked other blocs: Sunni and Kurdish to lower their demands prior to government formation and has asked Haider Al Abadi to go ahead with majority rule if they do not show flexibility.
27th Aug: Overwhelmed: The High Commission for Human Rights in Iraq States that there is no accurate figure of the number of people displaced by fighting in Iraq. But a "reasonable" assumption is that 500000 to 1000000 have been displaced.
27th Aug: Nechirvan Barzani, the President of the Kurdistan Region in Iraq, States that the Kurds had a very bitter experience with Maliki. However, he repeats something that Maliki has been repeating since 2006, that fighting terrorism (Daash) is the responsibility of everybody and that the Kurds (Iraq) are fighting terrorism.
The Kurds are keen to resolve issues related to article 140 of Iraq's constitution. Read here http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirkuk_status_referendum
Most of the territory, though not all that the Kurds had moved into after the Iraqi army fled Daash in June was this same contested territory.
The Kurds state that negotiations between them and the National Alliance are moving forward in the right way. They mention that the National Alliance is cooperating with demands that are within the constitution.
27th Aug: The Kurds bombard Daash positions in Bashiqah, north east if Mosul with artillery and the United Staes bombs them with air strikes killing and injuring many.
27th Aug: Former Speaker and Sunni Politician Ayad al-Samarrai (head of the Iraqi Islamic Party) states that Iraqi Sunnis are also divided in their opinion of whether or not to work with the next government being formed.
27th Aug: One of three Indian nationals missing and believed to be fighting for Daash, Arif Majid, is reported killed in Iraq.
27th Aug: Javad Zarif concludes his three day visit to Iraq. He refers to Iran as being trustworthy and that he had a chance to consult with all political blocs including the Marjas in Najaf (and excluding Daash).
27th Aug: The Iraqi Security Forces hope to be able to free Tikrit in the next 14 days. The plan is to gradually attack and free other areas from Daash after Tokrit has fallen. The besieged sub district of Amerli will also be freed after Tikrit. Food supplies are running low in Amerli and it's Turkoman Shia inhabitants are at risk of mass murder by besieging Daash terrorists.
27th Aug: Salim Al Jubouri holds a meeting with the concerned officials of Salah al Din province concerning the fate of the 1700 Shia recruits murdered by Daash terrorists.
27th Aug: Death from above: The US carries out two air strikes against Daash targets near Erbil.
27th Aug: Feeling the pain before feeling their maker: A significantly large number of Daash casualties are being reported at the al-Salam Hospital (Saddam) and the al-Jumhori Hospital, and the General Hospital in Mosul. The hospitals lack medicine and anaesthetics. The Daash wounded are from US air strikes and Peshmerga artillery strikes north east of Mosul.
27th Aug: Tribal fighters from the Albu Faraj clan in Dhuluiya, believed to be a Salafi/Wahabi stronghold of Daash fighters 60 km south of Tikrit, attack and kill 7 fighters of Daash on a farm property and sequester their weapons and ammunition.
27th Aug: The Iraqi Air Force claims to have killed over a 100 fighters of Daash in different parts of Iraq.
27th Aug: Douglas McAuthur McCain, an American national, is killed fighting for Daash in Syria. Another 15 Australian fighters are reported killed in Iraq and Syria. Robert Fisk has correctly pointed out that most fighters from the West fighting on behalf of Daash are ethnically either Indian or Pakistani.
27th Aug: Iraqi security forces have used air borne troops to secure the road linking Haditha and Baiji.

Related:
27th Aug: Al Nusra fighters have taken over the Syrian Israeli crossing of Quneitra across from the Israeli occupied Golan Heights. Fighting with Syrian troops is continuing.
An Israeli soldier was hit in stray fire and Israel responded by shelling two Syrian army posts. like always a very measured response by the Israelis. It involves an algorithm that takes into account the total number of Israelis, the total number of Muslim Arabs, the Military strength of both sides, the Economic disparity of both sides, the influence and media outlets available to both sides etc etc etc
27th Aug: End of political correctness? Being British is a privilege: Police in the UK are reporting a five fold increase in the arrests of would be Daash fighters. While the US is tracking up to 300 Americans fighting for Daash.
27th Aug: Shirley Sotloff, mother of journalist Steven Sotloff held by Daash, makes a video appeal for his release. May Allah protect him and give him courage.
Meanwhile, Daash is demanding a 6.6 million USD ransom for a 26 year old Aid worker they had kidnapped. Let's hope Qatar pays for her too.
27th Aug: An example to all: A Syrian soldier about to be executed by Daash screams out "I swear to God we will eradicate the (Islamic) state." Amen, ya Rabal Alameen, so be it, oh lord of the Universe(s). The soldier was later executed.
27th Aug: Jordanian Islamic scholars are asking that Daash fighters not be referred to as Jihadists. As they tend to do things that are completely UnIslamic.
27th Aug: Until next time: Following the cease fire in Gaza, Qatar offers to rebuild the entire strip.
27th Aug: Iran announces that it has started to arm resistance groups in the a West Bank.
27th Aug: Pro Daash twitter accounts show photos of captured Syrian soldiers, weapons and Sukhoi aircraft that Daash has captured in Raqqa. It also shows photos of regime soldiers being executed.

Further reading:
The pimps of the Middle East:
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/qatar-and-the-reason-us-hostage-peter-theo-curtis-has-been-released-9690048.html
Spread of Poisoned Islam:
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/isiss-undoubted-skill-in-exploiting-social-media-is-no-reason-for-us-leaders-to-start-talking-about-the-apocalypse-9688438.html
Give and take:
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/iraq-can-major-concessions-end-political-crisis

August 22nd to 25th Iraq SITREP by Mindfriedo: An eye for eye

18th Aug: Yazidi volunteers are being trained by the Kurds to fight Daash. The Kurds are providing the Yazidis with arms, training, and uniforms.
22nd Aug: An attack on the Sunni Musab bin Omair mosque in Diyala during Friday prayers has left 68 worshippers dead. Locals are blaming Shia militias for the attack. They state that the attack followed the deaths of Shia militiamen in an IED attack and that this was a reprisal attack.
Government sources are claiming that the attack was either by Daash or some other militant group. They have called an enquiry and have stated that they will not flinch from prosecuting the guilty no matter who they are.
There were conflicting reports that the attack involved the use of a suicide bomber who blew himself up prior to the shooting.
22nd Aug: Abu Musa, spokesperson for Daash, is killed in Syria during an assault on the Taqba military base:
http://rt.com/usa/182256-is-spokesman-mosa-killed/
Abu Musa had also appeared on several videos documenting Daash on Vice News.
22nd Aug: The Iraqi National Alliance says that it will not compromise on the Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs.
23rd Aug: Musab Al Sinjeri a Daash commander in Diyal is killed along with his assistant Khalid al Dulaimi by the Iraqi Security Forces.
23rd Aug: Three people are killed and nine injured in a suicide bomb attack on the headquarters of the Intelligence Services in Baghdad.
23rd Aug: The Speaker of Iraq’s parliament, Salim al-Jubouri , and Iraq’s deputy Prime Minister, Saleh al-Mutlaq, suspend their participation in Iraq’s government over the Musab bin Omair Mosque attack, until there is a proper investigation.
Jubouri later states that efforts are under way to investigate those responsible and that militant groups claiming to be part of the Armed Forces and carrying out Sectarian or Criminal acts will be punished.
The Speaker also stated today that Shia parliamentarians are pressing for Central rule in Iraq, while Sunnis want more power to be devolved to the provinces.
23rd Aug: Singing different tunes: Kerry asks Iraqi Political Blocs not to set pre conditions to government formation. While Biden suggests that Iraq needs a Federal structure similar to that of the US, and one that the US is willing to help Iraq establish.
23rd Aug: Yazidi volunteer fighters ambush a three vehicle convoy of Daash near Sinjar Mountain and kill the occupants of all three vehicles they destroyed. The Yazidis also recovered arms and ammunition from the vehicles.
Ambushes and retaliatory attacks by Yazidi fighters are forcing Daash to carry out most of its activities after dark.
23rd Aug: A car carrying Baghdad number plates is attacked with a “sticky” bomb in Iraq. Three people were wounded in the attack.
24th Aug: Marthoya Afkham, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry states that there are no Iranian troops in Iraq and that Iran has no plans on sending any.
24th Aug: The US carries out airstrikes on Daash positions east of Mosul and kills one.
Another 8 Daash fighters are killed by US airstrikes in Mosul
Meanwhile, the Iraqi Air Force carries out air strikes over the weekend
24th Aug: A car bomb targets a Shia area of Baghdad on Sunday killing 3 and wounding 15
24th Aug: Iraqi Forces repel an assault on the Baiji refinery north of Tikrit. The Iraqi Air Force attacks assaulting militants and bombs one of the buildings in which they took shelter.
The Iraqi forces claimed to have destroyed 4 tanks and 6 vehicles being used in the assault.
24th Aug: The Iranian Foreign Minister, Javad Zarif, arrives in Baghdad
24th Aug: Shia cleric Qais Al Khazali, head of the Shia militia League of the Righteous, condemns the attack on the Musaib bin Omair mosque and calls for the perpetrators of the attack to be brought to justice.
The League of the Righteous (Asai’b Ahlal al Haq) has been accused of sectarian killings in the past and continues to be suspected of indulging in sectarian warfare.
24th Aug: Shawki Allam, Egypt’s Mufti, condemns the attack on the Musaib bin Omair mosque and asks Iraqis to reject extremism.
24th Aug: The Iraqi army claims to have killed 50 Daash fighters in four operations in Salah al-Din Province.
25th Aug: Daash buries 40 of its fighters in northern Tikrit
25th Aug: Wanted dead or alive: Iraqi Security Forces kill 133 wanted individuals in the Baghdad area and arrest 19
25th Aug: Javad Zarif, the Iranian Foreign Minister is in Najaf and is expected to meet with Ayatollah Sistani today. He is also expected to meet with three other Shia Marjas: Mohammed Said al-Hakim, Bashir al-Najafi and Muhammad Ishaq al-Fayad.
Fuad Masum, the Presiddent of Iraq, has asked Javed Zarif to involve Iran in the conference on Iraq to be held soon.
He will also visit the Imam Ali (as) shrine and travel to Iraqi Kurdistan on Wednesday.
25th Aug: Qassim al Fadawi, former governor of Anbar, states that man primary responsible for the attack on the Sunni Musab bin Omair mosque in Diyala, which resulted in a large number of fatalities, has been arrested. Preliminary investigations show that the act was not a sectarian act but a criminal one. This would indicate that it was meant to incite sectarian killings.
25th Aug: Reigning in the militias: Prime Minister in waiting, Haider al Abadi states, “I confirm that weapons must remain in the hand of the state -- there is no place for any armed group.”
25th Aug: Daash gets paid in kind: A car bomb, the first of its kind in Mosul, goes off outside one of the Daash headquarters in New Mosul, Mosul. The number of casualties is reported to be high but unverified.
25th Aug: Two bombs explode in the Shia city of Karbala in south Iraq, one at a transportation hub, and leave many dead and injured.
25th Aug: Ten Shia worshippers are killed and 25 injured in Baghdad when a suicide bomber blew himself up inside a Shia Hussanieh (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hussainia) in Baghdad.
25th Aug: The Sunni political bloc, Iraqi Forces Alliances, has presented an 18 page list to Haider Al Abadi for pre approval prior to them lending him support.
The demands include, but are not limited to:
-Adapting Sunni Militias as part of the Iraqi Armed Forces
-Participation in Decision Making
-Release of Prisoners
-Reform of Federal laws and the Judiciary
-Decentralization of Administrative Powers
The Sunnis see any steps being taken by Haider Al Abadi to form government in an ad hoc fashion to be similar to the way in which Maliki functioned and unacceptable.
25th Aug: The National Alliance has stated that it will name its new President after the formation of the Iraqi Government headed by Haider al Abadi
25th Aug: Kurdish authorities are prosecuting three high ranking officials who were in charge of security forces/arrangements when Sinjar fell. The three are:
Shaukat Dosky of the Peshmerga Forces
Saeed Keste
And Serbest Baberi of the KDP(Kurdish Democratic Party)
25th Aug: Massoud Barzani refuses to sign into law an amendment that would allow for democratic protests in Iraqi Kurdistan. He cited the danger posed by Daash as sufficient to necessitate this suspension of civil liberties.
25th Aug: The Parliament of Iraqi Kurdistan holds a special session to deliberate on the Peshmerga/Kurdish forces fighting Daash in the north.
25th Aug: Asaad al-Shammari, a Daash terrorist who specialized in planting IEDs has ironically/justly been killed by an IED after Yazidi militia men holed up on mount Sinjar opened fire on him while he was planting a bomb.
25th Aug: The Fight for Jalawla continues, but the tables are now turned: It is now the Peshmerga forces that are laying siege to Jalawla being held by Daash. The Peshmerga forces have seiged the town from three sides and are preparing to invade it. Precautions have been taken to ensure that none of the Daash fighters escapes alive. Ten Peshmergas were killed over the past two days.
Peshmerga forces are being backed by the Iraqi Air Force.
25th Aug: The Egyptian Dar al Ifta launches a campaign to ban the use of the term “Islamic State” and is asking the international community and Muslims to refer to it instead as “QSIS” (Al Qa'ida Separatists in Iraq and Syria).
http://www.egyptindependent.com//news/dar-al-ifta-bans-use-%E2%80%9Cislamic-state%E2%80%9D-term
25th Aug: Maliki visits Speicher Military Base in Tikrit to inspect Iraqi Troops stationed there
25th Aug: Govt Claims for the day:
The Iraqi Air Force bombs a convoy/parade of Daash fighters in Fallujah and kills 40
A house being used by Daash is attacked in an air strike in Anbar and a number of Daash fighters are killed

Related:
22nd Aug: Hezbollah condemns the beheading of the American Journalist in Iraq
24th Aug: The Al Nusra front releases Peter Theo Curtis, an American journalist who was kidnapped two years ago. The journalist was released after mediation by, guess who, Qatar.
24th Aug: Advantage Iran: Iran shoots down an Israeli drone attempting to fly over its Natanz nuclear facility. The drone was shot down by the Revolutionary Guards.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/Aug-25/268431-iran-airs-tv-footage-of-purported-israeli-drone.ashx#axzz3BL4OOJFR
24th Aug: Losing the north: The Syrian Government lost its final foothold in the north east of Syria, Taqba Air Base, to Daash. The fourth all out assault by Daash that resulted in 340 Daash casualties and 170 Government troops (numbers stated by the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights) was the deadliest so far.
Government airstrikes had targeted Daash fighters repeatedly but were unable to stop the rebel advance. The Syrian Air Force even used fuel bombs to try and stop the rebels. However, Daash was able to enter the base and Syrian troops then withdrew. There have been reports of beheadings and the Syrian Army and Air Force has lost some air assets and heavy equipment.
24th Aug: Malaysia arrests 19 people suspected of wanting to bomb a local brewery and planning to travel to Syria to fight for Daash:
https://news.vice.com/article/malaysia-arrests-suspected-islamic-state-militant-recruits-amid-fears-of-rising-extremist-support
25th Aug: Fifteen people are reported dead, twelve of them Houthi fighters and three belonging to opposing tribes in Al Jawf. Fighting is ongoing. The Houthis were protesting against discrimination by the government.
25th Aug: Iran announces its intention to supply arms to militants fighting Israel in the West Bank as a response to Israel flying drones over Iran.
25th Aug: First signs of trouble: Turkey sees protests over its large number of Syrian Refugee. The refugees are in a pitiful state with many resorting to begging in the streets.
25th Aug: With a straight face, Walid Muallem, of Syria offers the United States its help in its fight against Daash terrorism. He however warned the United States not to carry out air strikes on “Syrian” territory.
25th Aug: Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighters have kidnapped three Chinese Workers in Eastern Turkey. The three were working on a power station being built by a Chinese Company. The Power plant was also attacked.

Further Reading:

Waking up finally: “ISIS has received financing from donors in Kuwait and Qatar. Saudi Arabia funneled weapons to Syrian rebels and didn’t care if they went to ISIS. Turkey allowed ISIS fighters and weapons to flow across porous borders.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/25/opinion/a-necessary-response-to-isis.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Smoke and Mirrors, Foley’s execution video may be “staged”:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/11054488/Foley-murder-video-may-have-been-staged.html

August 21 Iraq SITREP by Mindfriedo: American Hostage Crisis

NB: The term Salafi may refer to a Puritan Sunni (or rarely Shia) but in these SITREPs is being referred synonymously with Wahabi Takfiris.
The titles Farooq and Siddique were originally those of Ali ibn Abi Talib (as), but over the ages, for whatever reasons, have been associated with Omar ibn Khattab and Abu Bakr (the second and first Caliphs).
Similarly the term Salaf may have referred to a pious worshipper but, as is the norm now, the term Salafi Jihadism is associated with Wahabism. To avoid confusion, the term Salaf here does not refer to its “original” purpose/meaning.

Quote of the Day: Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif: If we agree to do something in Iraq, the other side of the negotiations should do something in return
Thought of the Day: Dirty, Dirty Politics

21st Aug: The Pentagon reveals that it carried out a air ground raid on Syrian territory controlled by Daash earlier in the year to try and rescue Western hostages but failed. The prisoners had been moved recently and the Special Forces had to withdraw empty handed.
21st Aug: The US confirms that heavy weaponry is on its way to Kurdish fighters in Iraq and that airstrikes on Daash positions will continue. Daash had earlier threatened to execute a second US hostage if bombings continue.
14 air raids are reported by the Pentagon on Daash positions and vehicles near Mosul Dam.
21st Aug: Security Services are attempting to identify the British national who appeared in the video and brutally executed James Foley in Iraq. Daash is believed to have used a British national for “dramatic” effect and as part of its PSYOPs.
21st Aug: UNICEF refers to the cases of kidnapping, rape and sexual abuse of women and children belonging to Iraqi Minorities by armed groups (Daash) as the worst the world has seen in this Century.
21st Aug: Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, the Kuwaiti Prime Minister congratulates Haider Jawad Al Abadi and reaffirms Kuwait’s support for Iraq.
Kuwait was invaded by Saddam Hussain at the end of the Iran Iraq war over financial aid that Iraq had received from Kuwait during the war. Saddam was under the impression that it was a grant; Kuwait insisted it was a loan. Saddam regarded Kuwait to be a part of (probably correct) Iraq and part of his prize for having fought Persian Iran on behalf of his fellow Arabs (mostly every member of the GCC).
21st Aug: The Al Salam brigade of Moqtada al Sadr claims that it has advanced and regained control of three areas in northern Babil. Its Shia fighters have taken back al-Baherat , Qaderiya 1 and Qaderiya 2 areas after fighting Daash led rebels. The attempt on the part of the Al Salam brigade is to free the area of Jurf Al Sakhar north east of Karbala, Southern Iraq.
21st Aug: The Iraqi Security forces are preparing for another push in Tikrit to try and regain control of the Presidential Palace.
21st Aug: The Iraqi Army launches an assault on Mshahdh, north of Taji, north of Baghdad. Twenty four Daash fighters are reported killed in fighting that also resulted in the deaths of Faisal Saeed, Ali Asad Musleh, Mohammed Musleh, and Mohammed Jabbar; they are reported as being prominent in Daash.
21st Aug: The Kurds are now in control of most of Mosul outskirts. The push east by Daash may end up costing them Mosul.
14 Daash fighters have surrendered to Peshmerga forces in Bashiqah, north east of Mosul. Most of those who surrendered are believed to be locals that had been recently “conscripted” into Daash. The prisoners claimed that most of their former Daash leadership fled to Mosul once the bombing started.
21st Aug: A drunken UK citizen barges into the home of a family in the English Village neighborhood of Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan and is killed on the assumption that he is a “robber.”
This unfortunate misunderstanding may have to do with his heritage, as most British Colonial Enterprises were nothing short of highway robbery.
21st Aug: The capacity of the oil pipeline shipping oil from Iraqi Kurdistan to Turkey has been increased from 120000 barrels a day to 200000 barrels per day.
Meanwhile, the Norwegian oil company DNO reaffirmed its commitment to continue its very profitable operations that have been in place for the last 10 years.
21st Aug: The Iraqi government is considering the role that former/current Baathist played in the current crisis. They are being seen as key in giving Daash logistic and political support in its takeover of most of Anbar and Nineveh.
21st Aug: Over 3000 foreign fighters are believed to be fighting for Daash in Iraq; most of them from Western Countries and over 400 from the UK alone. May God send them to their Paradise (Hell) soon!
21st Aug: The Kurds are being “advised” to be wary of Abadi who comes from the same Dawa party as Maliki and whose policies may be more or less the same.
Abadi had accused the Kurds in March of withholding 10 Billion USD in revenue from the Central Government.

Related:
21st Aug: France is now officially arming both sides. Hollande confirms that France did provide Syrian Rebels (Daash) with weapons a few months ago.
21st Aug: Daash launches an all out assault on the Tabqa Air Base of the Syrian Government. It is the last foothold of the Assad regime in the region.
Daash started the assault with the firing of rockets and tank shells at the air base.
21st Aug: Turkish NGOs in Armenia are asking for permission at the Blue Mosque of Yerevan in the Armenian Capital. They argue that Armenians are free to practice their faith in Turkey. The move is bound to cause trouble.
21st Aug: Off with his head: The petrified monarchies of the Gulf States are tightening their belts to fight blow back from the monster they helped create. The UAE has just toughened its anti terrorism laws (monarchy protection laws): The law stipulates that those found guilty of attacking or threatening the President, the Vice-President or any of the Rulers of the Emirates and their family members, and those conspiring against the state and government will face capital punishment.
21st Aug: Saudis account for just 68% of the total population of Saudi Arabia. The rest are migrants earning a living.
21st Aug: 260 Iraqi Christians are taking shelter in Churches in Jordan. Ironically or tragically in a state suspected of having trained the Daash rebels that persecuted the Christian Community of Iraq and Syria.
21st Aug: Saving Face, or what’s left of it: Qatar reacts to the statement made by the German Minister and calls the beheading of Foley as a “crime” against Islamic principles.
21st Aug: An Arab Israeli national has been arrested by the Lebanese military on suspicion of being an Israeli spy. The man cut through a barbed wire fence to enter Southern Lebanon.

Further Reading:
Questions why Sunni Iraqis do not flee Daash:
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/middle-east-crisis-we-know-all-too-much-about-the-cruelty-of-isis--but-all-too-little-about-who-they-are-9681873.html

A British Salafi/Wahabi/Takfiri Citizen Executed Foley:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/08/20/james-foley-s-executioner-was-one-of-many-british-jihadis-in-isis.html

British fighters had been carrying out "horrific acts" like beheadings, torture and executions for a year and a half
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/20/isis-militant-islamic-state-james-foley-guards-british
Bhadrakumar on America’s return to the war on terror:
http://blogs.rediff.com/mkbhadrakumar/2014/08/21/obama-reopens-war-on-terror/

Understanding the Yazidis, a faith on the brink of extinction:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/08/21/fighting-back-with-faith-inside-the-yazidis-iraqi-temple.html

The BBC continuing with its bullshit propaganda:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28867370

August 20th Iraq SITREP by Mindfriedo: Resilient Daash

Quote of the Day, German Development Minister Gerd Muller: Who is financing these forces? I think it is Qatar
Thought of the day: Murder will out

19th Aug: The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights states that Daash has more than 50000 fighters in Syria and another 30000 in Iraq. It has recruited 6000 fighters in the last month alone and of these 1000 are foreign fighters.
Daash's strength in Syria is expected to grow as more and more fighters from rival rebel groups join its ranks and it's supporters abroad make it to the shores of its crazy Caliphate.
20th Aug: Iraqi Shia Marja from Kadhmain, Hussein Ismail al-Sadr replies to queries by Shia believers that the protection of the lives, property and well being of the Yazidis is a humanitarian and religious obligation irrespective of the fact that they are not people of the book. He stated that the doors of Kadhmiya are open to those displaced and calls the persecution by Daash as unIslamic.
20th Aug: The Iraqi army is drawing up plans to dislodge Daash fighters from their siege of Amerli in Salah Al Din province. The plan involves opening up of a road link to Amerli by bombing Daash positions with airstrikes. Daash has laid siege for Amerli after it was unable to invade and occupy the area.
20th Aug: Peshmerga advances towards Rabia, 95 km north west of Mosul, has led to an exodus of Sunni Arab families that are heading towards the Syrian border. A similar exodus took place when the Peshmergas approached Wana, 25 km north west of Mosul. The Sunni Arab refugees are heading toward the west or Daash held territory as opposed to towards Kurdistan in anticipation of heavy fighting that is expected.
20th Aug: Outgoing Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki instructs The officials responsible to make sure that displaced people from Amerli are supplied with food rations, refugee accommodation, medical supplies and other compensation. Those that need medical treatment abroad can have their travel facilitated.
20th Aug: Ibrahim Mohammed, a leader within the Democratic Party of Kurdistan (KDP) in Kirkuk is assassinated at his residence by unidentified gunmen.
20th Aug: 25000 Iraqis are travelling to Saudi Arabia for Hajj/pilgrimage.
20th Aug: After brutally executing Foley, Daash warns Obama that the fate of another American Stephen Gul Sutlov, depends on Obama's future course of action.
Cali Foley, sister of slain journalist asks for people to respect their families' privacy in their hour of grief. YouTube remove the video of the scribes brutal execution.
20th Aug: Kurdish Parliamentarians return to their government posts in Baghdad. The Kurds had withdrawn on the 8th of August following comments made by Nouri Al Maliki that the Kurds were harbouring Daash. Kurdish politician Hoshiyar Zabari has also returned as Foreign Minister after Maliki called on all sides to help the new administration.
20th Aug: The Iraqi Air Force carries out air strikes on Daash positions in Anbar, Salah Id Din, and Babil provinces. 35 Daash fighters are reported killed and 11 vehicles destroyed.

Related:
20th Aug: Armed Houthi rebels enter Sanaa and set up protest camps. Armed Houthi rebels have set up checkpoints around their camps and are demanding that the government of President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi resign over increasing prices, in particular those of fuel.

Short Analysis: What has been the outcome of Daash's advance for Iraq's different sects and players?
Daash's advance has primarily resulted in the ethnic cleansing/division of Iraq. Iraq now resembles Baghdad after its sectarian violence of 2006. The Shias in the north can never return and will be resettled in the South. The Kurds will also head to their enclave and almost all Sunni Iraqis will leave areas where Shias and Kurds dominate.

The return of communities is next to impossible. There is no force that can guarantee the protection of Iraq's ethnic groups in places where they are either a minority or surrounded by other communities.

The Kurds have been the clear winners so far. Politically, militarily, and territorially. They can now bargain for confessions like never before. They will likely gain economic autonomy and will continue to pump oil through Turkey. Their armed forces will grow stronger and their relations with the rest of the world will improve at the cost of Iraq. Their move away from their demand of independence has been a calculated one. They gain more by staying than by leaving. They can always leave when Iraq is collapsing or disintegrating in the future; a very real and foreseeable outcome now that the country is segregated. And they can build their strength by then.

The Shia militias have gained/will gain power in the south like never before and through them Iran's influence will grow. The Iraqi state owes its survival to militias and volunteers that answered Sistani's general call to arms. Most militia fighters will join different branches of the Iraqi Armed forces and will become a state within a state. The recent dependence of the Iraqi state on the Shia militias will make it even harder for any measures to be taken to curtail their growing power. An exception has been Moqtada Sadr's militia that has lost ground because of its aversion to sectarian violence.
The power of the militias will be a contentious issue and Sunni Arab politicians will press on the next government to act against sectarian forces. And this will probably be one of the reasons why any future government will dither and fall or at least stop functioning effectively.

The Sunni Arabs will now start to fight Daash in their territory. If they leave the fight for the Iraqi government, most of Anbar will resemble most of Syria. The invasive Shia Iraqi Army will not have affinity for local architecture and will not try to fight door to door. They will prefer bombing it all and protecting themselves. Also for most Sunnis the dilemma of acting against Daash that claims to be championing their interests will be similar to the dilemma of the Iraqi government if it had to fight Shia militias. Their future for now seems bleak. They don't face suicide bombings or car bombs, but they do face air strikes and artillery in the near future.

The absolute losers so far have been the minorities that have no internal or immediate strength/backing: the Christians and the Yazidis and the Shabaqs. Most of these sects will either now abandon Iraq or live on the margins of the Kurdish state.

The Peshmergas whose name translates to those that rush towards death/face death/stay in front of death or any other mythical characteristic abandoned their positions in Sinjar and fled the onslaught of Daash leaving the locals to fend/face death for themselves. These locals had asked to leave but the Peshmergas, comfortable in the assumption that Daash was fighting Baghdad, had promised to fight and protect them. A betrayal less dastardly than the US betrayal of both the Shias and the Kurds during the first Gulf War because America's betrayal was calculated while that of the Kurds was out of self preservation.

The simple reason why the Shias fight better in the south and the Kurds better in the north against Daash is because they belong there. The Iraqi Shia army had no real motivation to stay and fight in Mosul and compared to the Kurds, they were completely demoralised by the corruption of their higher ups. The Kurds on the other hand were willing to die for their homeland. Sinjar was not their homeland.

Daash has also achieved something unique. It has brought out the most vicious aspects of Saudis/Qatari/UAE brand of Islam and forced even these countries to introspect. It has distinguished for most intelligent Muslims the big line dividing Shia Islam and Sunni Islam, the thin one dividing Orthodox Sunni Islam and Salafism (it is not that the difference is minor, but the shifting from one belief system to the other has been an easy one for most Sunnis; for instance it is easier for a Sunni to change his views to that of a Salafi than for him to even consider the Jafari school of thought) and the blurred thin line between Wahabbism and Takfir.