We noted yesterday how General David Petraeus recently warned the Iranian Militias were a greater threat than the Sunni ISIS fighters they oppose. Fighting to aid the Shiite Militia is -for all intents and purposes- direct aid to agenda of Iran. FUBAR.

BREAKING: US airstrikes underway in stalled Iraqi battle to retake Tikrit from Islamic State group.

— The Associated Press (@AP) March 25, 2015

Meanwhile the Kurdish people who could really benefit from our efforts, and who pose no threat to U.S. interests, are left without support and/or weapons to fight.

(Via Long War Journal) The US-led military Coalition in Iraq is openly supporting Iranian-backed Shiite militias and Iraqi forces who are battling Islamic State fighters entrenched in Tikrit. Many of the Shiite militia commanders are listed by the US as Specially Designated Global Terrorists, and one militia is listed as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. Many of the commanders and militias are responsible for killing US, Coailition, and Iraqi troops and civilians during the occupation of Iraq.

Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) announced today that “operations to support Iraqi Security Forces in Tikrit have commenced after a request from the Iraqi Prime Minister, Haider al Abadi,” in a press released issued by the US-led command. (more…)

No details yet, but this essentially destroys the Obama claim the U.S. was not working with Iranian army.

BREAKING: US airstrikes underway in stalled Iraqi battle to retake Tikrit from Islamic State group.

— The Associated Press (@AP) March 25, 2015

@JenGriffinFNC confirms US to do airstrikes over Tikrit

— Greta Van Susteren (@greta) March 25, 2015

FUBAR NUTS – not only is the U.S. facilitating the Iranians to gain the capability for nuclear weapons – but our U.S. Air Force is now conducting air strikes to benefit the Shia Army of Iran and General Qasem Soleimani. Why it was only a few days ago when Petraeus was asked:

QUESTION – What are your thoughts when you see Qasem Soleimani, the IRGC’s Quds Force commander who funded and armed the militias who blew up U.S. troops [killing and wounding thousands of U.S. soldiers] and shelled the U.S. Embassy while you were in it, taking battlefield tours like you used to?

[…]  I have several thoughts when I see the pictures of him, but most of those thoughts probably aren’t suitable for publication in a family newspaper like yours. What I will say is that he is very capable and resourceful individual, a worthy adversary. He has played his hand well. But this is a long game, so let’s see how events transpire.

(more…)

BREAKING: Residents are looting Yemeni presidential compound in Aden vacated hours earlier by President Hadi: witnesses

— Reuters (@Reuters) March 25, 2015

State Dept. confirms Yemen's president has left his house, but doesn't know where he is http://t.co/AKHz5Sgulq pic.twitter.com/jcAbABF9Bk

— Noema Magazine (@NoemaMag) March 25, 2015

ISIS is claiming victory in Yemen, the Yemeni President has fled, the U.S. air base has been abandoned, the U.S. embassy was evacuated.   However, despite these troubling facts and reports the White House is sticking by their former assertions that Yemen is a success story.  Watch Josh Earnest today: (more…)

BREAKING NEWS – It is being widely reported that at 3:30pm (EST) today at Fort Bragg North Carolina an announcement will be made as to the status of Bowe Bergdahl and what charges, if any, he will face.

UPDATE: BREAKING LEAK – Bergdahl will be charged with two criminal charges: #1 Desertion, #2 Misbehavior before the Enemy.

♦  The first charge “Desertion” is remarkably different from AWOL.  “Desertion” implies specific evidence to prove the soldier charged intended to stay with the enemy.

♦  The second charge “Misbehavior before the enemy” has several aspects:  • Running away • Abandoning or surrendering command • Putting safety of command in danger • Throwing down arms  • Conduct that is cowardly  (more here)

(more…)

An excellent article in the Washington Post today includes written Question and Answer exchange with General David Petraeus after a recent re-visit to Iraq and the region.

General Petraeus: […] I think Iraq and the coalition forces are making considerable progress against the Islamic State. In fact, I would argue that the foremost threat to Iraq’s long-term stability and the broader regional equilibrium is not the Islamic State; rather, it is Shiite militias, many backed by — and some guided by — Iran.

These militia returned to the streets of Iraq in response to a fatwa by Shia leader Grand Ayatollah Sistani at a moment of extreme danger. And they prevented the Islamic State from continuing its offensive into Baghdad. Nonetheless, they have, in some cases, cleared not only Sunni extremists but also Sunni civilians and committed atrocities against them.

Thus, they have, to a degree, been both part of Iraq’s salvation but also the most serious threat to the all-important effort of once again getting the Sunni Arab population in Iraq to feel that it has a stake in the success of Iraq rather than a stake in its failure. Longer term, Iranian-backed Shia militia could emerge as the preeminent power in the country, one that is outside the control of the government and instead answerable to Tehran. (more…)

(Via Fox News) US Army Reserve Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer (Ret.) said that the Army is pressuring Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s defense team “to basically cop a plea, to plead out to something, and that would avoid the embarrassment of the entire long-drawn out legal process” on Wednesday’s “O’Reilly Factor” on the Fox News Channel.

Shaffer, who previously reported that a decision and announcements on charges for Bergdahl would come in mid-March stated that he believes the White House and the Pentagon do not want Bergdahl’s trial going on at the same time the detainees swapped for him are released at the beginning of May. (link)

~  “We train in the same conditions we fight”  ~

NAVARRE BEACH, Fla. — Seven Marines and four crewmembers are missing and presumed dead Wednesday after an Army helicopter crashed during a training exercise off the Florida Panhandle.

The area was under a fog advisory when the crash occurred Tuesday night near Eglin Air Force Base about 50 miles east of Pensacola. The extreme fog still present Wednesday morning impeded the search, preventing a Coast Guard helicopter from going airborne until about 1 p.m. CT. (more…)

We have shared Jon McNaughton’s work before and his latest is right on target.

Interactive version HERE and Video Below (more…)

Apparently the Pentagon forgot to check with the White House for permission before they coordinated an offensive against ISIS…  This is what happens when the Pentagon doesn’t defer to the White House, and General John Allen remembers the blackmail files being maintained on him.  

(Via Daily Beast) Just days ago, the generals were trumpeting plans to knock ISIS out of its most important stronghold in Iraq. Now, those plans are on indefinite hold.

The U.S. military’s goal to retake Iraq’s second largest city from the self-proclaimed Islamic State has been pushed back several months at least, defense officials told The Daily Beast. That’s a major shift for the Pentagon, which recently announced that the first major ground offensive in the war against ISIS could come in the next few weeks.

Defense officials once hoped that Iraqi troops could move into Mosul by the Spring and reclaim the city from ISIS. Now, those officials say, Fall is more realistic. And even that date was tenuous. (more…)

The jury in the Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield capital murder trial has reached a verdict. Lawyers for defendant Eddie Routh have argued for a not guilty verdict by reason of insanity. The options are • Guilty • Not Guilty or • Not Guilty by reason for insanity.

UPDATE: The Verdict Is GUILTY

All of the attorneys and participants have been recalled back to the courtroom. We are awaiting the decision.

 UPDATE: – TEXAS A Texas jury has found a former Marine guilty of murdering famed Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle and Kyle’s friend Chad Littlefield.

. (more…)