The Fact File-IRAQ IS BURNING

IRAQ IS BURNING                                                                                                  18 June 2014

Stem this dangerous tide

The extremist takeover the several Iraqi cities threatens to plunge the volatile region  into further chaos

This is the stuff of nightmares. An al Qaueda affiliate is taking over major cities in northern Iraq. Fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) overran Mosul on Tuesday, sparking the exodus of half a million Kurds living there. The ISIS is now in control of Falluja, The oil refinery town of Bayji, and Saddam Hussein’s stronghold, Tikrit. The Sunni extremist group is believed to be moving towards Baghdad from both the north and west. Iraqi forces are failing to put up a fight, feeling in places and leaving behind a huge cache of weapons. The ISIS created havoc in the Syrian civil war in recent years. Its energies have now been directed to the Sunni-Shiite sectarian conflict in Iraq, which has ravaged the country since the US invasion in 2003. The Americans invaded the country and left hastily, leaving the Shiite majority that suffered under Saddam, a Sunni, in charge. Analysis believe the Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki made matters worse by openly backing the Shiite majority in the sectarian conflict, thus setting the stage for a Sunni counter-reaction through ISIS.

This development has a huge bearing on the future of Iraq and the region. ISIS is expected to continue its surge in Sunni areas, where the invasion is said to enjoy a measure of popular support. There is a fear that Iraq, in time, will effectively splinter into three parts controlled by the Kurds, Shias and Sunnis. It remains to be seen if Mr. Maliki and the Iraqi forces will take the fight to non-Shia areas and retake lost cities.

The US has termed the situation as “extremely serious” but it is not clear if Western nations will take steps beyond exporting weapons and urging Iraqi forces to fight. The Obama administration is facing criticism for failing to leave a troop presence in Iraq that could have ensured stability. But Washington will be wary of getting drawn again into a Sunni-Shiite conflict. Instead, it may oddly hope that Iran tackles this crisis. The US must, however, do what it can to prevent the break-up of Iraq. It is the least it can do for a country irrevocably scarred by its ill-conceived invasion.

By the time these lines are put in black & white may be Baghdad would have been run over by ISIS elements.

Having visited IRAQ may a times between 1978 & 1988 (when Saddam Huaasin was the President Dictator) one feels sorry to read IRAQ in such a sorry and delipated state. IRAQ was a very prosperous and progressive Islamic state is the West Asia region IRAQ was the most liberal Islamic state. There were “Belly Dancing” Bars, liquor was not a taboo. Women were dressed in a fairly modest western style dress. Women would wear skirts up to knee length with a scarf around their head. They could be seen in Belly dancing Bar. Nobody dare stare at them or be indecent to them. IRAQI Dinar was a strong currency one ID could fetch 3-5 dollars. There were no terror attacks since Saddam Hussain was a head of state-with a firm hand.

India provided great assistance in building IRAQ specially the Railways, Health services. At one time nearly 100 top class (A1+A2) pilot instructors of the IAF were on deputation to train the Iraqi Air Force.

What have you done Mr. Bush to IRAQ? You went in 2003 to eliminate Saddam Hussain and take over the OIL FIELDS and left suddenly IRAQ to fend for themselves IRAQ is nearly heading for decimation. Will you intervene US & NATO?