As you are probably aware that other than some mopping up the Iraqi army has retaken Iraq’s second largest city, Mosul, which has been occupied by DAESH for most of the last two years. There will be months of cleanup, disarming IEDs and other booby traps, and years even decades of rebuilding.
How big a story is this? I’m inclined to think it’s a “dog bites man” story as opposed to the “man bites dog” story of DAESH’s taking Mosul in the first place, something that was only made possible by the national government’s incredible ineptitude.
It will have implications. Iraq is likely to be less interested in the Syrian border than otherwise might be the case; DAESH will devote more resources to southwest Syria and its notional capitol.
It would be a good time to start winding down our troops there and letting the Iraqis settle their own differences, but, seems unlikely the urge to meddle is too much a part of our foreign policy.
Along with reports of Al-Baghdadi’s death – this has the potential to be bigger when looked at in hindsight years from now.
It all depends on how ISIS deals with the refutation of apocalyptic ideology that it was reestablishing a physical caliphate.
Since I’ve always thought the U.S. had an interest in helping stabilize Iraq and in preventing the formation of a credible caliphate, I’m pleased with the developments.
Oh, I’m pleased with the developments. I hope the Iraqi government keeps records of what they found in Mosul.
Uhh, we took Mosul before. We can do it again in another 10 years.
Steve