Article

2014-10-15 Fifth Column

It Dawns on Fareed Zakaria: Iraq's Army Has Collapsed

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Posted by Pappy 2014-10-15 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11131 views ] Top

#1 Alternate link.

Fixed - thank you.

Posted by Besoeker 2014-10-15 03:36|| 2014-10-15 03:36|| Front Page Top

#2 he read it somewhere else and plagiarized it

~~Bitchslap~~ Snark of the day.

Posted by Frank G 2014-10-15 07:05|| 2014-10-15 07:05|| Front Page Top

#3 He probably feels that someone should take them to court and make them fulfill their obligations.

Posted by ed in texas 2014-10-15 07:29|| 2014-10-15 07:29|| Front Page Top

#4 If CNN weren't so busy promoting Obama and the left's agenda, Fareed might have noticed--and if he didn't have his head up his arse.

Posted by JohnQC 2014-10-15 13:35|| 2014-10-15 13:35|| Front Page Top

#5 Alternate link.

Good catch, Besoeker. Thanks!!

Posted by trailing wife 2014-10-15 13:49|| 2014-10-15 13:49|| Front Page Top

#6 Ravi over at orbat.com has the following critical summary:

Iraq Army divisions We know 1, 2, 3, 4 Divisions are wiped out. 5 Mechanized is in Diyla but don't seem to be doing anything, which seems to indicate it too is ineffective. 6 is in Baghdad. 7 in Anbar has been ineffective for months; just two days its base at Hit was overrun; the HQ is at Al-Asad airbase, an IS target. 8 was moved to Anbar where it has been taking a beating. 9 Armored (sometimes referred to as Mechanized) is at Baghdad but with brigades dispersed to Anbar and the North. 10 is now around Abu Gharib, therefore part of the Baghdad garrison. 11, the commando division is in Baghdad with at least one brigade in the north. 12 was in the north and has not been heard from; Bill Roggio suspects it was dissolved and effective elements merged with the Peshmerga as likely it had a significant percentage of Kurds. 14’s location has not been identified, but it seems likely it took over 17’s AOR just south of Baghdad. 17 was bashed up in the south before being transferred to Anbar; it is unlikely to be effective. 18 is the oil security division and not a tactical formation.

At this point we can sing “This is the end, my friend”, because Iraq is out of troops. With Anbar looking like it is going to fall, Iraq will be left with the Baghdad garrison. We share Bill Roggio’s opinion that Baghdad is unlikely to fall – not on account of the Army, but because of the Shia militias. At the same time, we have to consider when IS attacks Baghdad, it will have as allies large numbers of Sunni militia, thirsting for revenge for the atrocities the Shia’s inflicted on them in Baghdad until the US surge brought the Shia militia’s under control. Baghdad is supposed to have 60,000 troops. This, however, counts the National Police paramilitary brigades. We will be surprised if a third of the garrison will stand and fight.

Please to remember that no army fights to the last man. At 66% losses, it is finished. Iraq Army is at around 75% losses, mainly to desertions. Sure there must be a large number of soldiers on the roll, but to imagine they are actually in units and in the field is an illusion.

Posted by Cheanter Ebbaper3878 2014-10-15 22:29|| 2014-10-15 22:29|| Front Page Top

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