Basically, the situation is as follows: the Kurds are advancing into Islamic State territory, now that the USAF has resumed its customary role of ‘stand-in for Old Testament angels*.’ Kurdish forces have just retaken a strategic mountain that gives them an excellent position to strike at Mosul. And what is Mosul?
Mosul is a mainly Sunni city which Kurdish forces say they do not intend to recapture on their own.
‘Intend.’ Useful word, that. Because it’s also a city that the Kurds more or less still considers ‘theirs.’
Moe Lane
*Refresh your memory on that. As many people have noted, there’s a reason why the first words out of an angel’s mouth have traditionally been Fear not.
I spent about 5 months of 2003-04 in Mosul, when it was one of the calmer places in the immediate aftermath of the invasion. Why? Lots of pro-ish-American, vehemently anti-Saddam Kurds.
Cold War reality dictated that we couldn’t piss off our Turkish allies by being too chummy with the Kurds. No more Cold War + slow-motion Islamization of Turkey = possible new American climate state, and one that stands to require less nose-holding than most.
It grates on my nethers to see IS in charge of anyplace America spent blood to rent, and I wish the Kurds good hunting.