- Well there you are, the NY Times has discovered that the forces facing the Maliki government's army are actually a coalition of; ISIS head choppers, ex old Iraq Army people, and the Sunni tribes that fought beside us against ISIS like groups in the days of the Awakening. It seems to me that I read something like that elsewhere a while back... Ah, yes! It was here. pl
- The Baiji refinery. I have not read anywhere in the media that the products of this refinery are all for Iraqi domestic consumption. Like most oil producers, Iraq exports crude, not refined products. pl
http://wiki.openoil.net/index.php?title=Baiji_Refinery
- Someone wrote to SST predicting downfall for the rebels when they encountered the fearsome Iraqi 9th Armored Division (perhaps their honorific name should be "Masquf on Wheels"). That is undoubtedly an M1A1 Abrams brewed up after a hit from an anti-tank missile. The warhead went all the way through the armor. This picture dates from Iraqi Army attempts to regain ground in Anbar some months ago. pl
http://www.janes.com/article/39550/iraqi-abrams-losses-revealed
- Abdullah Abdullah says to hell with the electoral commission. He hasn't lost yet and is already denouncing the outcome of the presidential election. This does not bode well for a stable presidency adorned by a chief executive who will meekly sign the SOFA. pl
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/iraq-crisis-stirs-fears-afghanistan-24205961