Iraq drawn into ' secondary ' battles

Azzaman, December 17, 2014

All the battles targeting Islamic State militants in Iraq today are of a secondary character from a military viewpoint.

The battles are marginal because they are geared towards safeguarding the capital, Baghdad, and the areas which the authorities are keen to protect for demographic reasons.

Everyone knows the major battle will occur when troops launch a decisive attack to retake Mosul, the country second largest city, from the Islamic State. But this particular battle does not seem to be part of the government mobilization of troops nor currently on the agenda of the U.S.

The war maps are drawn for the government because its war effort is concentrated on the line linking Baghdad to the countrys largest refinery in Baiji and the Iranian borders via the Province of Diyala.

Other than this line, the rest is something for the Americans to decides, particularly what concerns the Province of Nineveh of which Mosul is the capital and the Province of Anbar of which Ramadi is the capital.

Regional influences weigh in any decision to retake these two major cities.

It is surprising and even shocking to see the security situation deteriorating in the Province of Anbar in the aftermath of U.S. and allied air raids on Islamic State militants there. The strategically situated province borders Syria, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

These air attacks have emboldened and not weakened Islamic State Jihadists who have stormed all but a few positions in Ramadi on their relentless march towards Baghdad.

Air bombing has proved ineffective to halt the advance of Jihadist guerrillas whether in Baghdad or Syria.

When will the decisive battle against the Islamic State take place? This is a question which only the U.S. and its allies could answer. Any such battle will have to come at a time that will serve their own interests.

The great battle is coming but I am afraid it will not only target the Islamic State.

http://www.azzaman.com/english/?p=694

Wow....   captured many wise aspects of the whole situation