Future of Iraq

WASHINGTON/BERLIN/BAGHDAD (Own report) – A strategy paper prepared by the US Atlantic Council think tank – with the assistance of Germany’s CDU-affiliated Konrad Adenauer Foundation – is proposing measures for Western powers to take to insure their continued influence in Iraq following the fall of Mosul. According to the paper, published a few days ago, US military forces should remain in Iraq for the foreseeable future, train and equip Iraqi forces to prevent IS from regrouping and recovering after its expected defeat. To push back Iran’s influence, measures should also be taken to help the country’s economic development. In Baghdad, a government “strongly inclined to cooperate closely with the United States” is needed, the paper states, and calls for US allies – particularly European countries – to engage in Iraq to “tackle sensitive areas in which the United States is not seen as neutral.” Berlin is already using this opportunity to build its own base of influence in Iraq and is supporting the reconstruction of towns recaptured from the IS. Insuring western control of Iraq is considered all the more urgent, since Russia could successfully obtain major influence in Damascus following the anticipated end of the Syrian war.

Prepare to Be Blindsided in 2016

Column: The only thing we can predict in politics is that we’ll be surprised

Target: Paris. More than 130 die in a terrorist attack on a Friday night in November. No one sees it coming. Global panic ensues.

Suddenly the nation debates the future of the Syrian refugee program. Terrorism jumps to the front of voters’ minds. National security becomes the defining issue of the 2016 election. No one sees that coming, either.

Around two weeks after the Paris attack, Turkey shoots down a Russian fighter over Syria. Vladimir Putin calls it a “stab in the back” and sends more forces to the region. Barack Obama pleads for calm. Trending on Twitter: World War III.

Petraeus accuses Putin of trying to re-establish Russian Empire

Washington (CNN) One of America’s top former generals compared the situation in Syria Tuesday to a historic nuclear disaster, implicitly criticizing the U.S. for allowing it to worsen, and accused Russia’s President of trying to re-establish an empire.

Retired Gen. David Petraeus, testifying before the Senate Armed Service Committee, also recommended that the U.S. establish safe zones for Sunnis inside Syria and potentially put American boots on the grounds in Iraq to stop the spread of ISIS.

The former commanding general of U.S. forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan equated the situation in Syria today with one of the most deadly nuclear accidents in history.

Vladimir Putin could LASH OUT and attack West as Russia runs out of cash warns top general

He has brought his country past the point of no return and the only question is who Russia collides with. Putin has to act or he loses credibility with his handlers and his hold on power, period.

 

Retired US General David Petraeus said that the megalomaniac leader will become more and more desperate and could resort to suicidal acts of violence as “crippling” western sanctions empty his country’s coffers.

The respected soldier predicted that the nuclear superpower will completely run out of cash within two years and will not be able to raise more funds to bankroll its aggressive foreign policy, potentially leading to deadly consequences for those nations on its doorstep.

…

In a dire warning shot to NATO members including Britain, the military expert said: “I think Putin has a limited window of a couple of years to continue provocative actions…and we have to be very careful during this time when he could actually lash out and be even more dangerous than he has been.”