The shameful secret is that #Mosul fell to Da’ish a long time before they actually seized its streets.
The terrorists had a mafia-like grip on the city. They ‘taxed’ its businesses and infiltrated its local government.
10th June 2014 was just their coronation.
The terrorists had a mafia-like grip on the city. They ‘taxed’ its businesses and infiltrated its local government.
10th June 2014 was just their coronation.
The people of Mosul, like all Sunni communities around #Iraq, had been fed the “Sunni marginalisation” myth.
It said they were worse off in the new Iraq than Shi’a Iraqis.
In reality, the poverty levels in the Shi’a south were significantly worse. But who cares about the truth?
It said they were worse off in the new Iraq than Shi’a Iraqis.
In reality, the poverty levels in the Shi’a south were significantly worse. But who cares about the truth?
The Sunni marginalisation myth compounded Sunni anger at losing their pre-2003 grip on power in #Iraq. It fuelled the notion that Iran defeated them. It poured gasoline on the fire.
The black flags of Da’ish & the starred flag of Saddam side by side became a less uncommon sight.
The black flags of Da’ish & the starred flag of Saddam side by side became a less uncommon sight.
Da’ish played its next hand deftly.
The Sunni protest movement in Anbar was infiltrated. The “tribal revolutionaries” picked up arms and pushed the Iraqi Army out of Fallujah and Ramadi.
Overnight, the black flags rose above those cities. The takeover of #Iraq had begun.
The Sunni protest movement in Anbar was infiltrated. The “tribal revolutionaries” picked up arms and pushed the Iraqi Army out of Fallujah and Ramadi.
Overnight, the black flags rose above those cities. The takeover of #Iraq had begun.
The Sunni community in #Iraq had the ability to defeat Da’ish.
The city of Haditha was besieged by Da’ish for 18 months and its people never yielded.
Ultimately, certain communities saw Da’ish as better than the alternative: being part of an Iraq that they no longer controlled.
The city of Haditha was besieged by Da’ish for 18 months and its people never yielded.
Ultimately, certain communities saw Da’ish as better than the alternative: being part of an Iraq that they no longer controlled.
Maliki’s government and his military commanders also played their part in the travesty.
Their corruption and nepotism allowed #Iraq’s military to rust from the top down.
The army was underpaid, barely equipped, badly trained & not motivated.
The perfect storm approached Mosul.
Their corruption and nepotism allowed #Iraq’s military to rust from the top down.
The army was underpaid, barely equipped, badly trained & not motivated.
The perfect storm approached Mosul.
Da’ish already had a strong presence in the city & the assault force from #Syria was all that was needed.
Confusion due to commanders’ errors + suicide attacks, no motivation to die in a city (far from home) that hated them and lack of preparedness made the collapse inevitable.
Confusion due to commanders’ errors + suicide attacks, no motivation to die in a city (far from home) that hated them and lack of preparedness made the collapse inevitable.
