The departure of American troops has handed Iraq to Shiite al-Qaeda. Militants have wreaked havoc throughout the country, gaining control of a number of Iraqi cities. Iraq's legislature has failed to decide upon whether or not to call a state of emergency because of the partisan split in parliament.
Security forces report that in addition to cities falling to insurgents, so have Iraqi military bases.
Islamists have taken dozens of Turkish hostages, in addition to Iraqi civilians and troops who supported the U.S.-backed government.
If militants take over Baghdad, it could also result in a major jump in fuel prices. An invasion of Baghdad seems inevitable, as the al-Qaeda led insurgent force heads south towards Baghdad after taking Mosul earlier this week.
The achievements of America’s war in Iraq are rapidly being unwound. Iraq is now breaking apart, into Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish enclaves that amount to the de facto partition of the country.
The Obama administration that campaigned on exiting the United States from the war in Iraq is now saying there will be some kind of response, an intervention that could include air strikes.
In the wake of the fighting, more than 90,000 Iraqi soldiers have deserted, rather than confront the onslaught of jihadist militants.
The Kurds in the northern region of Kurdistan have taken advantage of the chaos, and are making their own advance, gaining control of Kirkuk and a large reservoir of oil.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
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