Iraqi army declares victory in Mosul
July 9, 2017 4:25 PM Subscribe
Dressed in a military uniform, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi arrived in Mosul on Sunday to congratulate Iraq’s armed forces for wresting the city from the Islamic State. The victory marked the formal end of a bloody campaign that lasted nearly nine months, left much of Iraq’s second-largest city in ruins, killed thousands of people and displaced nearly a million more.
US officials have compared the fight in Mosul to the intensity of warfare in World War II. Illustrator George Butler joined Iraqi special forces as they fought their way into west Mosul in their bid to destroy Isis. He found displaced people with little hope. The AP has a collection of photos and a 360 video showing Mosul in recent days. [Some distressing images]
But it is far too soon to celebrate. Since the rise of jihadi extremism four decades ago, its most enduring trait, through ever-evolving manifestations, is its ability to reinvent and revive movements that appeared beaten.
US officials have compared the fight in Mosul to the intensity of warfare in World War II. Illustrator George Butler joined Iraqi special forces as they fought their way into west Mosul in their bid to destroy Isis. He found displaced people with little hope. The AP has a collection of photos and a 360 video showing Mosul in recent days. [Some distressing images]
But it is far too soon to celebrate. Since the rise of jihadi extremism four decades ago, its most enduring trait, through ever-evolving manifestations, is its ability to reinvent and revive movements that appeared beaten.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
posted by Joe in Australia at 5:04 PM on July 9, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by Joe in Australia at 5:04 PM on July 9, 2017 [17 favorites]
Just another horrible footnote to W's oil war that nobody cares about any more. Also, here's an insighful and terrible background to the war in Syria
posted by growabrain at 5:10 PM on July 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 5:10 PM on July 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
The Last Iraq by Fadhil al-Azzawi, Translated by Salaam Yousifposted by Fizz at 5:24 PM on July 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
Every night I place this creature on my table
And pull its ears,
Till tears of joy come to its eyes.
Another cold winter, penetrated by airplanes
And soldiers sitting on the edge of a hillock,
Waiting for history
To rise up from the darkness of the marshes
With a gun in its hand,
To shoot angels
Training for the revolution.
Every night I put my hand on this country,
It slips away from my fingers,
Like a soldier running from the front.
[1987]
Fadhi al-Azzawi was born in Iraq's northern city of Kirkuk. He was imprisoned in Baghdad. He lives now in Germany.
No One Would Buy My Photos, So Here They Are For Free: Mosul 2017. From photographer Kainoa Little.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 5:47 PM on July 9, 2017 [24 favorites]
posted by scaryblackdeath at 5:47 PM on July 9, 2017 [24 favorites]
The cover photo for photog Kainna Little's website, linked by scaryblackdeath above, is a great picture.
As for Mosul, as Shrub found out, declaring victory is much different from achieving a lasting peace.
posted by AugustWest at 6:01 PM on July 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
As for Mosul, as Shrub found out, declaring victory is much different from achieving a lasting peace.
posted by AugustWest at 6:01 PM on July 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Some of the photos from the aftermath derail near-total devastation. It's good to see the city liberated, but what a cost.
posted by Existential Dread at 6:40 PM on July 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Existential Dread at 6:40 PM on July 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
A lot of that damage comes from air power, the part of the war that doesn't get much coverage.
posted by My Dad at 7:11 PM on July 9, 2017
posted by My Dad at 7:11 PM on July 9, 2017
A lot of that damage comes from air power
This may be unfair, but it sometimes seems we don't do ground fighting any more: just bomb to buggery until it's more or less safe to walk into the ruins virtually unopposed.
posted by Segundus at 1:50 AM on July 10, 2017
This may be unfair, but it sometimes seems we don't do ground fighting any more: just bomb to buggery until it's more or less safe to walk into the ruins virtually unopposed.
posted by Segundus at 1:50 AM on July 10, 2017
Sally Becker, director of the British charity Road to Peace, has worked in conflict zones for 25 years.
Mosul? "I've never seen anything like it."
BBC Worldservice audio (7 mins)
tl;dr: horrendous, just horrendous
posted by Mister Bijou at 2:34 AM on July 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
Mosul? "I've never seen anything like it."
BBC Worldservice audio (7 mins)
tl;dr: horrendous, just horrendous
posted by Mister Bijou at 2:34 AM on July 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
The quote from the fighting in Bến Tre city 49 years ago seems appropriate: 'It became necessary to destroy the town to save it.' But as noted in the FPP, the scale of fighting and damage looks much like some of the urban fighting in WWII more than anything.
No One Would Buy My Photos, So Here They Are For Free: Mosul 2017. From photographer Kainoa Little.
The photos are great; it is a pity the photographer was not able to find interested publications. In a couple of the photos he highlighted a group of the Free Burma Rangers; I wonder how many other oddball groups have been taking part in the chaos of the past year.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:39 AM on July 10, 2017
No One Would Buy My Photos, So Here They Are For Free: Mosul 2017. From photographer Kainoa Little.
The photos are great; it is a pity the photographer was not able to find interested publications. In a couple of the photos he highlighted a group of the Free Burma Rangers; I wonder how many other oddball groups have been taking part in the chaos of the past year.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:39 AM on July 10, 2017
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posted by ocschwar at 4:48 PM on July 9, 2017