is this a real thing that is actually happening?

[C0ckney]

with ISIS advancing on several fronts, and bombs going off in baghdad, not enough iraqi MPs turned up today to achieve quorum for a planned vote on giving the government emergency powers. meanwhile kurdish forces in and around kirkuk have moved in more men and said that they will defend the city and other kurdish areas of the province 'to the last drop of blood'.

in other news, the UK has ruled out intervention, while the US is 'considering further assistance to iraq in fighting the militants'. while the iranian president has said that iran will 'combat extremists' in iraq.

[Sava]

[C0ckney]

i'm starting to think that this could be the end, not just of maliki and his government, but of iraq itself.

[molly bloom]

This is not supposed to be an endorsement of our troops being there, but if they were there then this wouldn't have happened.

If T.E. Lawrence hadn't aided the Arab Revolt, this definitely wouldn't have happened. And he was illegitimate, the bastard.

Blame France and the British Empire- that way you won't have to think too hard.

[AAAAAAAAH!]

How can Iraq's government be this weak?

[kentonio]

ISIS apparently 2 hours from Baghdad. This is going to get messy.

[Elok]

Let's hope for a relatively bloodless transfer of power. These ****wits trying to actually govern a country should be an occasion for low comedy, not high tragedy.

[Elok]

i'm starting to think that this could be the end, not just of maliki and his government, but of iraq itself.

Do you reckon Iran will take the whole thing, or just the non-Kurdish part?

[DinoDoc]

ISIS apparently 2 hours from Baghdad. This is going to get messy.

Are we in the Danger Zone?

[kentonio]

Let's hope for a relatively bloodless transfer of power. These ****wits trying to actually govern a country should be an occasion for low comedy, not high tragedy.

Obama's already said he's not going to allow it to happen. Expect US airstrikes within days if not hours.

[Elok]

Obama's already said he's not going to allow it to happen. Expect US airstrikes within days if not hours.

Aww, balls. I guess it's too much to just ask to pass the ball to Iran, huh?

[rah]

I wonder if this will be similar to previous over the line threats.

[kentonio]

Doubt it. After the press conference he just gave if he allowed ISIS to take over then he may as well just pack up and leave the Oval Office now.

[DinoDoc]

Doubt it. After the press conference he just gave if he allowed ISIS to take over then he may as well just pack up and leave the Oval Office now.

Why? Did he draw another red line?

[Uncle Sparky]

with ISIS advancing on several fronts, and bombs going off in baghdad, not enough iraqi MPs turned up today to achieve quorum for a planned vote on giving the government emergency powers. meanwhile kurdish forces in and around kirkuk have moved in more men and said that they will defend the city and other kurdish areas of the province 'to the last drop of blood'.

in other news, the UK has ruled out intervention, while the US is 'considering further assistance to iraq in fighting the militants'. while the iranian president has said that iran will 'combat extremists' in iraq.

Iraq, outside of the Kurdish territories, hasn't had a functioning government in years. Maliki has been Shi'ite first, never Iraq 1st, and never had the backing of the majority of the country. ISIS is the group that is so crazy Al Qaida in Iraq avoids them whenever possible. They are the ones that used US contractors as human piñatas. They will not be kind to captured perceived enemies.