Good day and welcome to a new week of the fight against ISIS…….

The 150Kurds after entered the city of Kobane to join the fight…..NO reports of their successes or failure as of yet.

Item 1–SEC of Defense, Chuck Hagel, has given a stark prediction……

“We are living through one of these historic, defining times,” Hagel warned, “We are seeing a new world order – post World War II, post Soviet Union implosion.”

Hagel went on to make it quite clear what that meant, open-ended war with ISIS and open-ended war with various other enemies of the US military will require a “steady, long-term effort” to defeat.

Perpetual war….now there is a wonderful thought, eh?

Item 2–There has been many people both condemning and conratulating the US and the Coalition….depending on whom you choose to believe…….

White House officials are loudly trying to downplay the warnings about their failing Syrian policy made clear in a recent memo by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, saying that the policy is definitely working.

“The policy that we have for Assad is really clear: We believe that he’s lost the legitimacy to lead,” insisted White House spokesman Josh Earnest. Hagel’s memo warned that the White House insistence on being anti-Assad was being undercut by the war effort helping Assad.

The memo further warned that the US has no end game strategy for the conflict, something which didn’t seem to be seriously contested by the White House, which continues to talk up an extremely long war with no end in sight.

Personally, I think that their analysis is a bit too optimistic for a pessimistic situation…..

Item 3–It appears the unity that the two sects of Islam have been missing for centuries may be coming of age……

Iraq’s most senior Shi’ite cleric called on the government on Friday to rush to the aid of Sunni tribes battling Islamic State, after the militant group executed at least 220 tribesmen west of Baghdad this week.

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani’s comments show how the threat posed by Islamic State, which follows an ultra-hardline version of Sunni Islam, has pushed some Shi’ites and Sunnis to overcome their sectarian differences and face a common enemy.

If it can be accomplished then this situation could be the best years since the beginning.

Item 4–The ‘moderates’ that the coalition is putting all their chips on may not be the well oiled as DC would want the world to believe……

The Obama Administration continues to insist that its strategy in Syria is “working,” but the setbacks on the ground are growing more dramatic by the day, and the Syrian Revolutionary Front, one of the largest “vetted, moderate” US-backed rebel forces, has been effectively wiped out.

The Revolutionary Front was routed by both ISIS and al-Qaeda’s Jabhat al-Nusra in recent days, and has now surrendered outright after the fall of Deir Sinbal, agreeing to hand over all their weapons and bases to Nusra.

Keep in mind that al-Nusra is an AQ affiliate……couldthe two factions be combining in the war?

Item 5–The forces of the Coalition and Iraq are preparing for an offensive action……

In Syria, the prospect of a pro-US counteroffensive against ISIS seems to be permanently on delay for lack of pro-US fighters. Even in Iraq, where the government’s forces are allies, the plans are vague, and a long way out.

US officials say that the current planning is around the idea of mounting a major spring offensive in 2015, with the goal of retaking the major highways and several major cities from ISIS by the end of the year.

Basically, they are saying that the Coalition will be ready for a major offensive against ISIS in 6 months….. I do not see the level of readiness in 6 months…..if it is carried out I can see a major problem…….

I realize that the approaching election may seem important…..and to some it is….but to ignore the situation in the Middle east shows a seriousness  of folly….the election will be over in a week but this war will be going and going…..possibly for the next 20 years.

That concludes today’s briefing….more to come as the events warrant…….

Thanx for your time and attention…….

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