Is pro-Western Iraq facing the end of its path? The jihadist organization "Islamic State in Iraq and Syria", which succeeded in capturing the large city of Mosul, vowed this morning (Thursday) that it will march towards Baghdad in an attempt to capture the Iraqi capital.
Three days ago, the Al-Qaeda-affiliated organization captured Mosul, the second largest city in Iraq, and yesterday it took over Tikrit, the hometown of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. The organization's spokesman, Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, released a tape last night in which he declared: "The battle will rage in Baghdad and Karbala, get ready.".
The terrorist organization belongs to the Sunni branch of Islam and has declared war on the Shiite government in Baghdad, with whom they have 'old debts.' In his statement, al-Adnani encouraged the Sunni fighters, saying: "Do not give up the vast land you have already liberated," and promised that they intend to take over the Shiite cities of Karbala and Najaf, where two Shiite holy sites are located.
The Iraqi parliament convened today for a session on declaring a state of emergency in the country, but the vote failed. This was due to the fact that the number of members of parliament required by law for such a vote was not present. Declaring a state of emergency would grant broad powers to the prime minister, allowing him to impose a curfew and censor the media.
And where is Obama in the picture?
The New York Times reports that the Iraqi Prime Minister has asked President Obama to consider an airstrike against the rebel forces.
White House National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan also told the Wall Street Journal last night that Baghdad "has made it clear that it is interested in our support.".
But the United States, it seems, is in no hurry to sink back into the Iraqi mud, after withdrawing from there three years ago. According to a report in the New York Times, the United States rejected the Iraqis' request for an air strike, despite the growing fear that Iraq would fall into the hands of extremists, who would try to advance their plan to establish an Islamic state from Iraq through Syria - where they are also fighting - and to Lebanon.
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