[ by Charles Cameron — an attempt to “curate” the onrush of news, hitting the high points on a low, low morning ]
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I have tried to keep the tweets here limited to their own texts, with illustrations only where essential, and without “parent tweets” and other encumbrances. Even so, it’s a long read — my advice would be to take it fast, first, and then come back to click on articles and other details that look like they’re of particular interest.
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NYTimes: After Capture of Mosul, Militants Extend Control in Iraq http://t.co/JLYuD75mQU
— J.M. Berger (@intelwire) June 11, 2014
The Arab world is faced with the difficult choice: Dictatorship or suffering the extremist takfirism.
— Ali H. Soufan (@Ali_H_Soufan) June 11, 2014
Iraq foreign minister: Country faces 'mortal threat’: http://t.co/lGZi6XS3rb pic.twitter.com/sW20tWkv8Q
— Mike Walker (@New_Narrative) June 11, 2014
2. Maliki's use of sectarian polarization as pol tactic, sectarian militias + indiscriminate bombardment as mil strategy strengthened ISIS
— Noah Bonsey (@NoahBonsey) June 11, 2014
ISIS is now far and away the most effective and threatening #terrorist group in the world today.
— Ali H. Soufan (@Ali_H_Soufan) June 11, 2014
Iran beefing up its border defenses as reaction to ISIS taking Mosul: some of the group's positions are only hours away from Iran's border.
— Thomas Erdbrink (@ThomasErdbrink) June 11, 2014
Where does ISIS control territory and operate – important map from @TheStudyofWar #Mosul pic.twitter.com/5CxmGhym3P
— Peter Bouckaert (@bouckap) June 11, 2014
One thing to consider, pundits: How damn little we really know about al-Baghdadi compared to, say, OBL. Just saying… #ISIS #Mosul
— yassin musharbash (@abususu) June 11, 2014
ISIS is carving out a state based on tribal & sectarian structures between the Euphrates & Tigris, an area that not only has water but oil.
— Ali H. Soufan (@Ali_H_Soufan) June 11, 2014
Without firing a shot, Islamist militants in #Iraq seize Baiji, a city of 200,000. http://t.co/d7Ll4dkOxN
— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) June 11, 2014
Check out my latest piece on revived #Iraq insurgent group Saraya al-Madina al-Munawara; includes comments on #Mosul http://t.co/f9ePwfXeWq
— Aymenn J Al-Tamimi (@ajaltamimi) June 11, 2014
Iraq’s terrorists are becoming a full blown army. And Iraq’s army is melting away in the face of terrorists. http://t.co/L4HQKvuBtC #mosul
— Eli Lake (@EliLake) June 11, 2014
#Iraq military bombs its own bases to avoid surrendering more weapons to Sunni extremists. http://t.co/eu7wJ2Nxuj
— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) June 11, 2014
For those that still don’t see the big picture emerging: there is a regional religious war between Salafi-jihadis and Khomeinist-jihadis.
— Aaron Y. Zelin (@azelin) June 11, 2014
For those who say ISIS doesn’t have a strategy. #blackgold pic.twitter.com/ILeEko1W0L
— Aaron Y. Zelin (@azelin) June 11, 2014
ISIS methodical accretion of key towns in both #Syria & #Iraq including border-crossing points, suggests a carefully orchestrated strategy.
— Ali H. Soufan (@Ali_H_Soufan) June 11, 2014
Reuters: Insurgents overran parts of Iraqi city of Tikrit. City located 150 km north of #Baghdad & is hometown of Saddam Hussein. @akhbar
— Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) June 11, 2014
Never would have thought this would look even dumber than it did originally, but it’s even worse now. pic.twitter.com/PLdfyikq2X
— Aaron Y. Zelin (@azelin) June 11, 2014
How ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi became the world’s most powerful jihadi leader http://t.co/wOK7eFJox6 via @washingtonpost
— Edward Dark (@edwardedark) June 11, 2014
@Marwouantounsi: ISIS soldier thanking Allah after entering Tikrit and controlling the city ! ALLAOU AKBAR!! #????? pic.twitter.com/5LQBtvApiP
— Marwan-el-Tounisi (@Marwouantounsi) June 11, 2014
Salahadin provincial council member: #Tikrit has fallen to the #ISIS. Gov HQ and prisons were the first the group captured.
— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) June 11, 2014
Well, the Bushies *did* say they wanted to change the whole Middle East paradigm … #ISIS #CleanBreak #PNAC
— John Schindler (@20committee) June 11, 2014
@2kdei what will happen after US leaving #Afghanistan, similar to #ISIS large trained armies of #Taliban, fighting 4 control of subcontinent
— Shaiq (@shaiqjafri) June 11, 2014
It is impossible to overstate the significance of what's going on in Iraq right now.
— Gartenstein-Ross (@DaveedGR) June 11, 2014
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And I’m sure a lot has happened during the half-hour or more it has taken me to put even this small selection of relevant tweets together!
