US official says anti-Islamic State forces gaining momentum

[webfact]

US official says anti-Islamic State forces gaining momentum
By RICHARD LARDNER

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. representative to the anti-Islamic State coalition told Congress on Tuesday that morale inside the extremist group is plummeting, as the forces arrayed against it are gaining momentum.

Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Special Presidential Envoy Brett McGurk said the Islamic State's days in Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, are "numbered" as lawmakers called for the Obama administration to move faster to defeat the extremists.

The Islamic State remains firmly in control of Mosul, which was once home to a million people. Iraqi leaders have pledged to liberate Mosul this year. But McGurk said the U.S. won't put a timeline on the Mosul operation.

"Whereas (the Islamic State) once promised lavish pay for recruits, and free services in its 'caliphate,' it is now slashing pay, cannot provide services, and is facing internal resistance," McGurk said. "We know from other sources, as well, that (IS) fighters are panicking on the battlefield, foreign recruits are now looking to return home, and leaders are struggling to maintain discipline, even despite the threat of execution for disobedience."

McGurk's testimony comes two weeks after a lone gunman who pledged solidarity with the Islamic State killed 49 people and injured 53 at an Orlando nightclub. McGurk said no direct link has been found between the Orlando gunman and the Islamic State.

Five weeks after a military operation began, a senior Iraqi commander on Sunday declared the city of Fallujah in Iraq had been "fully liberated" from the Islamic State, giving a major boost to the country's security and political leadership in its fight against the extremists. Fallujah was the first city to fall to the Islamic State group more than two years ago.

The committee's chairman, Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., questioned whether progress on the battlefield in Iraq could result in the Islamic State seeking to increase the number of attacks against Western targets.

McGurk said that more "lone wolf" style attacks such as the one in Orlando are possible as the Islamic State loses territory, but he told the committee that the Islamic State "has been talking about attacking us for years." But he acknowledged that the "lone wolf attacks are very difficult to stop."

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., criticized the Obama administration for failing to come up with a game plan that actually leads to the Islamic State being defeated. He compared the administration's anti-Islamic State campaign to poking a beehive and succeeding primarily in making the bees angrier.

McGurk said the U.S. and its allies are moving as quickly as possible and said that no significant territory liberated by coalition-backed forces has been reclaimed by the extremist group.


-- (c) Associated Press 2016-06-29

[Boon Mee]

But, but, Obama called them the Junior Varsity?

How is this possible?

[Norvid]

Russia - China - Iran protect Syrian government which trying to liquidate ISIS. USA armed ISIS and with Israel and Turkey trying to liquidate Asad.

Without US and Russia cooperation to really kill ISIS, the war will continue and perhaps escalate. Trump and Puting could make an agreement. Could make PEACE. Amen.

[ggt]

I feel certain the people of Turkey would not agree with this assessment...after three bombs have exploded at one of their busiest airports...

[mrwebb8825]

I feel certain the people of Turkey would not agree with this assessment...after three bombs have exploded at one of their busiest airports...

Would that be the same airport they use to fly millions of new terrorists to Europe? Seems to me that they really should be busing those people right back across the border and dumping them. Might cut down on the bombings.

Wonder why the brilliantly lead coalition forces haven't used drones in a coordinated airstrike dropping large quantities of chloroform gas into these strongholds of the ISIS then just march in and collect them.

Oh, that's right, because Obama and company are still trying to fight the "Ruskies" instead of focusing on the real enemy of humanity.

[ilostmypassword]

I feel certain the people of Turkey would not agree with this assessment...after three bombs have exploded at one of their busiest airports...

Typical irrational evaluation of the situation. Isis has been driven out of several cities in Iraq and it's being pushed back in Syria. But in your evaluation all that is outweighed by a terrorist attack?

[Scott]

Off-topic posts and replies removed.

[Andaman Al]

It is funny! Allegedly we put a man on the moon, we fought Hitler and the Nazi's, we brought down the Soviet Empire, we destroyed Saddam and his massive arsenal of WMD's but to bring down a few thousand illiterates who joined a cause to get 10K USD a month, any number of wives of their choosing from slave markets, a new house etc we find it impossible to defeat them with the most sophisticated weapons on the planet that can now drop an artillery shell or bomb within a one meter accuracy. WHY? Because when they (ISIS) are gone, there is no need for the Trillion dollar military complex in the USA. So let them kill, murder, slay, rape and enslave innocent women and children as after all, defence company shares depend on it. And the USA 'NIMBY's" (Not In My Back Yard) will live with it and be happy as it does not affect them one iota .

Edited June 29, 2016 by Andaman Al

[FinChin67]

Even in Europe...

Islamist extremists hide huge stockpile of weapons near German mosque

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/684623/Islamist-extremists-hide-huge-stockpile-of-weapons-near-German-mosque

[NovaBlue05]

Meanwhile, the CIA Director says that ISIS is gaining momentum in the West