For *this* specific White House to make such a claim, against the visible history of their previous positions, one can only reasonably conclude the “Bathtub Principle” is being applied to the current al-Qaeda situation in Iraq.
This administration only feigns ignorance when feigning ignorance benefits their position and is part of their larger strategy.  “Wha,.. who… us”?  
WASHINGTON DC – Senior Obama administration officials’ closed-door briefing to senators Tuesday night revealed that the White House did not anticipate and was not prepared for the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS), which has wreaked havoc in Iraq and seized many key cities in recent weeks.

Top State Department and Defense Department officials joined senators Tuesday evening for a briefing on the quickly developing chaos in Iraq and future U.S. plans for a response.
Sources familiar with the brief said that the administration officials repeated talking points issued over the past several days in both open and closed door meetings and had trouble communicating a concrete plan for response. (more…)

About 10 days ago we were discussing the following video:

We were going back and forth about whether those eight field artillery units were M198 (U.S. modern service), or Type59 (Iraqi army).
Unfortunately the answer comes today from Zero Hedge who has better pictures of the units during a recent ISIS parade in Mosul.

Definitely U.S. Military M198’s.   Unfortunately meaning they can hit Baghdad, or any other target, accurately from around 10 miles out.
(source)

IRAQ – In its march to Baghdad, ISIS seized the heavy weapons of a modern army. Now, the jihadists are attacking Iraq’s biggest air base – and could soon be able to attack from the sky.

The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham is threatening to take control of Balad Airbase, Iraq’s largest airfield and one of America’s most important military outposts during its occupation of the country.
Today, Balad still has plenty of vehicles and aircraft on the base that any terrorist group would covet, including Russian-made transport helicopters, surveillance planes, and a fleet of pickup trucks fitted with heavy machine guns. (more…)

Marie Harf is rapidly making a name for herself. Unfortunately it might not be quite the name she had in mind.

Always proud of @statedeptspox; she deals in facts #attacksareabadgeofhonor

— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) June 8, 2014

(Via CNN) ISIS militants continued their violent march toward Baghdad over the weekend from the north and the west. At least 70% of Anbar province is now under the control of ISIS, two security officials in the region told CNN.
 
 
ISIS is on a mission to create an Islamic state across Sunni areas of Iraq and in Syria.
Militants have taken over the Tal Afar airbase in northern Iraq as well as the city of Tal Afar, officials said.
On Monday, Iraqi troops prepared to recapture the airbase, Iraqi Maj. Gen. Abu al-Waleed said. “At least 1,000 Iraqi troops have amassed to the north of Tal Afar and are firing rockets at militants in control of the city,” he said. (more…)

Unless of course you consider Obama arming Libyan Islamic Fighting Groups like Ansar Al Sharia and al-Qaeda extremists, while operating as al-Qaeda’s air force and blowing up Libya’s government in 2011 might have something to do with it.
But wait… it gets better… he also said:

“We do not share the view of the Egyptian government about links between the Muslim Brothers and terrorist groups like ISIS [the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq]. [Egyptian leaders] need to include, and find ways to reach out to, the Muslim Brothers. … With regard to the challenge that the Muslim Brothers pose, I would characterize it more as a political challenge than a security challenge.”

Because the Muslim Brotherhood killing thousands of Coptic Christians, instituting Sharia Law, and crucifying people on trees in front of the presidential palace is mere political protest… or something.  Yes, Ketchup Boy has outdone himself with this Mid-East visit.
CAIRO – US Secretary of State John Kerry said Washington is “not responsible” for either the crisis in Libya, or violence in Iraq, where militants of the Al-Qaeda offshoot group ISIS are capturing cities one by one. (more…)

Rand Paul talks to Candy Crowley and outlines what we have been saying.    I’ve got a hunch that Rand Paul knows about Operation Zero Footprint – – – his soft poking, under the guise of questions about sending arms to Turkey, at Hillary Clinton in 2013, was a shot across her bow letting her know that he knows what she doesn’t want anyone to know…..
…. I also think Rand Paul knows how valuable this knowledge is; and he has made the political decision to hold it back as a deadly arrow in his 2016 quiver in the hopes she is the Dem candidate. Think about it.
Watch:

On a side note I also find it hilarious that Candy Crowley doesn’t actually think about the magnitude of what Rand Paul is saying, and pause and ask him “how so“?
She is so focused on her CNN/DEM talking points she doesn’t even break stride when something so significant is said in front of her.   She just accepts it without query or qualm… “Oh, ok then, we’re continuing to arm ISIS, lets move on“… It’s quite funny actually. (more…)

Exceptional article from Elliott Abrams outlining President Obama’s abject failure in the Middle East and the risks he has created.   Make sure to read the entire article – well recommended.

(Via Politico) There’s always Tunisia. Amid the smoking ruins of the Middle East, there is that one encouraging success story. But unfortunately for the Obama narratives, the president had about as much as to do with Tunisia’s turn toward democracy as he did with the World Cup rankings. Where administration policy has had an impact, the story is one of failure and danger.
The Middle East that Obama inherited in 2009 was largely at peace, for the surge in Iraq had beaten down the al Qaeda-linked groups. U.S. relations with traditional allies in the Gulf, Jordan, Israel and Egypt were very good. Iran was contained, its Revolutionary Guard forces at home. Today, terrorism has metastasized in Syria and Iraq, Jordan is at risk, the humanitarian toll is staggering, terrorist groups are growing fast and relations with U.S. allies are strained. (more…)

IRAQ – The Iraqi military ran out of Hellfire missiles six days ago, and though the U.S. is rushing more missiles into the country, Iraq has only two modified Cessna aircraft to launch them in their battle against the radical Islamic militia ISIS.
ISIS has captured 28 tanks and shot down three helicopters, a significant percentage of the government force, and the militia killed an entire Iraqi Security Force brigade in the last couple of days at the border with Syria, which ISIS now controls.
The losses have left the Iraqi military with no offensive capability, and no real air force.
With the brigade at the border at Al Qaim wiped out, ISIS now controls the territory from Rubiya to Al Qaim. The tribes in Al Qaim tried to fight them, but ISIS unleashed a major artillery barrage, then a major assault, and they could not hold the back.
(more…)