Deborah Layne

You still owe me that $700 you borrowed, dude.

I agree with New York Kevin

Oh brother

Thanks Buti

Geez. I read months ago that they'd found and destroyed the tomb of the prophet Jonah. Jonah was responsible for what ended up saving Nineveh from being destroyed. These evil people are thumbing their noses at God. But God is not mocked.

Awww, look at you! You've got THREE friends now! C'mon guys, somebody make it an even four!

ISIS Is Losing Its Greatest Weapon: Momentum January 6, 2015 Evidence suggests that the Islamic State’s power has been declining for months. Reuters There was a time when the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria appeared unstoppable. In September and October, as the jihadist group captured territory through a major offensive in Iraq’s Anbar province, culminating in the fall of the town of Hit on October 13, observers feared that even Baghdad was in danger of being overrun. ISIS is now in the midst of another major military movement in Anbar, but the always-overblown fears about the organization’s advance are now receding—and the group’s decline has grown increasingly apparent. ISIS’s signature attributes, ferocity and unpredictability, have raised the group’s profile and inspired a spate of lone-wolf attackers. But the organization has also made several strategic errors along the way. The Islamic State’s lifeblood is partially money and territory, but primarily momentum against weak and ill-prepared enemies. And that momentum, which peaked in early August, has stalled. Where has ISIS overplayed its hand? The group already had an impressive array of foes when a June blitzkrieg extended its reach into Iraq—enemies that included the Iraqi government, the Iranian regime, and even other jihadist groups like the Nusra Front, with whom it frequently skirmished in Syria. This offensive wasn’t solely the work of ISIS, which fought alongside a coalition of Sunni insurgent groups that included former members of Saddam Hussein’sBaath party. The offensive was also widely backed by Iraq’s disaffected Sunni elite. But once its initial gains were secured, ISIS quickly betrayed the very groups that had aided its advance. Most prominently, ISIS declared the reestablishment of the caliphate, with the group’s spokesman Abu Muhammad al-Adnani claimingthat “the legality of all emirates, groups, states, and organizations, becomes null by the expansion of the khilafah’s authority.” The statement clearly signaled that ISIS believed it had usurped the authority of its allies; indeed, in early July it rounded up ex-Baathist leaders in Mosul (doing so proved particularly problematic for ISIS because the ex-Baathists were also managing the actual governance and administration of the northern Iraqi city, and their arrest hastened the rapid disintegration of basic services). ISIS committed a more damaging error at the beginning of August, when it launched a surprise incursion into Iraq’s Kurdish territory and promptly engaged in a campaign of genocidal slaughter and enslavement against the Yazidi minority sect. The moves were pointless from a military perspective, since the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Peshmerga forces weren’t fighting ISIS and the Yazidis didn’t pose a threat to the incipient caliphate. These decisions, along with the beheading of the American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, helped draw even more enemies into the theater, including the United States and an international coalition backing U.S. military action. The most obvious sign of ISIS’s decline is that the group is no longer conquering territory, seizing no major towns or cities since Hit (and this hasn’t been for lack of effort on its part). ISIS continues to capture villages from time to time; for example, on December 27 it gained control of 14 villages in Anbar after Iraqi security forces withdrew from the area. But those villages aren’t equivalent to a major urban area and had been taken from ISIS by Iraqi forces just two days earlier. In October, ISIS advanced ominously on the Syrian city of Kobane; the French philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy declared in The New Republic that “Kobane will fall. In a matter of hours.” It has yet to fall, and Kurdish forces now appear to have the advantage, though the town remains contested. ISIS has even been losing ground, albeit unevenly. In December, the group pulled its forces from Iraq’s Sinjar district, home to one of ISIS’s main resupply routes from Syria into Iraq (the other being Tal Afar). This has threatened to isolate ISIS-held Mosul. ISIS’s brutality has also proven isolating. Local opposition against the group, including by Sunnis, is mounting in Mosul and Anbar, although ISIS did recently succeed in suppressing a revolt against it in Syria’s Dayr al-Zawr. These uprisings are certain to grow if ISIS weakens. Meanwhile, the group’s leaders seem increasingly paranoid, reportedly executing many of their own fighters in Mosul and elsewhere. In December, for example, Muammar Tawhlah, ISIS’s top official in Mosul, was killed by firing squad for suspected espionage. And ISIS’s bureaucratic mismanagement has alienated local populations, leaving them with a lack of job opportunities and essential services. As a resident of Mosul told theFinancial Times, “When I was seven years old the war against Iran started. Since then, we’ve been at war. We’ve endured international sanctions, poverty, injustice. But it was never worse than it is now.” ISIS’s financial and military resources have also shrunk as U.S. airstrikes have destroyed the group’s materiel and capacity to refine oil. The Islamic State is still able to sell unrefined oil on the black market, but the difference between the price it can set for unrefined versus refined oil is significant. Reports this weekindicated that ISIS expects a $250-million surplus in its $2-billion budget, but these figures are entirely self-reported: Accountants aren’t exactly lining up to get into ISIS-controlled territory and perform an outside audit. ISIS, moreover, lacks an industrial base capable of sustaining its military efforts (Ninawa and Salahaddin governorates have a number of factories, but the group has a shortage of qualified technical personnel to man and supply them). It cannot build its own heavy armor, armored personnel carriers, Humvees, anti-tank weapons, surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft weapons, or radar stations. Only through military raids can the organization capture the equipment it needs for battle, and the last time it did this successfully was in August. ISIS is not yet self-sustaining. Drawing a steady flow of zealous recruits remains a necessity for the group, not a luxury. All of these setbacks seriously threaten ISIS because of its reliance on momentum—a dependency articulated in a recent issue of the group’s English-language magazine Dabiq. An article carrying the byline of the British journalistJohn Cantlie, ISIS’s forcefully conscripted propagandist, noted that “as an entity enjoys success, it attracts more to its fold, thereby causing expansion and breeding more success until it achieves some sort of critical mass, the point at which it becomes self-perpetuating, self-sustaining.” ISIS is not yet self-sustaining. Drawing a steady flow of zealous recruits remains a necessity for the group, not a luxury. Nevertheless, to borrow President Obama’s words, the United States and its allies are far closer to degrading ISIS than destroying it. The Islamic State is currently positioning itself to attack the Al-Asad airbase in Anbar province, where U.S. military advisors are now located, and such an assault could amplify calls in the United States for an American withdrawal from the region. ISIS could conceivably launch a major cross-border attack against Jordan or move into Suwayda, the only majority-Druze province in Syria, carrying out massacres comparable to those that the group committed in Sinjar or Hit. In the latter scenario, the Islamic State would be goading the U.S. to intervene militarily on what could be seen as the side of Bashar al-Assad’s supporters. ISIS could yet seize the Iraqi cities of Ramadi or Haditha, which would represent powerful symbolic gains for the group and disasters in terms of lives lost, but would do little to improve the Islamic State’s overall strategic position. Even if ISIS lost all its Iraq holdings (which won’t happen anytime soon), the organization would simply be back to where it started before the June offensive, hunkered down in its stronghold of Raqqa, Syria. Even if its “caliph,” Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, is killed, and even if large portions of the organization subsequently reconcile with—and return to—al-Qaeda, a core is likely to persist for a long time under the ISIS label. None of these developments, however, would necessarily reverse the Islamic State’s noticeable decline. Indeed, ISIS’s jihadist rivals have been gaining ground. The Nusra Front, which Syria watchers once considered a spent force, has in recent weeks made major gains in Idlib, Hama, and Daraa, and its growing strength has effectively marginalized the “moderate” Syrian opposition. It’s a clear sign that jihadism will bedevil Iraq and Syria for some time to come—and that this problem is much broader than ISIS. DAVEED GARTENSTEIN-ROSS is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and an adjunct assistant professor in Georgetown University’s security-studies program. http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/01/the-decline-of-isis-syria-iraq/384261/

Now We Know Why He Wears Clown Makeup

Lookit. I've been fighting this battle all of my life and I'm tired of it. There is ZERO biological evidence that Barney is my father. He and my mother were friends - there was nothing more! Can we just let this drop? Geez.

I don't know why the oil prices would have a huge effect on CBI's RV amount. They have gold and cash reserves don't they?

You've gotten more than one friend by now, haven't you? It's an elf hat. Maybe I'll find a leprechaun hat in March...

I don't really feel like it right now...

National forces, “al-Maliki team” National Alliance hinders the formation of the National Guard 10:37: 01/06/2015 Khandan -ali Naji Mark National Forces Alliance, said the Kurdish forces to Ataatard the formation of the National Guard in the provinces, while noting that “” Vice President Nuri al-Maliki, a team within the National Alliance is disruptive to the composition. The leader of the nationalist forces MP Ahmad Slimani told the “Khandan” it “through consultations and meetings with the Kurdish forces, shows us that it is not opposed to the formation of the National Guard and there is a general trend is not a decision the law of the National Guard,” adding that “the formation of the National Guard will accelerate cleared the provinces controlled by Daash, through the participation of the sons of these provinces in the purges. “ Slimani and pointed out that “conscientious objectors to the formation of the National Guard are former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, a team in the National Alliance,” he said. http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=search&rurl=translate.google.com&sandbox=0&sl=ar&u=http://www.faceiraq.com/inews.php%3Fid%3D3395699&usg=ALkJrhhHbdxLT9U-WY7gCezCeg1DgIMy0A **** Duh.

Council Baghdad: two committees to lift concrete barriers and the opening of roads and alleys January 6, 2015 A security official in Baghdad revealed, on Tuesday, the formation of two committees to follow up the lift concrete barriers and abuses and open up some alleys process, pointing out that the next few days will witness the distribution of 40 wheel to detect explosives. This comes at a time when the Commission on Security and Defence parliamentary confirmed reduce checkpoints capital in half during the past three months, indicating that the procedure contributed to the partial address congestion of momentum suffered by some of the capital’s streets. The deputy chairman of the security committee in the local government in Baghdad Fadel Shuwaili, in an interview with “New Morning”, “The number of meetings held between the provincial council and security leaders to discuss the issue of the abuse on the roads by some officials, through commuting barriers concrete. “ He said, “These meetings have resulted in the formation of a supreme committee of security officials in the Baghdad government and the police to maintain, and the leadership of the operations, functions of the committees is to open the closed roads and raise concrete barriers, “pointing to” authorize a small committee of local councils and municipal task inventory traveled roads because of the barriers and the excesses of some officials it. “ He added Shuwaili that the “mini-committee working according cutters under the supervision of members of the security committee in the local government both by his region,” stressing that “The plan was applied and held a number of meetings in order to expedite the resolution of this file.” He argued that “the Supreme Committee sit back later in the meeting to discuss the findings of the breakers mini-committees to make decisions related to the opening of roads and the removal of barriers.” Local residents believe that the concrete barriers hinder their movements, while others supported and they consider Msadda attacks are often carried out by gunmen against enterprises and individuals. In the same regard, Shuwaili announced a “buy 40 wheel to detect explosives will help ease the momentum on security checkpoints in Baghdad,” explaining that “four of them entered the scope of work While waiting for that caused the rest of the wheel as soon as possible “in. The Prime Minister General Commander of the Armed Forces Haider al-Abadi, had said earlier that the next phase will see the Interior Ministry, the security file in the capital, Baghdad, and orientation to lift the concrete barriers from the streets of the city closed and open of them, pointing out that many of the roads are made ​​without achieving security gain and must be dealt with this issue in a professional and plan well thought out in order to facilitate the smooth flow of movement of citizens. For his part, said a member of the Commission on Security and Defence parliamentary Rubaie, in an interview with “New Morning” that “explosive detection with high potential that will monitor booby wheels.” He called for “a government decision daring to withdraw the so-called with explosives detection (sonar) deployed in the streets of the country,” attributing it to “the inability to car bombs and explosives, monitoring, and business continuity by disregard the blood of Iraqis. “ Regarding the checkpoints congestion and momentum caused, Rubaie answered, MP for the coalition of state law, that “the past three months have seen raise about half of the security checkpoints in Baghdad, and shares this procedure to alleviate Zhamat in the streets of the capital.” He concluded by Security Committee in Parliament to “the need to maintain checkpoints’s main entrance to the capital of their importance and support vehicles explosives detection to reduce the entry car bombs and explosives into Baghdad.” The capital Baghdad witnessed years ago and almost daily car bombs and explosive and explosive belts series, in addition to sporadic attacks targeting civilians and security forces in different areas such as, what resulted in the loss of hundreds of dead and wounded. http://www.newsabah.com/wp/newspaper/33140

Shawki: the eradication of corruption in the military establishment began … Harthy: we will turn corrupt files to the executive branch January 6, 2015 Shawki: the eradication of corruption in the military establishment began ... Harthy: we will turn corrupt files to the executive branch MP for the mass citizen Salim Shawki announced that the salaries of employees and the ration card will not covered by the reduction in the next budget, noting that “there is a strategic planning after 2003, and most of the projects prosthesis . “ He explained Shawki in an interview on “Baghdad” channel “here Baghdad,” Iraq now complain of weak cash flow, has resorted to external borrowing dam deficit, adding that “the elimination of corruption will be phased We have started it in the military and security institutions “. He added that the lack of faith in the political process and the lack of faith of the reasons for the failures of the military system . For his part, MP for the “coalition of Iraq,” Harith al-Harthy, the program itself, it should balance out as best it is better to be studied carefully to control the deficit. He added: “InchAllah will correct the previous economic policies and succeed in crossing the difficult conditions,” and expressed the hope that the price of oil back up, explaining that “everything can change in one minute.” He Harthy: “we will turn corrupt files to the executive branch and InchAllah spend it.” http://www.alqurtasnews.com/news/72687/%D8%B4%D9%88%D9%82%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B6%D8%A7-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%A8%D8%AF%D8%A3-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A4%D8%B3%D8%B3%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9/ar

One in a million.

Yeah, I shoulda known. He does remind me of someone else, but not if he's actually a "BACKDOC' LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!

Thug, if you're not going to do it, will you let me?

Your lucky I didn't post my grocery list. But give me time...

Does anybody know who this guy is or what forum he calls home? I'm just curious. He must be a chiropractor

I'm ahead of myself! I meant tomorrow night...

Twitter- Brett McGurk January 6, 2015 radronin Follow Brett McGurkVerified account‏@brett_mcgurk #Iraq PM @HaiderAlAbadi spoke with #SaudiArabia‘s Crown Prince Salman earlier today to discuss enhanced cooperation in fight against #ISIL. 9:32 AM – 6 Jan 2015 https://twitter.com/brett_mcgurk Twitter- Brett McGurk January 6, 2015 radronin Follow Brett McGurkVerified account‏@brett_mcgurk #Iraq PM @HaiderAlAbadi spoke with #SaudiArabia‘s Crown Prince Salman earlier today to discuss enhanced cooperation in fight against #ISIL. 9:32 AM – 6 Jan 2015 https://twitter.com/brett_mcgurk

So that's YOU holding the sign.

Well I guess we'll hear something about it tonight!

Then maybe you should allow the thread to follow its course instead of using it to try and pick a fight with me. Feel free to post anything you want to say to me on my profile feed, so threads don't get hijacked by personal vendettas. In fact, you may have the final word and use it to say anything you want about me. And then maybe people can enjoy the thread without having to hear all about your dislike for me. ________________________________ And now back to our regularly scheduled program: PM Haider Al-Abadi (facebook) January 6, 2015 radronin Haider Al-Abadi added 8 new photos. 5 hrs · Word of the Prime Minister on the anniversary of the founding of the Iraqi army: Shall the basic things that we focused on, is the military reform Thanks to this reform, we have achieved victories, and has re-prestige of the Iraqi army. - No place for corrupt in the military, and we will pursue corrupt, and we will continue our campaign to fight corruption in the military and civilian institutions. - We seek because the army is defending the borders of cities and receive the Interior Ministry security forces cities and regions. Information Office of the Prime Minister January 6, 2015 http://search4dinar.wordpress.com/2015/01/06/pm-haider-al-abadi-facebook-3/