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Purveyor

(29,876 posts) Thu Aug 7, 2014, 09:51 PM Aug 2014

Obama Authorizes Airstrikes In Iraq To Stop Genocide [View all]

Source: USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — President Obama said Thursday he authorized "targeted airstrikes" if needed to protect U.S. personnel in Iraq, as well as airdrops of food and water to religious minorities in Iraq who are under siege from Islamic militants and trapped on a mountain top.

The U.S. military made an initial airdrop of meals and water to thousands of civilians threatened by militants on Thursday. The aircraft that made the drop safely exited the region, the official said.

"Today, America is coming to help," Obama said.

Innocent families face the prospect of "genocide," Obama said, justifying U.S, military action that could eventually include airstrikes.

The U.S. "cannot turn a blind eye," Obama said.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/08/07/iraq-christian-villages-flee/13710265/

103 replies

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Obama Authorizes Airstrikes In Iraq To Stop Genocide [View all] Purveyor Aug 2014 OP

Good. Turbineguy Aug 2014 #1

I understand that ISIS is basically..... TheMick Aug 2014 #2

Saddam was head of a legitimate government, in accordance to IL. Amonester Aug 2014 #7

Politically speaking, legitimacy is an illusion. ZombieHorde Aug 2014 #81

So is the US. candelista Aug 2014 #88

US is a mass murder machine - we started all this. OUT NOW. Our feeble popguns will not stop 1400 grahamhgreen Aug 2014 #77

I can't help but think this wouldn't be occurring had not gateley Aug 2014 #3

Agree 100%! Kath1 Aug 2014 #8

I don't understand your logic. candelista Aug 2014 #89

Same here. Can we drop NeoCons on ISIS? Retrograde Aug 2014 #16

Exactly davidpdx Aug 2014 #20

This mess has a lot of parents. Igel Aug 2014 #53

What we have to do is fix our own country first, imho. grahamhgreen Aug 2014 #78

Everyone who voted for the war is to blame. nt ZombieHorde Aug 2014 #83

This message was self-deleted by its author 1000words Aug 2014 #4

Gaza is a tragedy. cheapdate Aug 2014 #9

This message was self-deleted by its author 1000words Aug 2014 #13

That's a fact in the real world. cheapdate Aug 2014 #66

You people are comparing ISIS with Israel?????? Un-fucking-believable!!!! George II Aug 2014 #15

I don't think he is. Throd Aug 2014 #21

But will the US response be proportionate!? SnakeEyes Aug 2014 #24

"Proportionate" to what? George II Aug 2014 #52

You might not agree, cheapdate Aug 2014 #67

Katrina was a human tragedy and a humanitarian crisis... George II Aug 2014 #70

Again, you may not agree with the concept of nonpolitical humanitarianism cheapdate Aug 2014 #73

As problematic as it may be for a powerful nation like the United States cheapdate Aug 2014 #5

Exactly Tom Rinaldo Aug 2014 #6

Agree -- gateley Aug 2014 #11

Kurdistan! The US needs to create a new, true ally in the Middle East. McCamy Taylor Aug 2014 #10

too bad the iraqii nation as a whole doesn't seem to be concerned much nt msongs Aug 2014 #12

Actually they are SnakeEyes Aug 2014 #25

But not obviously about the Yezidi. Igel Aug 2014 #57

Well, there goes the election. I hope ballyhoo Aug 2014 #14

Obama isn't a candidate in any election. George II Aug 2014 #17

Who's talking about Obama? ballyhoo Aug 2014 #18

Look up at the SUBJECT LINE! George II Aug 2014 #19

The subject line notwithstanding, Obama's ballyhoo Aug 2014 #22

This message was self-deleted by its author 1000words Aug 2014 #23

I said long ago that Iraq would be the US's ballyhoo Aug 2014 #26

This message was self-deleted by its author 1000words Aug 2014 #27

We all know that, do you have a point? nm rhett o rick Aug 2014 #55

Yup - buh bye Dems.... grahamhgreen Aug 2014 #86

Do you think this attack decision was ballyhoo Aug 2014 #87

I think it was gone way before this event and I don't think the President gives Purveyor Aug 2014 #91

I do, but not in the way you do, I would guess. But ballyhoo Aug 2014 #92

Once more I find my government rationalizing killing more people. We have a horrible track record rhett o rick Aug 2014 #28

So you're fine with 40,000 innocents literally dying of thirst on a mountain top... SunSeeker Aug 2014 #29

I am really getting tired of the tactic of starting with, "So you're rhett o rick Aug 2014 #47

Ok, I re-read your post. It seems pretty clear that you think the US is LTX Aug 2014 #48

Again with putting words in my mouth to make your argument easier. I didn't rhett o rick Aug 2014 #50

Hmph.... George II Aug 2014 #59

In other words you don't anything reasonable to say? nm rhett o rick Aug 2014 #60

All that needs to be said here has already been said, by several people. Apparently... George II Aug 2014 #93

I'm worried that this will turn into another war mvd Aug 2014 #85

We should let the UN take care of it. Provide the humanitarian support and let the UN rhett o rick Aug 2014 #95

The UN has a peacekeeping wing...a war fighting one not so much. EX500rider Aug 2014 #96

I think many are tired of the tactic of blindly stating..... George II Aug 2014 #51

I would ask that those that don't agree with what I say, provide a decent argument and avoid rhett o rick Aug 2014 #54

So do you approve of the actions described in Obama ' s speech yesterday or not? SunSeeker Aug 2014 #63

I have said a number of times that humanitarian help is always good. Bombing and killing rhett o rick Aug 2014 #72

The President's speech answers your question(s). SunSeeker Aug 2014 #74

And that's enough to satisfy you?? I am going to authorize dropping bombs but I am not "quick to rhett o rick Aug 2014 #75

It's obvious you didn't listen to his speech. nt SunSeeker Aug 2014 #100

He already started dropping bombs. Wow, that was quick, but he said he wasn't quick to drop bombs. rhett o rick Aug 2014 #102

Well, so much for not being quick. We just started the bomb dropping. nm rhett o rick Aug 2014 #80

why intervene in one scenario and not the other? politicman Aug 2014 #30

The 40,000 are not "possibly" facing slaughter. They are dying now. SunSeeker Aug 2014 #31

its makes a huge difference.. politicman Aug 2014 #33

Wow. So your position is if we don't intervene in Gaza, we should let the Yazidis die. SunSeeker Aug 2014 #34

read this carefully... politicman Aug 2014 #36

I understood your position the first time. No need to repeat it. SunSeeker Aug 2014 #37

being able to do 2 goods things but choosing only the one that doesnt affect your friends.. politicman Aug 2014 #38

Sounds like you think nothing Obama does is noble. SunSeeker Aug 2014 #39

I used to respect his integrity, but lately he has changed so much from what he started off as. politicman Aug 2014 #40

I hear you Delphinus Aug 2014 #44

STRAWMAN argument. No one provided that position. Do you have an argument as to why we should rhett o rick Aug 2014 #56

So are you saying because we didn't intervene in EVERY humanitarian crisis, we shouldn't here? SunSeeker Aug 2014 #61

I haven't said a word about Gaza. I also didn't say anything about needing to rhett o rick Aug 2014 #82

Speaking of strawmen, we don't "drop bombs at every turn." nt SunSeeker Aug 2014 #94

I don't think you're going to get a real answer. nt ZombieHorde Aug 2014 #84

The people on that mountain dont support those trying to kill them. nt 7962 Aug 2014 #45

We have proof in Gaza, Iraq... not yet. harun Aug 2014 #65

Not yet?! The videos of the Yazidi families on that mountain not good enough for you? SunSeeker Aug 2014 #68

We're not just "not helping" Gazans. stranger81 Aug 2014 #69

Got it. So are you opposed to what we're doing for the Yazidis? SunSeeker Aug 2014 #71

There are scenario all over the world Democat Aug 2014 #32

so we are supposed to applaud the action of Obama to help the Yazidis and forget his stance on I/P? politicman Aug 2014 #35

because Israel laughs at "diplomatic pressure." lululu Aug 2014 #42

Oh, but the US has intervened in Gaza. woo me with science Aug 2014 #43

Israel is Ground Zero in the fundamentalists End Times fantasy. All our tax money we shovel to blkmusclmachine Aug 2014 #62

who's doing the killing and who's dying are the deciding factors yurbud Aug 2014 #76

Awwww, stop making sense! grahamhgreen Aug 2014 #79

next up, the US does an airstrike into Israel. No, wait, sometimes genocide is okay. lululu Aug 2014 #41

You think the US should bomb Israel? n/t LTX Aug 2014 #49

Do you think we should help (interfere) everywhere or just the places you choose? nm rhett o rick Aug 2014 #58

First, Israel and ISIS are not equivalents, and it is rather appalling to suggest it. LTX Aug 2014 #64

Pentagon Announces U.S. Air Strike on ISIS Artillery Baclava Aug 2014 #46

However bad something is.... candelista Aug 2014 #90

The French didn't think so in WWI & WWII...the South Koreans didn't think so... EX500rider Aug 2014 #97

That was the 1950s. candelista Aug 2014 #99

Oh, I'm sorry, i thought you meant always when you said "the US always makes it worse" EX500rider Aug 2014 #101

If the U.S. keeps going to war in Iraq to protect people daleo Aug 2014 #98

I'm glad you're positive that the US will be successful n/t SnakeEyes Aug 2014 #103