It's been one hell of a week for ISIS:
"BEIRUT, May 20 (Reuters) - Islamic State insurgents stormed the historic Syrian city of Palmyra on Wednesday, fighting off pro-government forces who withdrew after evacuating most of the civilian population, state television said.
The capture of Palmyra is the first time the al Qaeda offshoot has taken control of a city directly from the Syrian army and allied forces, which have already lost ground in the northwest and south to other insurgent groups in recent weeks.
...
Palmyra is also a strategic military gain, home to modern army installations and situated on a desert highway linking the capital Damascus with Syria's eastern provinces, mostly under insurgent control. "
"Amateur footage has been released which shows Iraqi forces fleeing the city of Ramadi after officials in the country confirmed the city had been captured by Islamic State militants.
In the video obtained by Reuters, numerous armoured vehicles, some sporting Iraq flags, can be seen driving away from the city.
Government forces admitted the city, located just 70 miles west of Baghdad, had fallen to Isis troops on 17 May."
Lest anyone say this is some kind of 'slim minority' - review video of the celebrations.
"The Islamic State terror group is expanding operations in Southeast Asia where in Malaysia more than 100 Islamists, including some linked to the military, have been arrested in recent weeks, according to a State Department security report.
“Malaysian authorities have now arrested more than 100 individuals linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), including over 30 suspects in March and April alone,” says a May 19 report by the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), a government group that promotes partnership between the State Department and the private sector. The Islamic State terrorist organization is known by three acronyms: IS, ISIS, and ISIL.
The seven-page internal report produced for U.S. corporations abroad is the latest indication that the Obama administration’s strategy against Islamic State is failing. The president has limited U.S. military operations in Syria and Iraq to airstrikes and training for local forces that appear to be struggling in efforts to counter IS forces."
The response from the U.S. State Department?
" She acknowledged that "the destruction and looting of these sites has been sort of something we've seen in other places" and it's "incredibly harmful," but as to the question of what the U.S. could do, Harf only had this to offer:
"We'll keep watching here, we'll keep seeing what's happening on the ground."
Harf added: "This is the reason we're trying to push back ISIL out of Iraq and to try and help the Syrian opposition push back ISIL in Syria."
"This is something we're following; we're concerned about this. Obviously, it has been caught in the crossfire for some time and we'll speak up about it," said Harf. "Beyond that, I'm not sure what more can be done." "
This is not from the Onion or a Saturday Night Live skit. That was the official State Department response.
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"BEIRUT, May 20 (Reuters) - Islamic State insurgents stormed the historic Syrian city of Palmyra on Wednesday, fighting off pro-government forces who withdrew after evacuating most of the civilian population, state television said.
The capture of Palmyra is the first time the al Qaeda offshoot has taken control of a city directly from the Syrian army and allied forces, which have already lost ground in the northwest and south to other insurgent groups in recent weeks.
...
Palmyra is also a strategic military gain, home to modern army installations and situated on a desert highway linking the capital Damascus with Syria's eastern provinces, mostly under insurgent control. "
You must be registered for see links
"Amateur footage has been released which shows Iraqi forces fleeing the city of Ramadi after officials in the country confirmed the city had been captured by Islamic State militants.
In the video obtained by Reuters, numerous armoured vehicles, some sporting Iraq flags, can be seen driving away from the city.
Government forces admitted the city, located just 70 miles west of Baghdad, had fallen to Isis troops on 17 May."
You must be registered for see links
Lest anyone say this is some kind of 'slim minority' - review video of the celebrations.
You must be registered for see links
"The Islamic State terror group is expanding operations in Southeast Asia where in Malaysia more than 100 Islamists, including some linked to the military, have been arrested in recent weeks, according to a State Department security report.
“Malaysian authorities have now arrested more than 100 individuals linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), including over 30 suspects in March and April alone,” says a May 19 report by the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), a government group that promotes partnership between the State Department and the private sector. The Islamic State terrorist organization is known by three acronyms: IS, ISIS, and ISIL.
The seven-page internal report produced for U.S. corporations abroad is the latest indication that the Obama administration’s strategy against Islamic State is failing. The president has limited U.S. military operations in Syria and Iraq to airstrikes and training for local forces that appear to be struggling in efforts to counter IS forces."
The response from the U.S. State Department?
You must be registered for see links
" She acknowledged that "the destruction and looting of these sites has been sort of something we've seen in other places" and it's "incredibly harmful," but as to the question of what the U.S. could do, Harf only had this to offer:
"We'll keep watching here, we'll keep seeing what's happening on the ground."
Harf added: "This is the reason we're trying to push back ISIL out of Iraq and to try and help the Syrian opposition push back ISIL in Syria."
"This is something we're following; we're concerned about this. Obviously, it has been caught in the crossfire for some time and we'll speak up about it," said Harf. "Beyond that, I'm not sure what more can be done." "
This is not from the Onion or a Saturday Night Live skit. That was the official State Department response.