US effort against Isis could expand to include Boko Haram in Nigeria

[herding cats]

Source: The Guardian

The war against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria may be expanded to include Boko Haram in Nigeria and militant elements in Libya, secretary of defense Ash Carter said on Wednesday.

Testifying before Senate committee on the topic of whether to authorize military force against jihadis – more than eight months after air strikes and military operations against Isis began – Carter conceded that the authorization’s language would allow “flexibility” to include targets who have affiliated with Isis and threaten the US or its many coalition partners.

“This AUMF [Authorization for Use of Military Force] could apply to operations in and around Libya,” Carter said, “depending on whether or not they met the criteria” of allegiance to and coordinating with Isis to attack the US or one of its partners.
Iraqi forces poised to recapture Tikrit from Isis
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The hearing came as a Iraqi government forces and Shia militias advanced towards the centre of Tikrit in the largest operation against Isis since its lightning it conquered large areas of the country in a lightning offensive last summer. The assault on Tikrit has been backed by Iran, but the US-led coalition has not been invited to participate with air strikes.



Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/mar/11/us-isis-military-expand-boko-haram-nigeria

[geek tragedy]

1. air strikes on Boko Haram are perfectly fine by me. Ground troops? Nope. nt

[leveymg]

2. With extension to Venezuela and Nigeria, this is the script of Avatar.

Uncanny.

[jamzrockz]

6. I pray to God

everyday that it wouldn't come to this. I remember going to air shows when I was a kid and the Nigerian air force would show off dozens of planes doing stuns and flying in formation, why can't they use some of those jets to bomb Boko Haram? why involve the US? you know they never leave anywhere they are invited to.

I hope the fight ends before they show up, even if the bombing works, the place would be destroyed to the point where it would take 20 yrs before humans can inhabit the area.

Wake the fuck up Jonathan and finish off these Wahhabi monsters before the US military shows up. Also inviting the US is going to hurt you at the polls and I am sure you don't want that.

[delrem]

3. The US has a shitload of bombs and drones and jet airplanes.

It can keep on bombing in ever expanding territories forever, or at least until the problem goes away, whatever the problem ever was in the first place, way back in "9/11" mythology, way back when PNAC was only beginning to realize its dreams. You betcha that the right investments in the right stocks can reap huge rewards, regardless of the "morality" of a war. It's classic war profiteering.

With no precious US blood spilled, and with nobody doing a body count and with everyone in firing range an enemy combatant or collateral damage, a lot of money can be made dropping bombs. But the scam of making mega-billions "rebuilding infrastructure" a la Halliburton doesn't fly so brightly nowadays, since nobody nowadays could possibly believe that the US gives such a shit.

[DeSwiss]

4. ....

[samsingh]

5. i hope so. boko haram needs to be stopped and gutted