SOME PROGRESS AGAINST ISIS – AT 11:44 A.M.  ET:  We always give credit where it's due.  There seems to be some military progress against ISIS in Iraq.  From Powerline: 

The Washington Post reports that Iraqi troops, supported by U.S. air strikes, have stormed into the center of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province. At last word, they hadn’t yet retaken the city from ISIS, but their prospects of doing so seem excellent.

According to the Post, this is the first major offensive by the Iraqi army in which Shiite militias have been largely excluded. Thus, it can be viewed as a test of the army’s ability to go it alone. If so, the army is passing the test.

However, there are reports that ISIS has pretty much abandoned Ramadi, leaving only a few hundred fighters plus the inevitable deadly explosives devices and booby traps.

Before the assault, the Iraqis dropped leaflets urging civilians to evacuate. However, ISIS is believed to have prevented them from doing so. Since the assault, a few hundred civilians have been able to reach Iraqi forces, but thousands, and perhaps tens of thousands, are said still to be trapped alongside ISIS fighters, who will use them as shields.

Retaking Ramadi, which is about 80 miles from Baghdad, would have both strategic and symbolic significance. Recall that when the city fell to ISIS, Iraqis blamed the U.S. for not providing enough air support, while U.S. officials didn’t even try to hide their contempt for Iraqi forces, who withdrew despite their superior numbers.

COMMENT:  And Mosul may be next to fall to Iraqi forces.  This is good, but there are some serious asterisks:  ISIS is very shrewd, and knows when to fall back and put its resources elsewhere.  The elsewhere right now is Afghanistan, where both ISIS and the Taliban are growing in power. 

We applaud every victory over ISIS, but the fight is far from over.  ISIS can stage strategic retreats in some areas, only to appear elsewhere in substantial numbers. 

December 25, 2015