The US govt does what it can in the fight against ISIS

The US government has been airlifting supplies and ammunition to ISIS troops for a long time. Most Iraqis know this and are therefore deeply suspicious of any “assistance” offered to them by the US government in the war against ISIS. The US government is in the awkward position of secretly supporting ISIS, while pretending to oppose it in the eyes of public opinion.

The US was lukewarm in its war against ISIS until Russia stepped in and took over the leadership in the war. The US was taken by surprise and is now scurrying to try to take back the leadership role in the Mideast. To this end, they have to present themselves as being necessary to overcome ISIS, but Russia’s all-out commitment to the war dwarfs the US half-hearted effort.

The US bombs ISIS only when it has to do so to maintain its façade. When they can get away with helping ISIS and still hold on to some “plausible deniability,” they do so. Here is another example of US support for ISIS troops.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/errant-us-airstrike-hit-iraqi-forces-baghdad-government-says/2015/12/18/64606bea-a5c1-11e5-ad3f-991ce3374e23_story.html

BAGHDAD — The Iraqi military said an airstrike by the U.S.-led coalition hit its forces Friday, the first time it has reported a friendly-fire incident since American jets began bombing Islamic State militants in the country last year….

One officer injured in the strike, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the news media, said 25 soldiers were killed and 37 were wounded. A military medic said he had treated at least 20 injured soldiers.

The U.S.-led coalition said it had launched an investigation and offered condolences to the Iraqi security forces. In a statement, it confirmed that coalition planes had conducted several airstrikes in the area.

“Despite coordination with the Iraqi security forces on the ground, initial reports indicate the possibility one of the strikes resulted in the death of Iraqi soldiers,” it said.

The claim that this was the result of “friendly fire” and therefore an accident can hardly be proven either way, of course, unless a whistleblower surfaces.