[Armistead]

Skybird probably said it, but there were numerous blunders, but one I think must be point out is our timeline to leave.

Bush and Maliki actually had a good working relationship and with us there he was able to govern much better. When Obama took office Maliki no longer had a friend in the WH, worse, he knew he Americans were going to bail. It was then he started his campaign of Shia power, because of fear without the US and the strong division of Shia and Sunni. Maliki was not the right player, but I think the only player left was for the US to maintain control of the govt for several more years. This would've been the best thing for Iraq, but Bush was more concerned with his legacy of democracy there before he left office, not to mention the lack of public support waning.

Now it's genocide either way. ISIS will continue it's blood mania, taking more towns, more mass killings. If we were to intervene big time, we would kill probably as many civilians getting the cities back. That's why if we are to intervene, we must do it now. Course, we'd fall into world condemnation once we started taking the cities back, but Obama isn't going to do it.

...and that dam....if ISIS lost that city, I bet they would blow it...