Fearing the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria [ISIS] will use civilians as human shields, the U.N. Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein expressed concern that ISIS has taken at least 500 families hostage. No one said the battle for Mosul would be easy or not come with a heavy price. Iraq’s armed forces, U.S. Special Forces and Kurdish Peshmerga fighters have already encountered Improvised Explosive Devices, suicide truck and car bombers on the outskirts of Mosul. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Oct. 17 coalition forces are already ahead of schedule making their way to Mosul where ISIS plans to put up a fierce fight. “There is a grave danger for ISIL [AKA ISIS], fighters will not only use such vulnerable people as human shields but may opt to kill them rather that see them liberated,” said Al Hussein, concerned about collateral damage.
U.N.’s Human Rights Commission can’t control conditions on the ground, including the slaughter of innocents as the battle for Mosul begins. No one seriously believes the Iraqi military should hold off on their advance until civilian safety can be guaranteed. “We know ISIS has no regard for human life, which is why it is incumbent upon the Iraqi government to do its utmost to protect civilians,” said Al Hussein. Al Hussein knows that the U.N. can’t protect civilians caught in the crossfire. Why the U.N. raises human rights issues in war zone is anyone’s guess. If the U.N. High Commission on Human Rights were really concerned about civilian carnage, they would pressure the Saudis, Turks and U.S. to stop the proxy war in Syria, responsible for over 300,000 deaths, making over 12 million homeless. Whatever happens with Mosul will tell the story about Raqqa in Syria
Driving ISIS out of Mosul is long overdue after it seized Iraq’s second largest city June 10, 2014. While the battle for Mosul heats up, Al Hussein should be more concerned about Turkey massacring Kurds in Syria, Iraq’s on-the-ground partners in battling ISIS. Flying to Baghdad to get the lowdown of the battle of Mosul, 62-year-old Defense Secretary Ash Carter hopes to get the word on upcoming battle. Getting word that Anaheim resident 34-year-old Navy Chief Petty Officer Jason C. Finan was killed Oct. 20 by a roadside bomb, Carter faces the harsh reality in Mosul. While over 18,000 Iraqi and 10,000 Kurdish troops plan to fght, the dangers to some 5,000 U.S. Special Forces are real. With the U.S. offering only peripheral help, there’s no guarantee that the Iraqis and Kurds can do the job. Carter hopes to lend some moral support before the bloody fight for Mosul.
When the Iraqi military last faced ISIS with the Free Syrian Army June 29, 2015, Sunni, Shiites and Kurds suffered a crushing defeat. Whether admitted to or not, Iraq’s Sunnis don’t like fighting along side Shiites or Kurds for that matter. Whether today’s Iraqi military holds up in Mosul is anyone’s guess. Carter going to Baghdad reminds the Iraqis and Kurds that they’re essentially on their own fighting ISIS. Recent WikiLeaks emails reveal that Democratic nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton knew that Saudi Arabia funded ISIS and gave the Clinton Foundation untold millions of dollars. While 5,000 strong, American advisors aren’t on the front-lines with Iraqis and Kurds battling ISIS terrorists. Once adversity hits Iraqis and Kurds, it’s going to be difficult to keep up morale without a strong U.S. presence providing military structure.
U.N. agencies, like the United Nations Children’s Fund [UNICEF], warned of the impending humanitarian crisis, especially for civilians under ISIS rule. Mosul could see as many a million civilians fleeing the war zone. Calling Mosul a potential “unprecedented humanitarian crisis,” UNICEF wants as many relief agencies ready to accommodate up to a million fleeing residents. Warnings from the U.N. typically seek more help from Western countries like the United States. “The challenges in this scenario are unprecedented. We don’t often have up to one million people potentially on the move; it’s very rare in scale and size,” said UNICEP regional emergency advisor Basten Vigneau. Without admitting it, many U.N. agencies blame the U.S. for the Iraq War, spiraling the Mideast in terrorism and violence. U.N. officials expect the U.S. to pull its weight with relief efforts.
Heading into what looks like a decisive battle against ISIS in Mosul, the U.N. expects unprecedented civilian casualties and displaced persons. Estimated that 200,000 could be displaced in the first two weeks of battle, the U.N. wants contingency plans in place to accommodate a massive influx of families and children. Visiting Iraq, Carter sees a potential slow motion train wreck in Mosul, with ISIS lashing out at some 1.5 million civilians, close to one-third children. When you consider the damage done by the 2003 Iraq War, and Obama pulling out U.S. forces Dec. 15, 2011, it’s no wonder the U.N. expects the U.S. to do more. Keeping Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds in the same Iraqi fighting force won’t be easy when confronting ISIS’s Sunni extremists. If the Iraqi military and Kurds fall apart in Mosul, the U.S. will have some soul searching figuring out what to do next.
