MESOP : THE AMERICANS IN IRAQ / GENERAL DEMPSEY SPEAKING – Todays twitters

MESOP SOUTH KURDISTAN (IRAQ) – US defense chief to senate hearing – ‘Only Sunnis can take back Anbar, only Sunnis can govern Anbar when its over’.

Dempsey repeats 3-year-effort to ‘restore sovereignty’ to #Iraq – says retaking Mosul to require 9 effective Iraqi brigades. Tall order.

Mosul fell because of ‘poor governance, sectarianism’ and PM Maliki changing senior military leaders for ‘all the wrong reasons’ – Dempsey.

US defense secretary – US now sending arms directly to #Kurds but informing #Iraqi government. Says 12 countries arming the Kurds.

US trying to find partners it hadn’t envisioned before like Syrian Kurdish YPG – US General @Martin_Dempsey tells senate hearing.

impression is that ground assault will still be Ramadi first tho… Dempsey saying supporting effort will involve Fallujah. www.mesop.de