Topic: Mosul

New York Times reporter Rukmini Callimachi detailed findings from abandoned ISIS documents in Mosul, Iraq. The reports suggest that ISIS utilized existing Iraqi civil servants to maintain city infrastructure, resulting in cleaner streets and functioning sewers compared to the subsequent Iraqi government. The efficiency of ISIS governance is cited as a factor that fostered local sympathy due to the perceived corruption of the Iraqi state.

Charles Krauthammer analyzes the strategic maneuvering in Syria as ISIS loses territory, with Iran seeking to establish a "land bridge" to the Mediterranean. The hosts overlay this with their "pipeline theory," explaining the conflict as a battle between a proposed Iran-Iraq-Syria pipeline and a rival Qatar-Turkey pipeline. The control of cities like Mosul and Raqqa is framed as essential for these competing energy corridors to Europe.

Former CIA Deputy Director Michael Morrell discusses the impact of US Special Operations forces on the ground in Syria. He argues that even small numbers of troops can significantly improve the strategic and tactical decisions of Kurdish fighters against ISIS. The hosts provide an update on the Battle of Mosul.

U.S. officials claim ISIS developed explosives concealed in laptops at Mosul University, capable of evading current airport scanners. This development is expected to drive a global mandate for new scanning technology, benefiting companies like L3 Technologies and firms associated with Michael Chertoff. The "laptop ban" on flights is framed as a precursor to a massive industry-wide equipment upgrade.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson clarifies that the U.S. priority remains the defeat of ISIS rather than the immediate removal of Bashar al-Assad. He emphasizes the principle of self-determination, stating that the Syrian people must ultimately decide Assad's fate. Tillerson cites the "violent regime change" in Libya as a cautionary tale of the chaos that can follow such interventions.

Military sources report a significant buildup of U.S. troops in Kuwait, potentially for operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, or Syria. Tensions are rising between Israel and Syria following the use of Arrow anti-missile technology against Syrian surface-to-air missiles. The discussion critiques the State Department's lack of visibility regarding civilian deaths in Mosul, comparing the media's muted response to the heavy coverage previously seen during the siege of Aleppo.

A Google self-driving car was involved in a low-speed collision with a bus in Mountain View, California, which the hosts interpret as a failure of "skip logic" algorithms. Separately, U.S. officials warned of a catastrophic risk of failure at the Mosul Dam in Iraq, which could displace over a million people if it collapses.

Senators Lindsey Graham and John McCain advocate for amendments to legislation regarding foreign sovereign immunity and 9/11 victims. The discussion centers on their efforts to prevent the U.S. government from being sued for discretionary functions while allegedly protecting Saudi Arabian interests. The hosts criticize the senators' claims about chemical weapons factories in Mosul.

The hosts claim a potential connection between providing a film screener to General Michael Flynn and his subsequent op-ed calling for the extradition of Fethullah Gulen. The discussion shifts to the battle for Mosul, noting that former Saddam Hussein officials are reportedly leading ISIS forces and sabotaging infrastructure.

The battle for Mosul is intensifying, with reports of ISIS using children as human shields and strapping bombs to dogs. Amnesty International has also implicated Iraqi federal police in the torture and killing of villagers. The UN reports that over 34,000 people have fled the city in recent weeks.

Three American service members were killed on a training mission in Jordan. Meanwhile, ISIS is setting oil wells on fire south of Mosul, a tactic reminiscent of the Gulf War. The hosts discuss the "aggressor" role of the U.S. in Ukraine and the influence of Victoria Nuland.

President Erdoğan's potential deployment of Turkish troops into Mosul, Iraq, raises concerns about a direct military conflict and the resulting obligations of NATO member states. The Obama administration's role in managing the regional tension is questioned as the State Department recalls employees from Turkey. Meanwhile, reports of "advisors" on the front lines in Mosul contradict official claims regarding the presence of boots on the ground.

Russia Today reports on a bombing at a funeral near Kirkuk that allegedly killed numerous women and children, an event the mainstream U.S. media has not covered. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Ash Carter arrived in Baghdad to assess the Mosul offensive against ISIS.

RT correspondent Gayane Chichakyan questions the U.S. State Department on the difference between civilian displacement in Aleppo, Syria, and Mosul, Iraq. The hosts highlight the perceived hypocrisy of the State Department, which criticizes Russia for humanitarian pauses in Aleppo while calling civilian displacement in the U.S.-backed Mosul offensive "inevitable." The segment features clips of State Department spokesperson John Kirby.

Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter announced the deployment of 560 additional troops to Iraq to assist in the effort to retake Mosul. State Department spokespeople denied that this constitutes "mission creep," arguing that the mission itself has not changed. The hosts mock the linguistic gymnastics used by officials to justify increasing military presence in the region.

The Pentagon announced the completion of "Phase One" in the military campaign against ISIS, which focused on degrading the group's conventional military capabilities. The campaign is now entering "Phase Two," aimed at dismantling the organization's infrastructure. Officials claim ISIS can no longer move freely in large convoys as they did during the fall of Mosul.

Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter addresses ROTC members regarding the criteria for defeating ISIS in Raqqa and Mosul. Carter describes the extremist ideology as a "cancer" that requires constant military intervention even after territorial defeat. The hosts criticize Carter's suggestion that the military may need to address Americans who have "lost their way" and are inspired by ISIS domestically.

The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad issues a warning regarding the "unprecedented risk" of a catastrophic failure at the Mosul Dam in Iraq. While officials claim a breach could flood Baghdad, the hosts question the logistics and suggest the narrative is a pretext for moving international troops into the region. An Italian company has been hired to perform emergency maintenance on the structure.

A "clip blitz" covers a Google self-driving car hitting a bus in Mountain View and warnings of a catastrophic failure at Iraq's Mosul Dam. Additionally, three San Francisco Sheriff's deputies were charged with forcing jail inmates into "gladiator-style" fights for entertainment.

Congressman Adam Schiff discusses vulnerabilities in airport security, referencing the ISIS claim that a soda-can-sized bomb brought down a Russian passenger jet. He also mentions the retaking of Sinjar in Iraq, which the hosts analyze as a strategic move to control the oil transport route between Raqqa and Mosul.