James Carville knew a thing or two when he advised Clinton’s campaign on the takedown of George H. W. Bush. Finally, the anti-ISIS forces are getting the message. It’s hard to rule when you don’t have cash, and ISIS profits are way down in Iraq. Syrian operations are obviously the next target.
About half of ISIS income used to be from oil. That’s a lot in one basket, and the U.S. coalition has put a large hole in it. The damage is severe enough so that ISIS doesn’t even have enough fuel for its internal needs, and little for export. High quality fuel needed for water delivery is no longer available in many areas. Everything from water to medicine has become more expensive, and power is no longer a given in ISIS controlled territory. [iraqoilreport]
Life in the Caliphate is beginning to suck. Not that this is producing a mass exodus of civilians from ISIS controlled areas. Roads are dangerous for 'deserters' and Iraqi forces aren't welcoming, to say the least. Mosul has become a horror show in the past few month as ISIS becomes more brutal as its losses and weaknesses become more apparent. Over the last two months, hundreds of people have been executed, whipped and some 90 alleged thieves have had a hand chopped off. [aranews]
In Syria those living under the Caliphate are no better off. ISIS is beefing up its borders around Raqqa not so much for defense as for keeping people from fleeing. There is little water, no electricity, and no jobs in this capital of the Caliphate. The people are being registered and passports are confiscated. Daily air strikes, from both government and coalition forces, have leveled much of the city and created a prolonged traumatic environment. [bbc]
The Emperor is not yet naked, but it's getting harder to disguise the rotting flesh of the Caliphate.
