While we await the latest nationally televized appearance of the teleprompter telling Obama just what the US is doing in Iraq at some point over the next 60 minutes, there are conflicting reports about what may or may not be happening in Iraq right now. On one hand there appears to be confirmation that the US has begun airdropping humanitarian supplies to the thousands trapped in the Iraqi mountains, as we earlier reported would likely happen [4]. On the other hand, the NYT also blasted that the US is now also bombing ISIS targets in Iraq.
Breaking News: American Forces Said to Bomb ISIS Targets in Iraq
http://t.co/AZJZzSX1TY [5]
— The New York Times (@nytimes) August 7, 2014 [6]
.... Something which the Pentagon quickly denied.
Press reports that US has conducted airstrikes in Iraq completely false. No such action taken.
— Rear Adm. John Kirby (@PentagonPresSec) August 7, 2014 [7]
Of course, if the Pentagon is issuing an official denial and to a major news outlet at that, it merely confirms the story, especially since it was further reported by McClatchy [8]...
Jet aircraft attacked Islamic State positions outside the town of Kalak, 25 miles northwest of Irbil, the capital of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region, a resident of Kalak told McClatchy early Friday.
The resident, reached by phone from Irbil, said she had seen the aircraft and had heard the explosions coming from behind Islamic State lines, which are slightly more than a mile away. The resident said because it was dark she could not see any markings on the aircraft.
Kurdish television reported that the bombers were American. There was no confirmation from U.S. officials in Washington.
The reported bombing came after a day of panic in the Kurdish capital following Islamic State militants’ seizure of four strategic towns on a key highway and their advance to positions just minutes from Irbil.
... even if it opens even further questions about yet more leaks in the US government, and more disinformation campaigns.
In any event, we look forward to Obama shortly addressing the masses while submitting his official application for the 2014 edition of the Nobel Peace Prize, his second.