United States

Submitted by Gregory R. Copley via OilPrice.com,

Senior-level sources in numerous Middle Eastern governments have privately expressed bewilderment at recent and current U.S. government strategies and policies toward the region.

But a closer examination of U.S. policies, now almost entirely dictated by the Obama White House, shows no cohesive national goals or policies exist, but rather an ad hoc set of actions and reactions, which are largely dictated either by ideological positions, ignorance, whim, or perceived expedience.

Back in June of 2014, ISIS - which at the time hadn’t yet rampaged its way into the world’s collective consciousness - took over Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city and home to more than 2 million people.

When the city fell, it became immediately apparent that the group was quite serious about its stated goal of creating a medieval caliphate and bringing Sharia Law to the entire region.

The victory wasn’t purely symbolic. ISIS fighters captured 2,300 Humvees parked in the city and looted more than $400 million from Mosul’s central bank.

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Via FactCheck.org,

President Barack Obama’s final State of the Union address came up short of the facts on several topics:

Footage has been released showing the moment that Iranian forces detained 10 US sailors. The sailors were taken into custody as their boats crossed into Iran’s territorial waters on Tuesday. The images followed the release of the sailors earlier on Wednesday. RT reports: Dressed in camouflage uniforms, the sailors can be seen kneeling on the deck of the patrol boat, with hands on their heads. They are then shown seated in a room, being given tea, bottled water and food by their Iranian hosts.