Australian government sees extent of atrocities in northern Iraq

HORRIFIC imagery from US spy planes reveals IS militants’ atrocities in Iraq, as Obama reveals he has no strategy to deal with the terror group. GRAPHIC IMAGES

THE Australian government has been given horrific imagery from US satellites and unmanned spy planes showing the extent of atrocities committed by Islamic militants in northern Iraq, as President Barack Obama says the US doesn’t “have a strategy yet” to deal with the terror group.

It comes as federal government frontbencher Christopher Pyne today said it would be wrong of Australia not to help the US in Iraq if asked, given we have the hornet jets available.

WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES

According to well-placed sources the shocking material, taken from the village of Kojo and surrounds, is so horrific that it is hard to believe it could happen in 2014.

It includes images of beheadings, crucifixions, mass shootings and evidence from spies on the ground that people have been buried alive.

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (IS) is conducting a medieval campaign of murder and terror on a biblical scale as it cuts a swathe across Syria and northern Iraq.

The revelations comes as new images appeared yesterday on the internet showing the cold blooded slaughter of dozens of men by heavily armed IS fighters.

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Limited US air strikes have so far prevented a genocide, but there are grave concerns for the safety of thousands of civilians around the northern Iraq towns of Kojo and Amerli.

Officials have said President Obama is considering similar action in neighbouring Syria in the wake of journalist James Foley’s execution.

Today, Mr Obama said confronting ISIS militants required a regional strategy with support from other countries in the region.

He said it was time for states in the region to “stop being ambivalent” about the aims of extremist groups like the ISIS.

“They have no ideology beyond violence and chaos and the slaughter of innocent people,” Mr Obama said, alluding to the group’s announcement last week that it had killed Foley.

The militants also have threatened to kill other US hostages.

The militants have moved with ease between Iraq and Syria, effectively blurring the border.

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Seven men are made to kneel before being shot by gunmen of the Islamic State group after seizing the Tabqa air base in Raqqa province, Syria. Picture: AP / Raqqa Media Centre of the Islamic State group

However, the President said that his top priority was rolling back the militants’ gains in Iraq that pose a threat to US personnel in Erbil and Baghdad.

Mr Obama said that if he were to expand the military mission, he would consult with members of Congress, who are due to return to Washington in early September.

“The suggestion has been that we’ll start moving forward imminently and somehow Congress, still out of town, will be left in the dark,” Mr Obama said.

“That’s not what’s going to happen.”

The President did not commit to seeking a vote from Congress if he were to decide to proceed with military action.

One year ago, Mr Obama was on the verge of taking strikes against the Syrian Government it retaliation for its use of chemical weapons, but abruptly shifted course and decided to seek congressional approval.

The surprise move threw his policy into chaos. Congress baulked at Mr Obama’s request for a vote, contributing to his decision to ultimately scrap the strikes.

Abu Moussa al-Ansari, a fighter from the Islamic State group, died in the battle for the Tabqa air base, in Raqqa, Syria. Picture: AP / Raqqa Media Centre of the Islamic State group

Mr Pyne today said Prime Minister Tony Abbott has already been “very responsive” to requests from allies to assist in humanitarian support.

“This is the most vicious and foul terrorist group that we’ve ever seen in the world’s history and we in the West can’t allow it to slaughter innocent people,” he told Channel Nine’s Today Show.

“We have the capability to act and given we have that capability it would be wrong of us not to be involved.”

It appeared ISIS in northern Iraq had been “checked” in the wake of US air strikes, the Minister said, but he warned “they haven’t been defeated”.

“Our military experts this week said that they’d have to be defeated militarily,” he said.

“Australia will respond to requests from the US and other Allies in handling the ISIS problem.”

More will be said “in the coming days and weeks,” Mr Pyne predicted.

“Obviously if the US makes requests to us we’ll respond.”

A fighter from the Islamic State group, armed with a knife and an automatic weapon, next to captured Syrian army soldiers and officers after the battle for the Tabqa air base, in Raqqa, Syria. Picture: AP /Raqqa Media Centre of the Islamic State group)

Mr Pyne’s comments follow the Abbott Government yesterday dampening speculation that it would deploy RAAF Super Hornet strike jets to assist with the US-led air war against the militants.

Hundreds of RAAF Super Hornet crews and support staff at Amberley air base near Brisbane remain on short notice to move.

Defence Minister David Johnston said it was not just a simple matter of deploying aircraft and he flatly ruled out ever deploying ground troops.

If deployed the RAAF jets would be based either at al Minhad near Dubai or in Turkey.

Senator Johnston said no decision would be taken until after the new government of Iraq was installed on September 10.

And then the regime would have to prove that it was “inclusive” and competent before any support would be provided.

RAAF C-130 Hercules transports are remaining on standby for humanitarian missions into the region.

A captured tank is fired by fighters from the Islamic State group at the Tabqa air base in Syria. Picture: AP / Raqqa Media Centre of the Islamic State group

Leading strategic thinkers have joined the growing chorus urging caution about a new war in Iraq.

ANU analyst and former army officer John Blaxland said IS was goading the west into a military response.

“We shouldn’t react. We should be very circumspect and urge the US to act very cautiously. We should keep our powder dry,” Professor Blaxland said.

Labor has also called for a cautious response and the Greens have demanded a full parliamentary debate on any military deployment.

Men, women and children from the minority Yazidi sect being systematically slaughtered by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria try and escape. Picture: Reuters

Despite pleading that no human being should stand by and watch the slaughter of innocent people Mr Abbott yesterday softened the government’s language on a military intervention.

“That is the Australian way: to keep our country safe and to do what we can to build a safer world,” Mr Abbott said.

He said the government would carefully consider the risks and objectives before agreeing to take part in further military action in Iraq.

“Should we be asked, we would want to look at any request in the light of achievable objectives, a clear role for Australian forces, a full risk assessment and an overall humanitarian objective.”

His language was more circumspect than Defence Chief Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin who said the only way to defeat the IS “thugs” was on the battlefield.

IRAQ: THEN AND NOW