This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-27914444
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Twitter Q&A: John Simpson answers your Iraq crisis questions | Twitter Q&A: John Simpson answers your Iraq crisis questions |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A series of attacks in Iraq have seen Sunni militants and jihadists from ISIS [Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant] seize control of major cities, oil fields and border crossings in the north of the country. | A series of attacks in Iraq have seen Sunni militants and jihadists from ISIS [Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant] seize control of major cities, oil fields and border crossings in the north of the country. |
| BBC World Affairs Editor John Simpson, currently in Baghdad, has been answering your questions in a Twitter Q&A which took place on Thursday, 19 June, at 08:30 GMT (09:30 BST), via the @BBC_HaveYourSay Twitter account. | |
| This is an edited version: | |
| John tweets: Good Morning from Baghdad. | |
| He adds: Twitter is blocked in #Iraq. I'm on the phone to colleagues in London to ensure answers are relayed for #AskBBCSimpson | |
| @PR_president: Why can't we block #ISIS escape route, into Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia also infiltrate. | |
| John answers: Irrelevant. ISIS not escaping, it's attacking. Only route that counts is to Syria - unblockable #AskBBCSimpson | |
| @VRfiedIranNews: An Iraqi official said 80% of 2nd battalion were Kurds and they left there possibly before ISIS attacked north. True? | |
| John answers: Exaggerated, but partly true. This old history now. Kurds fought well afterwards #AskBBCSimpson | |
| @alinqot: Wouldn't Iran & Iraq have been better off if the UK & US hadn't overthrown governments in 1950s & 1970s? | |
| John answers: This is ancient history. We have to live in the present - which is result of 2003 Iraq invasion, plus 2011 US withdrawal #AskBBCSimpson | |
| @HaiderSonneteer: Are we staring into the abyss in Iraq? | |
| John answers: Yes I'm afraid so. Not inevitable but deeply worrying. #AskBBCSimpson | |
| @Derin_2023: Iraq will be divided into different states. What do you think about that? | |
| John answers: Quite possible, even likely, but likely to bring genocide and huge turmoil. Best avoided #AskBBCSimpson | |
| @diuk37: How can UN stop US & NATO interference in Iraq? | |
| John answers This is not a question, it's a political statement #AskBBCSimpson | |
| @AudelShirin: In Syria, Syrians lived harmoniously. In Iraq it's genocide. Is that justification enough to attack Isis? | |
| John answers Syrians harmonious because lived under fierce dictatorship. Democracy in Iraq hasn't found way of stopping genocide #AskBBCSimpson | |
| Rob Taylor from Milton Keynes emails: Are we witnessing start of break up of Iraq? | |
| John answers: Think you're right. Break-up will be disaster. But Iran already major regional power, will get stronger #AskBBCSimpson | |
| Joseph Meager from Preston, UK, emails: We've heard nothing of Christians in Iraq. How have they survived, or have they fled since ISIS attack? | |
| John answers: Little news of Christians in Mosul. ISIS regard them as enemies, but crucifixions not of Christians #AskBBCSimpson | |
| Oliver from Sevenoaks, UK, emails: Can there be a happy ending? | |
| John answers No happy endings in politics. Least dangerous would probably be if Iraq sticks together as country #AskBBCSimpson | |
| Rachel Bee from Bristol, UK emails: Is it true US & UK failed to provide promised firepower to Iraqi gov't on leaving? | |
| John answers: Not really, though both US & UK keen to get out. Iraq has plenty of fire power - ISIS still winning #AskBBCSimpson | |
| Roge Heath from Reedville, US, emails: How did Maliki start his political ascendancy? Wasn't he initially dismissed as a light weight? | |
| John answers: Maliki a career émigré politician, clever, discreet, uncharismatic, easily underestimated #AskBBCSimpson | |
| Jordi Delcor from Barcelona emails: Will Iraq be split in three parts with the oil wells controlled by USA & allies? | |
| John answers: No. May split, but oil wd be divided between three. Sunni & Shia parts not friendly to West #AskBBCSimpson | |
| Mike Harris from London emails: What options are open to the West? Can you suggest any reasonable action that won't worsen the crisis? | |
| John answers: Washing hands of Iraq not an option. Entire region regards ISIS as major threat. Iraqi govt can't cope alone #AskBBCSimpson | |
| Ilina Georgieva in London emails: What does Iraq crisis mean for Syria? Will Western govts change attitude to Assad who is fighting ISIS? | |
| John answers: ISIS is forcing big strategic re-think for West, however distasteful. New links with Iran already. Perhaps Assad to come #AskBBCSimpson | |
| @Curticus1: Would Western military intervention escalate or control the violence? | |
| John answers: Unclear, but without bombing ISIS likely to win. Hard for U.S not to do it #AskBBCSimpson | |
| @s_witter: Are Iraqi Sunni citizens safe in Iraq's northern region. Would ISIS hurt them? Can these citizens leave the country? | |
| John answers: ISIS an extreme Sunni movement, so not an immediate threat to Sunni Iraqis. Possible to leave country but difficult #AskBBCSimpson | |
| @Knight_Assoc: Is there feeling on the ground of Kurd independence & Sunni/Shia split as an outcome? Will new lines be drawn on the map? | |
| John answers: Yes this seems most likely outcome at present. But brings huge dangers #AskBBCSimpson | |
| @SamInWhitley: Is defeating ISIS militarily the only way to stop them creating an extremist state? | |
| John answers: Hard to think of an alternative. #AskBBCSimpson | |
| @dblplusgoodful: What measures, if any, are being used to protect minorities, especially non-Islamic minority peoples? #Iraq | |
| John answers: Hard in incipient civil war to protect anyone. That's why many minorities leaving #AskBBCSimpson | |
| @anilkarkie: Who are the strategic leaders of #ISIS and have they ever met with members of US intelligence agencies? | |
| John answers: Only known strategic leader is al-Baghdadi. Caught, interrogated & finally released by U.S. Why wd ISIS want to meet CIA? #AskBBCSimpson | |
| @yoruklsik: What is ISIS trying to achieve by holding Turkish diplomats and trucks drivers as hostages? | |
| John answers: Isis sees Turks as pro-Western, enemies, and useful for potential exchanges #AskBBCSimpson | |
| John Gammon from Brighton, UK, emails: Will Sunni and Shia ever reconcile? | |
| John answers: Sunni and Shia often co-exist peacefully here. Need to create peaceful circumstances in which this will continue #AskBBCSimpson | |
| @robmcgibbon: How are you explaining to your son as to where you are and the dangers? Can't be easy for him, or you? | |
| John answers: My son (8) already knows someone must report what's happening. Separation hard, but he's quite proud of ancient father! #AskBBCSimpson | |
| For more correspondent Q&As follow BBC Have Your Say on Twitter | For more correspondent Q&As follow BBC Have Your Say on Twitter |
| Twitter Q&A produced by Sitala Peek |