Pentagon: Iran building, training militia in Syria

Source: AP News

WASHINGTON (AP) — Iran is playing a growing role supporting the Syrian regime and is helping to build and train a militia to fight opposition forces, U.S. defense officials said Tuesday.

Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Pentagon reporters that the militia, which is generally made up of Syrian Shiite forces, is being used to take the pressure off the Syrian regime forces, which have been at war for almost 18 months.

"Any army would be taxed with that kind of pace," Dempsey said. "They are having re-supply problems, they are having morale problems, they are having the kind of wear-and-tear that would come of being in a fight for as long as they have."

Dempsey also said that it appears Syrian rebels were able to shoot down a Syrian warplane, but said he has seen no indication that they are armed with heavy weapons or surface-to-air missiles, at least not yet.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/pentagon-iran-building-training-militia-syria-201850717.html

More saber rattling from the people who brought us the Iraq war...

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8 replies	Author	Time	Post
Pentagon: Iran building, training militia in Syria (Original post)	choie	Aug 2012	OP
Water is wet, but that means we should expect a flood.	leveymg	Aug 2012	#1
I notice you can't spell God.	UnrepentantLiberal	Aug 2012	#4
That admonition is referenced at several places here:	leveymg	Aug 2012	#6
I just wondered if you were from an Islamic country.	UnrepentantLiberal	Aug 2012	#8
So, they are doing the same thing the US is?	Arctic Dave	Aug 2012	#2
+++1,000 nt	nanabugg	Aug 2012	#3
I wonder if this will cause Turkey to send troops in?	UnrepentantLiberal	Aug 2012	#5
Troops Inn - is that owned by Marriott?	leveymg	Aug 2012	#7

Response to choie (Original post)

Tue Aug 14, 2012, 11:01 PM

leveymg (26,350 posts)

1. Water is wet, but that means we should expect a flood.

By the time these things get announced by the Chair of the JCS, it's too late to clean the gutters and put the top up on the convertible.

G-d, I hate water in the basement. It only happens every few years, but it stinks.

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Response to leveymg (Reply #1)

Wed Aug 15, 2012, 07:18 AM

UnrepentantLiberal (11,700 posts)

4. I notice you can't spell God.

Are you from the Middle East? (Just wondering what your perspective is.)

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Response to UnrepentantLiberal (Reply #4)

Wed Aug 15, 2012, 07:46 AM

leveymg (26,350 posts)

6. That admonition is referenced at several places here:

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/756399/jewish/The-613-Commandments.htm

Much of that strikes me as good advice for living an ethical and complete life. Some of it, I have to admit, I don't understand. The admonitions against not taking that name in vain and graven images, and such, seem easy enough to live with. I'm not completely consistent in my practices and observances, but who is?

Altogether, a typical secular American -- love a good bacon cheeseburger and shake (hold the fries)-- but, originally, from somewhere over there, if you go back far enough.

What's your perspective?

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Response to leveymg (Reply #6)

Wed Aug 15, 2012, 08:02 AM

UnrepentantLiberal (11,700 posts)