Flow of Arms to Syria Through Iraq Persists, to U.S. Dismay

Source: NYT

The American effort to stem the flow of Iranian arms to Syria has faltered because of Iraq’s reluctance to inspect aircraft carrying the weapons through its airspace, American officials say.

The shipments have persisted at a critical time for President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, who has come under increasing military pressure from rebel fighters. The air corridor over Iraq has emerged as a main supply route for weapons, including rockets, antitank missiles, rocket-propelled grenade and mortars.

Iran has an enormous stake in Syria, which is its staunchest Arab ally and has also provided a channel for Iran’s support to the Lebanese Islamist movement Hezbollah.

To the disappointment of the Obama administration, American efforts to persuade the Iraqis to randomly inspect the flights have been largely unsuccessful.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/02/world/middleeast/us-is-stumbling-in-effort-to-cut-syria-arms-flow.html?pagewanted=all

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9 replies	Author	Time	Post
Flow of Arms to Syria Through Iraq Persists, to U.S. Dismay (Original post)	alp227	Dec 2012	OP
How dismaying.	dipsydoodle	Dec 2012	#1
The Middle East conflagrations are like trying to keep 8 balloons underwater with 2 hands.	libdem4life	Dec 2012	#2
Give Iraq 30 Day To Implement Inspections	DallasNE	Dec 2012	#3
How do	John2	Dec 2012	#8
Thankyou...George W. Bush...	Adsos Letter	Dec 2012	#4
Who's inspecting Libyan cargo ships loaded with MANPADs docking in Turkey?	leveymg	Dec 2012	#5
Maybe they're getting some of the stuff Oliver North sold to Iran. n/t	Mr.Bill	Dec 2012	#6
which, no doubt, was done to the dismay of Iraq.	olddad56	Dec 2012	#7
This should not be a surprise to anyone with half a brain	ArcticFox	Dec 2012	#9

Response to alp227 (Original post)

Sat Dec 1, 2012, 06:41 PM

dipsydoodle (33,170 posts)

1. How dismaying.

I'm trying to figure exactly why Iraq should play ball.

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Response to alp227 (Original post)

Sat Dec 1, 2012, 07:26 PM

libdem4life (1,783 posts)

2. The Middle East conflagrations are like trying to keep 8 balloons underwater with 2 hands.

I do not profess to have the answer... just the question ... yet the reality is very, very expensive.

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Response to alp227 (Original post)

Sat Dec 1, 2012, 07:39 PM

DallasNE (3,061 posts)

3. Give Iraq 30 Day To Implement Inspections

Or we cut back American aid to Iraq. Another 30 days and cut back some more -- you get the picture.

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Response to DallasNE (Reply #3)

Sun Dec 2, 2012, 12:12 AM

John2 (1,977 posts)

8. How do

Last edited Sun Dec 2, 2012, 12:16 AM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

you know, Iran is not secretly aiding Iraq? The whole region looks like a quad mire. The government in Iran is a Shite led Government and the dominant Government in Iraq now is Shite. Both have religious and culture ties. The dominant Government in Iraq use to be Sunni under Saddam until the U.S. overthrew it and freed both the Kurds and Shites.

So the Hassad government is dominated by Alwaites, which is allied with Iran, as well as Hamas and Hezebollah. The rebels in Syria are Sunnis and Kurds. You get the picture, and there might be some other foreign Arab fighters involved,

Then you look at Afghanistan and Pakistan with the Taliban, who are primarily a mixture of Pashtuni tribes and Pakistani troops, trained as auxiliary forces by the Intelligence Service (ISI) of Pakistan. Sources say the Pashtuni tribes number as many as 40 million people which the Taliban gets their recruits. That is rumored why the Pakistani Government has to keep on good terms with them. That is maybe why they can't get rid of the Taliban, because they are and trained by them. Remember Bin Ladin was found less than one mile from a Pakistani military Academy. Maybe these people are using the U.S. when it benefits them. Seems like those rebels in Syria are trying to draw the U.S. in to overthrow the Alwaites? I wonder if the U.S. have taken a step back and looked at the whole situation and what George W. Bush has got us in?

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Response to alp227 (Original post)

Sat Dec 1, 2012, 07:55 PM

Adsos Letter (14,161 posts)