Darius11 12 #1 March 4, 2015 http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/capitol-hill/2015/03/03/iran-tikrit/24329823/ QuoteDefense Secretary Ash Carter said Tuesday he is "very concerned" about reports that Iran and Shiite militias are taking over the fight against Islamic State militants in Iraq and potentially fueling sectarian strife in that nation. Carter, testifying on Capitol Hill for the first time since he started his job in early February, responded to questions about reports that the U.S. military is sitting on the sidelines as the Iraqis launch a major operation in Tikrit, an important Sunni Arab city north of Baghdad that is controlled by the group known as the Islamic State or ISIL. Instead, Iran is providing open military support to the Iraqi army. Reports suggest Iranian military officers, Iranian-backed Shiite militias and Iranian artillery units are operating on the ground alongside Iraqi regular army forces. "Are you concerned that Iran has basically taken over the fight?" Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., asked during a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee. "I am looking at it with great concern," Carter said. "Our approach to combating ISIL in Iraq is to work with the Iraqi security forces and a multisectarian government that takes a multisectarian approach to defeating ISIL," he said. "Sectarianism is what brought us to the point where we are, and so I do look at it with concern. We are watching it very closely." Photos emerged Monday on social media showing Iranian Quds Force commander Gen. Qasem Soleimani in Iraq, directing Shiite militias in their fight against IS militants. The total fighting force of Iranian-backed militias and Iraqi regular forces was estimated at up to 30,000, making it the largest operation in Iraq since the U.S. sent more troops to Iraq and began airstrikes last year. About two-thirds of the force assembled in Tikrit is comprised of Shiite militiamen, said Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The U.S. military typically considers Iran an adversary, but their two militaries share the same goal in Iraq — the defeat of the Sunni Islamic extremists who have seized large parts of western and northern Iraq. U.S. officials are cautiously hopeful that the Iranians and Shiites can help Iraqi forces expel the ISIL militants from Tikrit. But U.S. officials also worry that involvement of Iranians and Shiite militias in a major battle for a Sunni city could inflame the sectarian tensions that IS militants exploit for political support. Dempsey told lawmakers Tuesday that the Tikrit operation may signal a new level of direct Iranian involvement in Iraq. "Iran and its proxies have been inside Iraq since 2004," Dempsey told the senators. "This is the most overt conduct of Iranian support in the form of artillery and other things. Frankly, it will only be a problem if it results in sectarianism." Carter said he has heard reports that some Sunni tribal leaders have signaled support for the military operation by the mostly Shiite force. "If that's true, it is good news because it suggests that it is not purely a Shia-on-Sunni thing," Carter said. A spokesman for U.S. Central Command, Army Maj. Curtis Kellogg, said Monday: "U.S. assistance has not been requested for this operation." About 2,700 U.S. troops are now in Iraq, most of them providing training and assistance to Iraqi security forces. I don't get this. Shouldn't we be happy? Iran is fighting ISIS no one else has boots on the ground. I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anvilbrother 0 #2 March 4, 2015 They are basically pairing up cats and dogs to go fight mice. Eventually the cats and dogs will fight. Postes r made from an iPad or iPhone. Spelling and gramhair mistakes guaranteed move along, Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grue 1 #3 March 4, 2015 We've armed and aided the Iranians. We've armed and aided the Iraqis. Iranians are arming and aiding Iraqis. We're suddenly upset? Fuck that, we just need to stop being involved over there at all. Iran, Iraq, Israel, Saudi, Egypt, Yemen, etc can handle their own shit for a while, we've got our own issues to deal with.cavete terrae. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darius11 12 #4 March 4, 2015 QuoteFuck that, we just need to stop being involved over there at all. Iran, Iraq, Israel, Saudi, Egypt, Yemen, etc can handle their own shit for a while, we've got our own issues to deal with. AgreeI'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skycop 0 #5 March 4, 2015 An enemy of my enemy is my friend........ Kinda like cops using informants, some duplicitous people.......... "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakee 1,489 #6 March 4, 2015 QuoteWe've armed and aided the Iranians. We've armed and aided the Iraqis. Iranians are arming and aiding Iraqis. We're suddenly upset? Yeah, the US / UK repeatedly fucks with every single nation in that region and it's for their own good. Iran gets involved with fighting extremists on their own doorstep and it's dangerous interventionism.Do you want to have an ideagasm? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Croc 0 #7 March 5, 2015 grueWe've armed and aided the Iranians. We've armed and aided the Iraqis. Iranians are arming and aiding Iraqis. We're suddenly upset? Fuck that, we just need to stop being involved over there at all. Iran, Iraq, Israel, Saudi, Egypt, Yemen, etc can handle their own shit for a while, we've got our own issues to deal with. +1"Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grue 1 #8 March 5, 2015 skycop Kinda like cops using informants. ...which sometimes leads to no-knock raids on bad info, which can lead to dead cops or worse yet, dead members of the public defending themselves from violent home invaders. Just like how we sometimes invade countries based on bad info, and get our soldiers killed or worse yet, people defending their home from violent invaders.cavete terrae. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,446 #9 March 5, 2015 An enemy of my enemy is only my friend as far as it hurts that enemy. One should never forget that. And if I can remember that my enemy has things in common with me too, then may be, too, can be someone whom I simply don't trust. Life is much cheaper and easier then. Wendy P.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,027 #10 March 5, 2015 skycopAn enemy of my enemy is my friend........ . Worked well when we armed Osama bin Laden, didn't it?... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
