Iran rejects U.S. action in Iraq; ISIL tightens Syria border grip

Not looking good for the region. Iran holds many key cards in their hand. Iraq may be changed forever.

"we believe the Iraqi government, nation and religious authorities are capable of ending the sedition.”

Sounds good to me. Let the Iraqis use their own blood and treasure to sink or swim.

MarkGJun. 23, 2014 - 10:39AM JST

Not looking good for the region. Iran holds many key cards in their hand. Iraq may be changed forever.

No. Iran's ultimate goal is to bring Kurds in and kicks US out!

It is very important that NATO and US throw the right card back at them to stop a nuke bomb development..

“The U.S. is seeking an Iraq under its hegemony and ruled by its stooges.”

That's the inconvenient truth. Iraq as known today is a region formed rather conveniently for the former British Empire.

" Iraq's modern borders were mostly demarcated in 1920 by the League of Nations when the Ottoman Empire was divided by the Treaty of Sèvres. Iraq was placed under the authority of the United Kingdom as the British Mandate of Mesopotamia. A monarchy was established in 1921 and the Kingdom of Iraq gained independence from Britain in 1932. In 1958, the monarchy was overthrown and the Republic of Iraq was created."

Face it, it's always been about the oil, and it still is. The rest is windowdressing.

That's the inconvenient truth. Iraq as known today is a region formed rather conveniently for the former British Empire.

" Iraq's modern borders were mostly demarcated in 1920 by the League of Nations when the Ottoman Empire was divided by the Treaty of Sèvres. Iraq was placed under the authority of the United Kingdom as the British Mandate of Mesopotamia. A monarchy was established in 1921 and the Kingdom of Iraq gained independence from Britain in 1932. In 1958, the monarchy was overthrown and the Republic of Iraq was created."

If anyone is still interested in this, you can get an easy summary in "Lawrence of Arabia" to see how British screwed up and played a dirty game in the whole region at the beginning. Just want to remind this to the British.

Hope you can still get it from something like "Tsutaya" (Blockbuster) in Japan.

Nuke bomb development may not be an issue. Iran shows no direct evidence of that. We have no idea if they are or are not in development.

Pakistan has them and they have internal clashes also. If the Taliban acquire nuclear weapons, the region will change. Weather they keep for themselves or sell it to their friends.

Currently the weapons floating around the ME from Libya, Syria, Iraq, Egypt..... Are quite dangerous today compared to a few years ago.

MarkGJun. 23, 2014 - 07:31PM JST

Nuke bomb development may not be an issue

Oh dear, please catch up with the progress from the UN. Nuke bomb is a wild card!!

Been caught up for quite some time. Thats why I pointed out what those other nations have/had at hand.

UN also was indecisive weather or not Iraq had or did not have weapons of mass destruction. Progress from the UN..........ho hum.....

MarkGJun. 24, 2014 - 04:09AM JST

Been caught up for quite some time. Thats why I pointed out what those other nations have/had at hand.

UN also was indecisive weather or not Iraq had or did not have weapons of mass destruction. Progress from the UN..........ho hum.....

The Nuke bomb facility has been inspected by the UN and it was already confirmed there is one. For years they are getting some supplies from North Korea.

The Nuke bomb facility has been inspected by the UN and it was already confirmed there is one. For years they are getting some supplies from North Korea.

Iran has ALWAYS been the biggest sponsor and financier of terrorism, if any, it's definitely more likely that it's Iran in the mix, with the help of Russia, they expanded their nuclear program, Grand Ayatollah Sistani and the rest of the Mullahs are getting tired of Maliki and his screw up of that country. He's proven to be ineffective and a sectarian politician.

iran has ALWAYS been the biggest sponsor and financier of terrorism

You mean usa... Not Iran.

TokyoDimanJun. 24, 2014 - 07:13AM JST

iran has ALWAYS been the biggest sponsor and financier of terrorism

You mean usa... Not Iran.

Please provide the information to support your claim. Thanks.

@TokyoDiman

No, I meant, IRAN

@global

Sure, here you go!

http://www.buzzfeed.com/rosiegray/state-department-reaffirms-iran-status-as-state-sponsor-of-t

Wiki

Overview: Designated as a State Sponsor of Terrorism in 1984, Iran remained an active state sponsor of terrorism in 2011 and increased its terrorist-related activity, likely in an effort to exploit the uncertain political conditions resulting from the Arab Spring, as well as in response to perceived increasing external pressure on Tehran. Iran also continued to provide financial, material, and logistical support for terrorist and militant groups throughout the Middle East and Central Asia. Iran was known to use the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and terrorist insurgent groups to implement its foreign policy goals, provide cover for intelligence operations, and support terrorist and militant groups. The IRGC-QF is the regime's primary mechanism for cultivating and supporting terrorists abroad. In 2011, the United States discovered that elements of the Iranian regime had conceived and funded a plot to assassinate Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to the United States in Washington D.C. Mansour Arbabsiar, an Iranian-born U.S. dual-national working on behalf of the IRGC-QF, was arrested in September 2011 for his role in the plot; also indicted in the case was an IRGC-QF officer who remains at large. Arbabsiar held several meetings with an associate whom Iranian officials believed was a narcotics cartel member. This associate, in fact, was a confidential source for U.S. law enforcement. The thwarted plot underscored anew Iran's interest in using international terrorism – including in the United States – to further its foreign policy goals.

Despite its pledge to support the stabilization of Iraq, Iran continued to provide lethal support, including weapons, training, funding, and guidance, to Iraqi Shia militant groups targeting U.S. and Iraqi forces, as well as civilians. Iran was responsible for the increase of lethal attacks on U.S. forces and provided militants with the capability to assemble explosives designed to defeat armored vehicles. The IRGC-QF, in concert with Lebanese Hizballah, provided training outside of Iraq as well as advisors inside Iraq for Shia militants in the construction and use of sophisticated improvised explosive device technology and other advanced weaponry.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/22/world/meast/mme-isis-money/index.html#poi/5

Donors to ISIS

The Daily Beast senior correspondent Josh Rogin reports that ISIS has been funded for years by wealthy private donors living in Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia -- countries the U.S. considers allies.

Rogin told CNN that while officials in these nations have plausible deniability and can say they weren't funding them directly, many in senior government positions will be are aware of what has been happening but have chosen to look the other way.

ISIS also produces an annual report of its activities (highlighting its operational success and territories gained) in what experts at the Institute of War believe is an attempt to display the groups efficacy to potential donors sympathetic to its cause

Y'know, 11 years ago, I posted on this site under the hand Dananator. So what?

Well, 11 years ago I argued against invading Iraq. One of my main points at the time was that weakening Iraq can only strengthen Iran. Those of here you remember my postings at that time can attest to the truth in this.

I'm just an average guy. I have no special knowledge. I can claim no special position of national, or even state-wide responsibility. In my community, I have a bit of standing, if simply by being around long enough to do what everyone who grows older needs to do. I'm a fairly well-educated working schlub who knew how to look a map, and knew enough history to recognize the obvious.

But not Bush. And not the Republicans. They did this. Bush invaded, and they cheered.

I will NEVER forgive them. Never.

JTDanManJun. 24, 2014 - 11:16AM JST

ditto