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Iran to join Sunni-Shiite civil war

A

Anonymous

Guest
As jihadists take aim at Baghdad, Iran steps in to help historical foe



By Lisa Daftari
·Published June 12, 2014·
FoxNews.com



Iran is coming to the aid of its historic nemesis, sending elite fighters to Iraq in the wake of a Sunni insurgency that has claimed two key northern cities and now threatens Baghdad, Fox News has learned.

Some 150 fighters from the Revolutionary Guards elite Quds force have already been dispatched by Tehran, and the division's powerful commander, Qassem Suleimani, met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki Thursday and pledged to send two notorious Iranian brigades to aid in the defense of Baghdad. That could amount to as many as 10,000 soldiers sent to fight the Sunni group known as Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS).


Maliki is believed to be considering the offer, especially in light of reported decisions by the U.S. to reject his request for American airstrikes against the Al Qaeda-affiliated militants who have recently overrun Mosul and Tikrit and appear to be preparing for a march on the capital. The two brigades that Suleimani offered are Asaab Ahel Haq, a Shi’ite paramilitary unit, and the Shi’ite insurgency group Kata'ib Hezbollah.

“Baghdad is going to be overrun. The Green Zone is going down.”
- U.S. intelligence official

After U.S.-trained security forces dropped their weapons and fled their posts in Mosul, the regime in Baghdad has reason to fear for its survival, an intelligence official said.

“Baghdad is going to be overrun," he said. "The Green Zone is going down.”

Although Iran and Iraq were at war in the 1980s, both the Maliki regime and the rulers in Tehran are Shi'ite, and Iran does not want a fanatical jihadist takeover of its neighbor. Iran has positioned troops along its border with Iraq and has threatened to bomb opposition forces if they come within about 60 miles of Iran’s border, according to an Iranian army general.

News about the fall of these two cities, which caused about 500,000 to flee, worried Iran. Mosul is in the western Iraqi province of the Biblically-mentioned Nineveh, which shares a 300-mile border with Syria, where the Iranian government has been pulling the political and financial puppet strings to keep President Bashar al-Assad in power against the opposing rebels and militants.

In addition to protecting the strategic border to Syria, Iran’s government has interests in safeguarding holy shrines and sites in Najaf and Karbala, significant to the Shiite Islamic religion. Many Iranians make pilgrimage to these sites every year.

Predominantly Shiite Muslim Iran will combat the "violence and terrorism" of Sunni extremists who have launched an anti-government offensive in neighboring Iraq, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani warned on Thursday.

“This is an extremist, terrorist group that is acting savagely," Rouhani said live on state television.

If Iraq's pleas for support are rebuffed by the U.S., it may have no choice but to turn to Iran, said experts.

“My sources tell me Maliki believes he is in a desperate situation and wants and needs our support," said retired four-star Gen. Jack Keane, former vice chief of staff of the U.S. Army. "If he doesn't get it in a way that will help him, he will certainly turn to Iran.”

Iran has more to offer than just the region's most powerful army, Keane said. Tehran could support Maliki with intelligence and advisors, too.

ISIS, a Sunni Islamic jihadi group, which is an offshoot of Al Qaeda, has gained control of geopolitically vital cities in both Syria and Iraq over the last year. It considers Shi'ite Muslims heretics that must be killed at the sword. Its goal is to cleanse Iraq from its Shiite influences.

ISIS spokesman Abu Muhammad Al-Adnani said in an audio released by intelligence sources that the group is planning to march toward Baghdad and other pivotal cities, including Karbala and Najaf.

"March to Baghdad al-Rashid, the Baghdad of the Caliphate. We have a score to settle...Be certain of the victory of Allah as long as you fear Him," Al-Adnani said in the recording.

As ISIS forces have stormed their way across northern Iraq, they have put into effect Sharia law on the citizens of Nineveh province, circulating a document on social media warning local leaders and religious sheikhs not to “work with (the Iraqi) government and be traitors.” The document also prohibits women from leaving the house unless absolutely necessary and for women to “dress decently and wear wide clothes.”

The document also bans drugs, alcohol, cigarettes in public and the possession of guns and non- ISIS flags.

ISIS terrorists in Iraq are allegedly made up of Tunisians and Yemenis, along with other “international fighters,” according to one Iraqi witness.

As the militants went from Mosul to Tikrit, they seized oil fields in Salahuddin province and looted the central bank and collected $420 million. They also took 48 Turkish citizens hostage as they seized the Turkish consulate in Mosul, which could bring another regional power down on them. Many eyes are on Turkey, a NATO ally, that has shown interest in northern Iraq for some time now for economic reasons and to support Iraq’s marginalized Kurdish minority.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey held an emergency briefing with high ranking security officials and the Turkish foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, who said, “No one should try to test the limits of Turkey’s strength.”

Shiites killing Sunni's-- whats new ? Before it was Sunni's killing Shiites... Or Sunnis killing Kurds...
This is playing out just like so many US veterans of the war said it would....

My take on the whole thing is surround the whole area so no one can get out and send in more weapons and ammo...

These Iraqi military/police have nothing to fight for- they've had no real history with freedom so have no motivation... For hundreds of years they've been ruled by some empire or been a colony- and been involved in tribal wars- so they don't know what freedom or democracy is...We were complete idiots thinking we could change them or "Americanize them"....
 

littlejoe

Well-known member
and has nothing to do with the topic. Shoot---that'd be like me bringing up--at every opportunity---that while bushie is a nice guy, he was total incompetent, a draft dodger, surrounded by draft dodgers and is the one who started this mess and general economic wreck to begin with........er....never mind..... :p
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Yeah- as long as we're changing subjects, I'm too busy chuckling to argue with anyone right away this morning...

About a month ago I received a call from a lady that asked me if I could perform a wedding for her daughter and her boyfriend on June 28... I agreed..

Yesterday evening I get a call from the daughter saying they have a little problem and wondering if I can do a "pretend wedding ceremony" :???:

Seems boyfriends not divorced yet- and the divorce they thought that would be final hasn't came thru because both his attorney and the Judge are on vacation- and won't be back til the end of the month...And Mom has rented the Elks lodge building and relatives from coast to coast have made arrangements to attend....
So they can't get a wedding license and are wondering if I could perform a "make believe wedding"- kind of officially unofficial...
And then when I tell her No way - that I don't perform make believe weddings- that I'm a Judge and that there is no way I am going to aid and assist and become a coconspirator to her boyfriend in becoming a bigamist- she gets tiffed at me... I advised her to go get a theatre actor...

Anyway see something new every day in this world... People never stop amazing me and keeping me chuckling... :wink: :lol:
 

Soapweed

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
Yeah- as long as we're changing subjects, I'm too busy chuckling to argue with anyone right away this morning...

About a month ago I received a call from a lady that asked me if I could perform a wedding for her daughter and her boyfriend on June 28... I agreed..

Yesterday evening I get a call from the daughter saying they have a little problem and wondering if I can do a "pretend wedding ceremony" :???:

Seems boyfriends not divorced yet- and the divorce they thought that would be final hasn't came thru because both his attorney and the Judge are on vacation- and won't be back til the end of the month...And Mom has rented the Elks lodge building and relatives from coast to coast have made arrangements to attend....
So they can't get a wedding license and are wondering if I could perform a "make believe wedding"- kind of officially unofficial...
And then when I tell her No way - that I don't perform make believe weddings- that I'm a Judge and that there is no way I am going to aid and assist and become a coconspirator to her boyfriend in becoming a bigamist- she gets tiffed at me... I advised her to go get a theatre actor...

Anyway see something new every day in this world... People never stop amazing me and keeping me chuckling... :wink: :lol:

That is pretty funny. Your advice to go get a theatre actor is right on target. What difference would it make if the whole thing is make believe? They could charge admission to the general public, since the production is more or less a melodrama at best, and get back some of the costs. The "legal" part will have to be done later anyway. Truth is stranger than fiction. :)
 

Whitewing

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
Yeah- as long as we're changing subjects, I'm too busy chuckling to argue with anyone right away this morning...

About a month ago I received a call from a lady that asked me if I could perform a wedding for her daughter and her boyfriend on June 28... I agreed..

Yesterday evening I get a call from the daughter saying they have a little problem and wondering if I can do a "pretend wedding ceremony" :???:

Seems boyfriends not divorced yet- and the divorce they thought that would be final hasn't came thru because both his attorney and the Judge are on vacation- and won't be back til the end of the month...And Mom has rented the Elks lodge building and relatives from coast to coast have made arrangements to attend....
So they can't get a wedding license and are wondering if I could perform a "make believe wedding"- kind of officially unofficial...
And then when I tell her No way - that I don't perform make believe weddings- that I'm a Judge and that there is no way I am going to aid and assist and become a coconspirator to her boyfriend in becoming a bigamist- she gets tiffed at me... I advised her to go get a theatre actor...

Anyway see something new every day in this world... People never stop amazing me and keeping me chuckling... :wink: :lol:

Yeah, pretty funny, though I don't really see the problem. You tell make-believe stories as the truth here all the time, so a make-believe wedding wouldn't really be that big of a stretch.

And while I've committed the horrible crime here of, god forbid, changing the subject, I'm still interested in your view. Would you consider Obama a uniter or a divider?

A simple question that can be resolved with a simple answer.
 

Soapweed

Well-known member
Whitewing said:
Oldtimer said:
Yeah- as long as we're changing subjects, I'm too busy chuckling to argue with anyone right away this morning...

About a month ago I received a call from a lady that asked me if I could perform a wedding for her daughter and her boyfriend on June 28... I agreed..

Yesterday evening I get a call from the daughter saying they have a little problem and wondering if I can do a "pretend wedding ceremony" :???:

Seems boyfriends not divorced yet- and the divorce they thought that would be final hasn't came thru because both his attorney and the Judge are on vacation- and won't be back til the end of the month...And Mom has rented the Elks lodge building and relatives from coast to coast have made arrangements to attend....
So they can't get a wedding license and are wondering if I could perform a "make believe wedding"- kind of officially unofficial...
And then when I tell her No way - that I don't perform make believe weddings- that I'm a Judge and that there is no way I am going to aid and assist and become a coconspirator to her boyfriend in becoming a bigamist- she gets tiffed at me... I advised her to go get a theatre actor...

Anyway see something new every day in this world... People never stop amazing me and keeping me chuckling... :wink: :lol:

Yeah, pretty funny, though I don't really see the problem. You tell make-believe stories as the truth here all the time, so a make-believe wedding wouldn't really be that big of a stretch.

And while I've committed the horrible crime here of, god forbid, changing the subject, I'm still interested in your view. Would you consider Obama a uniter or a divider?

A simple question that can be resolved with a simple answer.

Obama is a divider in the purest form. He has encouraged racism at all levels, and has set back the hands of time when it comes to people of ethnic diversity getting along. Anyone that would say otherwise has their head in the sand.
 

Traveler

Well-known member
I have to disagree. After people discover how stupid they were to vote for him, they're going to unite against him. We're already seeing that.
 

Tam

Well-known member
Getting back to Oldtimer's original topic.

Here is a great quote to discuss on the matter of what is happening in Iraq and what is likely to happen in Afghanistan if Obama doesn't get a friggin brain before it is to late there too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLteUGkvpOc


“I am very optimistic about Iraq. I think it’s gonna be one of the great achievements of this administration. You’re gonna see 90,000 American troops come marchin’ home by the end of the summer. You’re gonna see a stable government in Iraq that is actually movin’ toward a representative government. I’ve been there 17 times now. I go about every two months, three months. I know every one of the major players in all the segments of that society. It’s impressed me. I’ve been impressed, how they have been deciding to use the political process, rather than guns, to settle their differences.”

Yep Obama's Greatest Achievement will be IRAQ, :roll:
Compared to Obamacare and the US economy it might well be :cry:

If he pulls all the troops out of Afghanistan like he did Iraq just what do you think is going to happen there Oldtimer? Will the Taliban just melt back into the hills and leave those people alone or will they take revenge on anyone that dared to side with the Americans and fight for their religion and country? Your hero is an incompetent muslim loving idiot and him releasing 5 top Taliban Generals from Gitmo for one AWOL Defector proved it in spades. :mad:

And could these people be why the US invaded Iraq, Oldtimer?

"One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line." --President Bill Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998

"If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program." --President Bill Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998

"Iraq is a long way from [here], but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face." --Madeline Albright, Feb 18, 1998

"He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983." --Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18, 1998

"[W]e urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs." Letter to President Clinton, signed by: -- Democratic Senators Carl Levin, Tom Daschle, John Kerry, and others, Oct. 9, 1998

"Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process." -Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998

"Hussein has ... chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies." -- Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of State, Nov. 10, 1999

"There is no doubt that ... Saddam Hussein has reinvigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status. In addition, Saddam continues to redefine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies." Letter to President Bush, Signed by: -- Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), and others, Dec 5, 2001

"We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandate of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and th! e means of delivering them." -- Sen. Carl Levin (D, MI), Sept. 19, 2002

"We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country." -- Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

"Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power." -- Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction." -- Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002

"The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons..." -- Sen. Robert Byrd (D, WV), Oct. 3, 2002

"I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force -- if necessary -- to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security." -- Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9, 2002

"There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years ... We also should remember we have always underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction." -- Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D, WV), Oct 10, 2002

"He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy his chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear capacity. This he has refused to do" -- Rep. Henry Waxman (D, CA), Oct. 10, 2002

"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members ... It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons." -- Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002

"We are in possession of what I think to be compelling evidence that Saddam Hussein has, and has had for a number of years, a developing capacity for the production and storage of weapons of mass destruction." -- Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), Dec. 8, 2002

"Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime ... He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation ... And now he is miscalculating America's response to his continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction ... So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real..." -- Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Jan. 23. 2003

See what they all have in common Oldtimer?

That is not an R behind their names indicating their POLITICAL PARTY.

Take a look at who vote in support of using military actions against Iraq Oldtimer.

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/107-2002/s237

Hillary, Biden, and Kerry along will 26 other Dem. Senators all voted to support the invasion of Iraq yet they all blame Bush TO PROTECT THEIR LYING POLITICAL AZZES. :mad:

Oh and how could I miss the fact Harry Reid and Max Baucus also voted in support of using the Military force in Iraq How many other votes needing a simple majority to pass get passed with 77% support Oldtimer like the so called BUSH WAR ON IRAQ did? Has Obama ever got 77% support on anything but his budget that got 99% vote saying NO WAY?
 

Soapweed

Well-known member
Traveler said:
I have to disagree. After people discover how stupid they were to vote for him, they're going to unite against him. We're already seeing that.

I do hope you are right.

Traveler said:
Does that mean my head's in the sand? :lol: :lol:

No, but you might have some sand in your eyes. :wink: :roll: :)

I have been moving cattle this morning, and thinking about this topic. Obama came to the White House with a very light resume'. His one and only claim to fame was that of being a "community organizer." You would think that would mean finding common ground and trying to promote the idea of people "getting along." This is far from what he has accomplished.

Obama is a lousy leader. The ONLY thing he has done with proficiency is to promote divisiveness. Blacks and whites don't get along nearly as well now as they did before he came to office. Even white Republicans and white Democrats fight more now than ever before. Obama has done nothing more than churn the water, keeping the pot stirred, and making peaceful waters murky. The United States has lost stature with the World under his lousy leadership.

Obama is a professional divider. He has not one positive accomplishment to show for his time as president of the United States. How we ever wound up with him in such high office will be a mystery for the ages.
 

Mike

Well-known member
OT wrote:
Shiites killing Sunni's-- whats new ? Before it was Sunni's killing Shiites... Or Sunnis killing Kurds...
This is playing out just like so many US veterans of the war said it would....

My take on the whole thing is surround the whole area so no one can get out and send in more weapons and ammo...

Careful there Killer, if I didn't know better, I'd think you are talking down and badmouthing the Islamic religion that you have so diligently defended previously. You know, your same God an all............................ :roll:
 

Traveler

Well-known member
Soapweed said:
Traveler said:
I have to disagree. After people discover how stupid they were to vote for him, they're going to unite against him. We're already seeing that.

I do hope you are right.

Traveler said:
Does that mean my head's in the sand? :lol: :lol:

No, but you might have some sand in your eyes. :wink: :roll: :)

I have been moving cattle this morning, and thinking about this topic. Obama came to the White House with a very light resume'. His one and only claim to fame was that of being a "community organizer." You would think that would mean finding common ground and trying to promote the idea of people "getting along." This is far from what he has accomplished.

Obama is a lousy leader. The ONLY thing he has done with proficiency is to promote divisiveness. Blacks and whites don't get along nearly as well now as they did before he came to office. Even white Republicans and white Democrats fight more now than ever before. Obama has done nothing more than churn the water, keeping the pot stirred, and making peaceful waters murky. The United States has lost stature with the World under his lousy leadership.

Obama is a professional divider. He has not one positive accomplishment to show for his time as president of the United States. How we ever wound up with him in such high office will be a mystery for the ages.
All of your points are absolutely correct. I'm just hoping for enough of a backlash that maybe we can turn the tide. Then again, this regime may have put enough career voters on the dole that we may never get it back.
 

loomixguy

Well-known member
Mike said:
OT wrote:
Shiites killing Sunni's-- whats new ? Before it was Sunni's killing Shiites... Or Sunnis killing Kurds...
This is playing out just like so many US veterans of the war said it would....

My take on the whole thing is surround the whole area so no one can get out and send in more weapons and ammo...

Careful there Killer, if I didn't know better, I'd think you are talking down and badmouthing the Islamic religion that you have so diligently defended previously. You know, your same God an all............................ :roll:

Remember when we accused Old Mullah of wearing kneepads for Dear Leader? Little did we realize that he wore the same kneepads to face Mecca and kneel and pray 5 x a day. I wonder how many sets he's went through in the last 6 years?
 
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