Pentagon: Iran building, training militia in Syria

[choie]

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

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

[leveymg]

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.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

4. I notice you can't spell God.

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

[leveymg]

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?

[UnrepentantLiberal]

8. I just wondered if you were from an Islamic country.

It wasn't snark.

[Arctic Dave]

2. So, they are doing the same thing the US is?

Blah blah blah...

[nanabugg]

3. +++1,000 nt

[UnrepentantLiberal]

5. I wonder if this will cause Turkey to send troops in?

Last edited Wed Aug 15, 2012, 08:05 AM - Edit history (1)

[leveymg]

7. Troops Inn - is that owned by Marriott?