Reply #3: desperate to keep the folly of their Iraq invasion at bay

[bigtree]

. . . the military makes a last ditch raid to uncover something they could use to discredit Iran, as the State Dept. prattles on about clenched fists and such. This just plays into the hands of those in the region who feel the US is unfairly targeting Iraq's sovereign neighbor, as well as spotlights the arrogance of our military forces in disregarding the sovereignty behind the agreements they made just months ago. And they have the gall to conflate their grudge against Iran with their own reckless assault.

This bunch Obama has assembled at the Pentagon and allowed to remain in charge in Iraq will only only produce the same imperialistic, destabilizing outcome from all of their opportunistic maneuvering - no matter what seemingly rational policy is behind their continuing offensive there - because they're operating with the belief that they can 'defeat an ideology' there and they're determined to 'win' that battle. They've said that victory is imperative to their mission.

Unless Iran is allowed to forge ahead with their ongoing, multiplying economic and security agreements and cooperation with the Maliki regime, unencumbered by the US grudge match - there will be none of the 'stability' that will impel the American military to let go of their Iraq prize. I'm not convinced that dynamic which compels them to hang on to defend against the escalating violence isn't part of some deliberate effort (by opponents or others) to keep us bogged down there. The rhetoric and offensive against Iran and their interests in Iraq accommodates that all too well.