Wednesday, March 13, 2013

CIA Ups It's Presence In Iraq To Combat Al Qaeda

CIA Ratchets Covert Operations In Iraq To Fight Al Qaeda -- Washington Times

Central Intelligence Agency officials have ramped up covert missions in Iraq to root out al Qaeda operatives who are providing assistance to militant fighters in Syria.

An unnamed U.S. official told The Wall Street Journal that the increased CIA role is aimed at supporting Iraq’s own Counter-terrorism Service, CTS. The CTS targets the group, al Qaeda in Iraq — also called al Qaeda in Mesopotamia — which is a Salafi jihadi militant movement, United Press International reports.

Read more ....

More News On The CIA Increasing It's Operations In Iraq

CIA Ramps Up Role in Iraq -- Wall Street Journal
Fearing Syria Spillover, CIA Ups Iraq Presence -- Newser
Report: The CIA Increasing Operations in Iraq -- Mother Jones
CIA Boosts Support for Iraqi Militias -- Antiwar.com

My Comment: One of the biggest criticisms of the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq in December 2011 was the dismantling of it's intelligence assets in the country .... specifically it's counter-terrorism operations. But this was what the Iraqis wanted .... and this is what they got. Hmmmm .... I suspect that they are now regreting making such a decision .... hence the reason why they want this cooperation now.

Update: CIA Plan Shows Mistake of Iraq Withdrawal -- Max Boot, Commentary

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