How Do Iraq's Neighbors Feel About U.S. Airstrikes? -- CBS
Middle Eastern leaders have watched the violent disintegration of Iraq over the last several months with a growing sense of alarm, quietly pushing the United States to do something to turn the tide against the steady advance fighters with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
And on Friday, Iraq's neighbors got what they asked for.
In a significant escalation of U.S. involvement in the bloody civil war, American planes dropped bombs on the insurgents advancing on Erbil, the capital of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region and previously a bulwark of stability in the otherwise war-torn country.
Leaders in the region are likely to greet those airstrikes with a muted sense relief, analysts say, but the demands for greater U.S. involvement probably won't end there.
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My Comment: The Islamic State has no allies .... so reaction to U.S. airstrikes in the Middle East (even including groups like Iran, Syria, and Hezbollah) is one of relief. But this "relief" is measured. Everyone is of the opinion that U.S. influence is in decline, and no one knows with certainty what is the U.S. long term strategy and policy for the region .... especially on issues like Iraq, the Syrian civil war, Iran's nuclear program, the Arab spring, and the Israeli - Palestinian conflict.
3 comments:
Correct me if im wrong, but this seems the perfect opportunity for US to gain influence in the middle east. If you think about it, the only thing the US needed was a a 3rd foe that scare every one in the area.. and now they show up as the savior how will liberate them from the fierce ISIS.. when u have nations like IRAN, a country that has been know to support terrorist, worry about this group, I cant only imagine if the US let ISIS run wild just to take advantage of the situation, or even worst CIA supportr and intelligence on how to take over Iraq Army
I sense the same thing. Is ISIS out of control, or are they controlled. Is ISIS conquering so that the middle east map can be redrawn? "The darkside clouds everything".
Benjamin .... you are working on the assumption that in the bowels of the U.S. government there is a secret room where there is a bunch of really smart men and women who are plotting and conspiring to make the world a better place .... and one that is dominated by the U.S.. When I was working for the Soviet/Russian foreign office .... there were actually many who believed this. Sad to say .... that is the farthest thing from the truth. The smartest people in the world are those who are responsible for protecting/investing/and making money. Watch what they are doing with their money .... and where it is going .... and from there you will have a good idea on what will happen next. In the case of the Middle East .... the smart money is very nervous because the old order is now gone, and in it's place is a group of men who are incredibly dangerous and who are not only determined to destroy America's strategic position in the Middle East but also everyone else .... Iran included.
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