Reuters: Iraq request for U.S.-led Tikrit air strikes 'imminent': diplomat
(Reuters) - Iraq's request to the U.S.-led coalition for air strikes in the campaign to retake Tikrit from Islamic State insurgents is "imminent", a senior diplomat from a Western nation that is part of the coalition told Reuters on Tuesday.
If the coalition accepts the request, it would see by far the biggest collaboration so far against the militants by Iraqi forces, the Iranian-backed paramilitaries and their Iranian advisers on the ground, and the United States and its allies.
There was no immediate confirmation from the Iraq government about the request, which the diplomat said would be positively received. "Once that's happened (that) we have gotten the request, we will do whatever we are asked to do," the diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
More News On U.S. Support Of Iraqi - Iranian Military Operations In Tikrit
US providing recon support for Iraq Tikrit operation -- AFP
U.S. advisers helping Iraq forces reclaim land seized by militants -- AP
US-led coalition providing tactical support in Tikrit offensive, official says -- The Guardian
WNU Editor: This is not going to make some pro-Iranian Shiite militia leaders happy .... Discord In The Iraq - Iran Alliance To Fight Against The Islamic State? As for what will the U.S. response be .... providing air support for 30,000 Iranians who are dressed up as Shiite militia fighters battling Islamic State fighters .... this is probably not going to be an easy decision to make.
Update: This growing U.S. - Iran - Iraq alliance is troubling many .... Uneasy alliance of US, Iraq and Iran battles Islamic State in Tikrit (The Australian/The Times).
4 comments:
Take the Shia leaders at their word. Do not provide air support.
Let the militias and Iranians bleed. If enough Iranians die it will cause unrest back home.
The Iranians wining in Anbar may be inevitable. what is not is how high of a price they will pay.
If they pay a high enough price their hegemony may be still born or of shorter duration.
Let them bleed!
The Iranians certainly cranked out IEDs, provided $ & training so that Americans would bleed after 2003.
Alzino has nailed it!! I couldn't have stated this one better myself!!
I might go a bit further though. US options here are very limited. We can either help the Iranians defeat ISIS or we can help ISIS hold out against Iran. Either way the only difference we are going to be able to make is at the margins. Why use precious military assets when the difference they are going to make is nominal anyway? Furthermore both Iran and ISIS both pose existential threats to America far greater than the threats Nazi Germany or Imperial Japan ever posed or ever could have posed.
I think it'd be good for us to stay out of it while two bitter enemies tear each other apart. Ultimately the Iranians will likely prevail, however, lets not make it any easier than it needs to be.
Early in the Iraq War,
I heard that ultimately
the Shiite Arabs won't
tolerate their Persian
neighbor's interference.
It, like so much in the
Middle East, is a marriage
of convenience.
ofs
I heard that too. They are both Shia, but one is Arab and the other Persian.
But in the meantime they can change the demographic make up of Northern and western Iran before the alliance falls apart.
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