[The main question remaining is how significantly Iran and Saudi Arabia will become involved in the civil war.]
"Munitions with charges shaped for damage with Iranian pedigree are turning up in Iraq."
Yes, I know. (Also hordes of Iranian Intelligence agents and 'military trainers', especially since the Shi'a-dominated national Iraqi government signed a military defense pact with Iran....)
"Iran appears to have an active effort to destabilize Iraq."
Nah, they are not trying to 'destabilize' it, they are SUPPORTING the Shi'a by opposing the Sunni insurgents who have been specifically TARGETING Shi'a communities. Most of the jihadists are Sunni.
"It appears they believe a destabilized Iraq will prevent US action against them."
Nah... there will be no US military action against them. (Hell, like I've been saying here for a few years: the Iranians are the *biggest* winners from the Iraq war. At no cost to them, we took out their deadliest enemy, the Dictator Saddam, and opened the way for Iran to extend it's influence throughout all of the minority and majority Shi'a communities stretching around the Gulf. They have been grinning like Cheshire Cats ever since. Hell, they should put up a statue of George Bush in Tehran to thank us....)
"The Saudi royal family is just trying to hang on to control. Who wouldn't want to stay outrageously wealthy?"
I wasn't saying that the Royals were all that was behind the support for the Sunni insurgents (some are, some aren't). The financial support comes from many sectors of the society --- and, indeed, from *other* oil rich Sunni majority Gulf nations, too. Many of the jihadists are 'idealistic' young people, religiously feverent, recruited from poorer strata of society.
"They will not be able to combat Wahabbi extremism even if they want to."
Well... let's just say that after living the 'Devil's bargain' with fundamentalist extremism as they have for some 50 years... it WON'T be quickly turned around. |
