Herschel Smith at Captain’s Journal writes what is involved to win this war in Iraq which really is more than the war in Iraq.  It’s a regional conflict involving Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordon, etc…..

Primarily though the US strategy should target Syria to lock down the sieve called a border with Iraq. 

Iraq is not just a part of the global war on terror. It is very much at the center of the war, with Iran and Syria involved through proxy fighters from Syria, al Qaeda from both Syria and Iran, Ansar al Sunna from Iran, and other terrorist and criminal elements. It is a regional problem, and therefore will require a regional solution.

Saddam Hussein, being the nemesis of Iran and catalyst for the deaths of thousands of Iranian troops, was the only true enemy that Iran had, and while his death marks the end of an ugly era for them, the Iranian regime had plans for more regional influence even before the war began. Iran has designs on regional domination, and has already acted on these designs:

snip…..

One well-placed army intelligence source recently told me that “We knew when we were there that to win in Iraq we had to win in Anbar. And to win in Anbar we had to win in Ramadi. But to win in Ramadi we have to control the border with Syria and Jordan (as well as Saudi Arabia actually).”

For those who have paid attention some of this may not be a surprise but what the US lost since 2003 was that Syria had for a time feared the US but no longer has that fear. Why? I’m sure US Senators (Kerry, Nelson, Dodd & Specter) visiting with Assad of Syria while acting as though Syria is not an enemy of the US and Iraq may have something to do with this change. What a slap in the face to the war effort of these verging on traitorous Senators!

I sincerely hope the changes in personnel like LTG Petraeus will make a difference.

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