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| Iraq |
| Secretary of State John Kerry warns Iraq on allowing Iran flights to Syria |
| 2013-03-24 |
| The U.S. has made clear that Iraq shouldn't allow Iran to use its airspace to ship weapons and fighters to Syria, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters Sunday during an unannounced trip to Baghdad. Following private discussions with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Kerry said the two had a "very spirited discussion" on the subject of Iranian overflights. The U.S. believes the Iranian shipments are aiding Syrian President Bashar Assad and undermining Western-backed opposition groups. "I made it very clear that for those of us who are engaged in an effort to see President Assad step down ... anything that supports President Assad is problematic," Kerry said. Kerry also said that U.S. lawmakers and the American people are "increasingly watching what Iraq is doing and wondering how it is a partner." In the absence of a complete ban on flights, the U.S. would at least like the planes to land and be inspected in Iraq to ensure that they are carrying humanitarian supplies. Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton secured a pledge from Iraq to inspect the flights last year, but since then only two aircraft have been checked by Iraqi authorities, according to U.S. officials. The overflights have long been a source of contention between the U.S. and Iraq and Kerry will tell the Iraqis that allowing them to continue will make the situation in Syria worse and ultimately threaten Iraq's stability. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #8 Perhaps they figure on joining the Iran/Syria axis? We were complaining about Assad not staging pitched battles against Sunnis making their way over the border who wanted to fight GI's in Iraq. The alternative to Assad could well take power. And if that happens, Iraq will discover whether having a Sunni regime in Syria increases or decreases the flow of weaponry to Sunni rebels in Iraq. The Iraqis in power are obviously too stupid to understand their own interests, which is why Obama had to send Kerry to Iraq to learn 'em. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2013-03-24 19:42 |
| #7 Iraq joins Iran as a province or something, I will laugh so hard. No chance of it happening, but the teeth-gnashing would be amusing. |
| Posted by: Charles 2013-03-24 17:15 |
| #6 I'm awaiting breaking nuus of the massive military convoys across Iraq and the establishment of RON and refueling sites such as Al Sahra Air Base [FOB Speicher]. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2013-03-24 17:08 |
| #5 Or what Jawn, you all gonna attack them? Perhaps they figure on joining the Iran/Syria axis? Spirited discussion indeed, you are an f'n joke everyone is in on. A cog needing his card punched before whatever's next. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2013-03-24 17:02 |
| #4 And Iraq tells us to pound sand and we do what? This could get really funny or really ugly and I I don't want to bet which. |
| Posted by: AlanC 2013-03-24 16:42 |
| #3 Behold: commie American schmartz. |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2013-03-24 16:35 |
| #2 Behold! Mooslim gratitude. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2013-03-24 16:30 |
| #1 Ya know, if we still had forces in country, we could help enforce a ban like this. As it is, all we can do is write a VERY strongly worded memo. |
| Posted by: Rambler in Virginia 2013-03-24 16:28 |