Expanding U.S. role in Iraq strains awkward alliance with Iran. Your thoughts?

2015-08-09T03:24:08-04:00

The expanding U.S. military campaign against the Islamic State group in Iraq relies in part on an uneasy, arms-length partnership with Shiite militias backed by Iran — organizations that were once relentlessly effective killers of U.S. troops.

Now, as the campaign enters its second year, there are signs that this awkward alliance may be fraying: militia threats of renewed attacks on U.S. personnel, a greater U.S. effort to bolster Sunni forces that are traditional adversaries of Iran and accusations that the U.S. air campaign has at times targeted Shiite forces.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/expanding-us-role-in-iraq-strains-awkward-alliance-with-iran/2015/08/08/15cbfbe6-39da-11e5-b3ac-8a79bc44e5e2_story.html?hpid=z6

Expanding U.S. role in Iraq strains awkward alliance with Iran

U.S. officials seek to avoid clashes with Shiite units that have provided firepower against the Islamic State.

Response by CH (MAJ) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2015 4:56 AM

2015-08-09T04:56:44-04:00

I'm always baffled by the idea that peace is attainable in the middle east. When historically, has there been a peace in the middle east?

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2015 7:12 AM

2015-08-09T07:12:33-04:00

Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.
Sun-tzu

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Aug 9 at 2015 8:37 AM

2015-08-09T08:37:55-04:00

Anyone that thinks we have an alliance with Iran has a serious disconnect with reality.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Aug 9 at 2015 9:08 AM

2015-08-09T09:08:02-04:00

Awkward alliance with Iran? I can't open this article for some reason but Iran has been killing (directly or indirectly) American forces for years. They have been meddling in Iraq for most of the time we have been there helping our enemies kill us. Only in the current upside down, inside out administration we have could we be considering an "alliance" or partnership or a treaty/agreement with Iran.

Iran has it's own objectives in Iraq and while there may be an ounce of commonality of goals between us and them there is a pound of difference we cannot ignore or do so at our and Iraq's peril.

The enemy of our enemy, in this case, is not our friend. When you sleep with dogs, you wake up smelling like them. We are a rudderless ship in that region of the world now.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2015 11:37 AM

2015-08-09T11:37:41-04:00

We should have no alliance with Iran. Iran is our enemy in every way. Any alliance, including this nuclear treaty, is going to cost us and our allies greatly.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 11 at 2015 1:30 AM

2015-08-11T01:30:58-04:00

Sadly we are arming our enemies