The Middle East’s Maze of Alliances

National Review ^ | 9/11/2014 | Victor Davis Hanson

[Servant of the Cross]

It’s increasingly difficult to navigate the web of transitory enemies and allies in the region.

Try figuring out the maze of enemies, allies, and neutrals in the Middle East.

In 2012, the Obama administration was on the verge of bombing the forces of Syrian president Bashar Assad. For a few weeks, he was public enemy No. 1 because he had used chemical weapons on his own people and because he was responsible for many of the deaths in the Syrian civil war, with a casualty count that is now close to 200,000.

After Obama’s red lines turned pink, we forgot about Syria. Then the Islamic State showed up with beheadings, crucifixions, rapes, and mass murders through a huge swath of Iraq and Syria.

Now the United States is bombing the Islamic State. Sometimes Obama says that he is still seeking a strategy against the jihadist group. Sometimes he wants to reduce it to a manageable problem. And sometimes he says that he wants to degrade or even destroy it.

The Islamic State is still trying to overthrow Assad. If the Obama administration is now bombing the Islamic State, is it then helping Assad? Or when America did not bomb Assad, did it help the Islamic State? Which of the two should Obama bomb — or both, or neither?

Iran is steadily on the way to acquiring a nuclear bomb. Yet for now it is arming the Kurds, dependable U.S. allies in the region who are fighting for their lives against the Islamic State and need American help.

[Servant of the Cross]

There's only one true ally .... Viva Israel!

[old curmudgeon]

If we were not ruled by fools:

We would give the Kurds everything they need and want, plus several teams of Seals.

The Kurds know who to trust over there and who not to trust.

As they make gains, various groups will join up with them. They will know who to link up with; who to trust.

We have no idea.

Eventually they would be a real force in the Mideast.

But we have too many chest thumping McCain's, Grahms, etc., and must show genius.

[Servant of the Cross]

Very good points. And, yes, the Kurds would be the right partner to assist. The "genius" chooses poorly ....

[the anti-mahdi]

Let’s be real clear. There are no “innocents” in this aberrant bizzaro world of Islam and its offshoots and cousins.

These are muslims killing muslims and desiring to kill Jews and Christians every day, they will never stop unless they are rendered as dead as their victims.

Kurds are also muslims, a fact that most people overlook despite all data and history to the contrary. It will be as useful as arming the Northern Alliance against the Taliban.

I am tired of playing whack-a-mole with these retrograde savages. I am tired of sacrificing American blood and treasure, the crushing and maiming of our military.

1. Allah is Satan
2. repeat # 1

Support and defend Israel to the death, expend whatever is neccessary, fight alongside them against a satanic existential threat.

Or not. Turn your back on Israel, you give the middle finger to God. Deal with it...