Iraq tells Iran no arms to Syria to cross its territory

Straits Times ^ | Saturday, March 17, 2012 | AFP

[SunkenCiv]

Iraq has informed Iran that it will not permit arms shipments to Syria to pass through or over its territory, government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said on Saturday.

Baghdad informed Teheran through the Iranian ambassador 'that Iraq will not permit the use of its air space or its territory for the transit of any arms cargo to Syria,' Mr Dabbagh said in a statement.

'No cargo of arms nor munitions coming from any party or country will pass the air space or borders of Iraq, and no combatant from any side will have the right of passage to Syria,' he added.

On Friday, the United States (US) said it was concerned about Iranian cargo flights over Iraq to Syria, saying it has warned Iraq they might contain arms that could be used by Damascus to crush protests.

[stevecmd]

Fort Sumter moment

[SunkenCiv]

OTOH, this story suggests Assad’s at the end of his rope, or can see it now:

Syria Says Opposition Must Give up Arms First
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/syria-opposition-give-arms-15944146
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/03/17/international/i085451D42.DTL

[thethirddegree]

And exactly how does Iraq intend to enforce it? Our air power is out of there.

[org.whodat]

Lip service, mookie is running the place now.

[Truth29]

"And exactly how does Iraq intend to enforce it? Our air power is out of there."

The probably don't. This is a PR statement for consumption by the West while Iran continues its quiet takeover of Iraq and tranships whatever it wants.

[Cicero]

I believe that the Shiites were put in control of Iraq after Saddam was deposed. It’s hard to see why this would be anything more than lip service.

They really can’t stop Iranian planes from flying overhead, unless they want to start another war with Iran. And why would they want to do that, when they rely on Iranian support to keep the Sunnis from taking back power?

[gandalftb]

Iranian and Russian arms shipments are going in by sea. Aircraft can’t really do the heavy lifting anyway. Syria is very low on rockets and artillery shells.

[FreeAtlanta]

The Iraqi’s should train and equip the Syrian rebels. Surely, there are a lot of leftover Saddam Ak-47s and other stuff that can be given to them.

Considering all the death and destruction Iran and Syria have caused in Iraq, it would be a just reward to have Iran’s puppet fall.

[SunkenCiv]

The Shiites were the majority, and voted a Shiite-majority gov’t into power.

[SunkenCiv]

The Shiites in Iraq wouldn’t be interested, but the Sunnis certainly will be, and then the Iraqi civil war can resume.

[SunkenCiv]

The Iraqi gov’t was warned about letting the Iranians do this, so they made this statement — or IOW, /bingo

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks, and for all, some sidebars:

• Kill the Messenger:What Russia taught Syria
• Putin warns West over Syria, Iran
• The Russians and American Progressives: Together Again
• For Syria, Reliant on Russia for Weapons and Food, Old Bonds Run Deep
• Syrian air defense complicates US options
• Syrian Army Using World's Biggest Mortar Against Own People
• Report: Hezbollah Moves Missiles From Syria To Lebanon, Fearing Fall Of Assad Regime
• Syrian defector says FSA killed 40 Basilj and 120 Hezbollah in Syria
• Syrian Muslim Brotherhood Secretary General Rejects Iran And Doesn't Trust Hezbollah
• Israel concerned UNIFIL heading toward collapse
• UNIFIL attack was message from Syria: Hariri
• Beirut: Opposition Targets Hizbullah's Arsenal
• Wiam Wahhab : If NATO Intervenes in Syria, Hizbullah and Syria Will Fire 100,000 Rockets at Israel
• Report: If Assad falls, Hizballah may attempt to take Beirut
• Hizbullah has canceled leaves and is preparing for war!
• 'Hizbullah on Alert, Preparing for War'
• Report: Hezbollah in dire financial straits
• Who Called the Palestinians Trash?
• Mufti of Lebanon: Palestinians are 'trash', not welcome