Rebels aided by sources in Syria, U.S. says (Syria behind Insurgency DRUDGE)

Drudge ^

[Minus_The_Bear]

U.S. military intelligence has concluded the Iraqi insurgency is being directed to a greater degree than previously thought from Syria, where former Saddam Hussein loyalists have found sanctuary and are channeling money, other support, the WASHINGTON POST will report in Wednesday editions... DEVELOPING...

Link to Article and EXCERPT:

Rebels Aided By Sources in Syria, U.S. Says

Rebels Aided By Sources in Syria, U.S. Says

Baathists Reportedly Relay Money, Support

U.S. military intelligence officials have concluded that the Iraqi insurgency is being directed to a greater degree than previously recognized from Syria, where they said former Saddam Hussein loyalists have found sanctuary and are channeling money and other support to those fighting the established government.

Based on information gathered during the recent fighting in Fallujah, Baghdad and elsewhere in the Sunni Triangle, the officials said that a handful of senior Iraqi Baathists operating in Syria are collecting money from private sources in Saudi Arabia and Europe and turning it over to the insurgency.

In some cases, evidence suggests that these Baathists are managing operations in Iraq from a distance, the officials said. A U.S. military summary of operations in Fallujah noted recently that troops discovered a global positioning signal receiver in a bomb factory in the western part of the city that "contained waypoints originating in western Syria."

Concerns about Syria's role in Iraq were also expressed in interviews The Washington Post conducted yesterday with Jordan's King Abdullah and Iraqi President Ghazi Yawar. "There are people in Syria who are bad guys, who are fugitives of the law and who are Saddam remnants who are trying to bring the vicious dictatorship of Saddam back," Yawar said. "They are not minding their business or living a private life. They are . . . disturbing or undermining our political process."...."

[jriemer]

Glad I could help

[KD7SY]

Hey! GREAT IDEA! Let's subcontract the invasion of Syria to the Israelis. We could let it out to them on a "cost plus" basis. We could even offer to supply the ammo.

This would make the Israelis happy on several levels, while sparing our own troops.

The Iranian army would have to cross Iraq to aid the Syrians. And I think that they would not be so eager to face our smart bombs.

Oh! Well, that's what I would do if I was in the "Cat Bird" seat. I see this war going on forever if we don't act to put an end to it.

The bad guy's out there want what Sadam had, they think that Iraq's oil wealth is up for grabs. If they could only get us to cut and run again. Like we did in Vietnam, Lebanon, Somalia, etc.

[steveegg]

The next fight will be to get the UN to recognize the elected Iraq government. Once that occurs, any subversive actions by Iran or Syria have to be condemned by the UN.

If the UN doesn't condemn, they will be putting another nail in their own coffin.

WANTED: Master Carpenter. Must be familiar with coffin construction and possess stouter right arm than previous carpentry staff. Apply in person at 1 UN Plaza, ask for Kofi.

[injin]

I have always thought that the 4th I.D. should have turned
left at Baghdad and gone straight through Syria.
Maybe it's not too late .
With Israel pushing up from the Golan and US sweeping in from
the East , it might fold like a house of cards.
They need to be given a genuine ultimatum .

[carl in alaska]

Is it time to make an offer to the Syrian "leaders" that they can't refuse?

Bump for later read.

[Terpfen]

Same name, but they had a rivalry going. Each side thought they were the true Ba'athists while the others were just idiots.

I'd pin Syrian support for the terrorists on the simple fact that they support terrorists. I don't think there's a Saddam-Bashar brotherhood thing going on.

[ml1954]

if Iraq declared war on Syria...

Maybe after the Iraq elections as part of the non-civil war against the Sunni insurgents/terrorists.

[ml1954]

The President won't waste his time going to Congress or the UN again.

Don't need to do either to protect our forces in Iraq. Besides, we have the recent precedent of the French in the Ivory Coast.

[wtc911]

Will Bush clean out the Beka Valley? I wouldn't call his bluff.

Sure, we'll use those two of the four Infantry and one of the three Armored Divisions we have in reserve.

[ml1954]

They did that, and the EU/UN had no backbone...of course!

Plus they have no real military capability to back up their words. Iran is playing with them and laughing at them behind their back. The EU/UN are pathetic.

[wtc911]

Syria is the smaller and could be captured quickly

----------------------------------

Four questions:

1. Where will we get the multiple divisions needed to do this?

2. Taking Iraq was not the problem, controlling Iraq is. What would make Syria different? And, what units do we use to occupy it?

3. How do you keep Israel from being pulled in? Don't fool yourself into thinking this would be a good thing.

4. Look west and invade Syria, what do we do then when Iran opens an Eastern front?

Got any answers?

[SunkenCiv]

Syria retained in control of some 125 square kilometers (48 square miles) of Jordanian territory, which it holds to this day, and in which some 17,000 Syrians have been resettled... Some 20,000 Syrian settlers now occupy the site under the protection of Syrian soldiers and police... Syria’s justification for keeping the land is that some 20,000 Syrians currently live there. This is almost the exact same number of Israelis living on the Golan. Golan "linkage" is the last thing Syria needs as tensions with Jordan heat up.

The difference is, Syria used the Golan to shell Israeli towns and farms, and did so after Israel gave it back the first time. Syria can go **** itself, it isn't getting back the Golan Hts.

[lechtellhavel]

1. Where will we get the multiple divisions needed to do this?

2. Taking Iraq was not the problem, controlling Iraq is. What would make Syria different? And, what units do we use to occupy it?

3. How do you keep Israel from being pulled in? Don't fool yourself into thinking this would be a good thing.

4. Look west and invade Syria, what do we do then when Iran opens an Eastern front?

Got any answers?

An active program of supporting any democratic elements in both Syria and Iran coupled with a program of destabilizing their Islamofascist governments would be just as effective as military invasion and much, much cheaper in terms of the precious lives of our brave heroes in uniform!

If we want to get some satisfaction from doing some shooting, we announce that any government that cannot control its own border needs help from us and that we will return all fire that is directed against us or the Iraqis. Any government that can't stop foreigners from shooting into its country loses credibility with its people and thereby speeds up the destabilization process that we want to encourage.

Jordan has got kicked around the Middle East for so long, I think that a little encouragement from us about righting some of wrongs perpetrated by Syria would only be poetic justice. And again, it puts pressure on a dictatorial government that needs to be destabilized.

[wtc911]

You can bet that we have numerous SF teams in both countries working the fringes, probably more so in Iran than Syria.

[Edgerunner]

Getting tips and training no doubt...

[Edgerunner]

They should respond in kind. If Syria bitches, tell them if they don't clean it up, the USMC will do it...with prejudice

[FierceDraka]

Do we even have the military manpower to invade Syria as well?

[DannyTN]

"1. Where will we get the multiple divisions needed to do this?

You could pull some out of Iraq. With Syria eliminated the control problem in Iraq will be greatly reduced, because you've cut off the head of the snake. Or at least one of the heads.

"2. Taking Iraq was not the problem, controlling Iraq is. What would make Syria different? And, what units do we use to occupy it?

Controlling Iraq has only been a problem because Syria and Iran are working against us. There would not be that much internal opposition without external influence.

3. How do you keep Israel from being pulled in? Don't fool yourself into thinking this would be a good thing.

How did we keep Israel out of it with Iraq? Saddam swore to bring Israel into it and tried his best. "4. Look west and invade Syria, what do we do then when Iran opens an Eastern front?"

If Iran wants to open an eastern front and provide us more targets they can. Wiping out an army that is moving across the desert is a lot easier than driving terrorists out of a city.

[Tommyjo]

LOL. The sky is falling!