General: Iraqi Insurgents Directed From Syria

Washington Post ^ | Dec. 17, 2004 | Thomas E. Ricks

[FairOpinion]

A top Army general said yesterday that the Iraqi insurgency was being run in part by former senior Iraqi Baath Party officials operating in Syria who call themselves the "New Regional Command."

These men, from the former governing party of deposed president Saddam Hussein, are "operating out of Syria with impunity and providing direction and financing for the insurgency," said Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the U.S. commander in Iraq. "That needs to stop," Casey said at a Pentagon briefing.

Casey's comments echoed remarks by President Bush on Wednesday but provided new details, including the name of the leadership organization in Syria. In recent weeks, new intelligence on anti-U.S. forces in Iraq has led officials to focus increasingly on the sanctuary being provided there.

Overall, Casey expressed optimism about the security situation in Iraq. "I feel that we're broadly on track in helping the Iraqi people complete their transition to a constitutionally elected government at the end of next year," he said. "We also believe that this objective is both realistic and achievable."

[FairOpinion]

After the Iraqi elections, we should take over Syria and Iran, after all, they are both right next door to Iraq.

[endthematrix]

In due time....

[A CA Guy]

Yep, blow them up REAL GOOD.

[konaice]

We will still need our troops in Iraq to maintain stability.

Syria might be fairly easy, but Iran is pretty big. That government might topple by its own weight (or at least the resistance would like to have us believe that).

I'm not sure our stock of Tomahawks are fully replenished yet.

[FairOpinion]

But just think, if we destroy the source of "insurgents": Syria and Iran, we won't have any more problems with them in Iraq either.

[bayourod]

Demand that Syria provide a decent Christian burial for the head of John the Baptist. Or face regime change. (Skull & bones ought to relate to that)