ping to sionnsar's #13
I believe that these observations are even more FR-compatible than what I would estimate is typical. It's important for us to clearly understand who is lobbying whom and why. I don't think Americans want to be Chalabied again.
Then again, it may be our Vietnam-like unwillingness to take the war to the enemy in Syria and Iran that has put us in the situation of being what I am calling "Chalabied" in Iraq -- without understanding it better.
Many weeks ago one of them pulled up a list of the many parties vying for position when the mullahs fall; it was dishearteningly long. He noted the fact, and made some comment about how they are always arguing among themselves.
What was also interesting was how the host made a call for more Iranian support for Homeland Security. He noted the long-standing hatred between Iranian and Arab (I had gathered there was dislike, but active hate?), and noted too that they, being from the middle east, would know who are the extremists likely to be terrorists -- they give themselves away in various ways that Americans just wold not be attuned to.