Posted on Dec 11, 2015
Are we failing to recognize the growing threat of militarized Shiite groups?
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We spend so much time focusing on ISIS, ISIL, IS. Are we failing to see the threat of the militarized Shiite groups?
"Hezbollah is a Shiite Muslim political party and militant group that the United States and European Union consider a terrorist organization. With significant support from Iran and Syria, Hezbollah maintains an extensive security apparatus, political organization, and social services network in Lebanon, where the group is often described as a "state within the state." Hezbollah's raison d'etre, resistance to Israel and Western involvement in the Middle East, has made it an effective proxy for Iranian foreign policy while earning the group some support from beyond its Shiite base. But as it has become increasingly embroiled in the Syrian civil war, where its fighters have fought for the Assad regime, it has alienated some of its Lebanese constituents and reportedly prompted deadly reprisals in Beirut from partisans of the predominantly Sunni Muslim Syrian rebels. The U.S. government and its European allies consider Hezbollah a global terrorist threat and a menace to Mideast stability."
http://abcnews.go.com/International/hezbollah-al-qaeda-fighters-edging-closer-confrontation/story?id=19144119
"Hezbollah is a Shiite Muslim political party and militant group that the United States and European Union consider a terrorist organization. With significant support from Iran and Syria, Hezbollah maintains an extensive security apparatus, political organization, and social services network in Lebanon, where the group is often described as a "state within the state." Hezbollah's raison d'etre, resistance to Israel and Western involvement in the Middle East, has made it an effective proxy for Iranian foreign policy while earning the group some support from beyond its Shiite base. But as it has become increasingly embroiled in the Syrian civil war, where its fighters have fought for the Assad regime, it has alienated some of its Lebanese constituents and reportedly prompted deadly reprisals in Beirut from partisans of the predominantly Sunni Muslim Syrian rebels. The U.S. government and its European allies consider Hezbollah a global terrorist threat and a menace to Mideast stability."
http://abcnews.go.com/International/hezbollah-al-qaeda-fighters-edging-closer-confrontation/story?id=19144119
ISIS
Terrorism
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 6
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Today, they are allies of convenience.
ISIS, Al Queda, Shia, and more moderate national interests are locked on a mortal struggle for dominance of the world of Islam.
From what I can tell, our leaders have judged that the hierarchy of enemy/frenemy/ potential allies/ friends looks like:
ISIS - Bad
Al Queda - less bad and disrupted; may be convenient to leave alone if they engage ISIS in Syria
Shia - potential ally against Sunni extremists
Moderate nations (ie Jordan, Egypt, etc) - reordering of who and how we support them; very uncomfortable with our attempts at rapproachment with Iran and its proxies.
I would argue that are overall best interest is in stability, not necessarily choosing winners and losers. Every nation in the region has interests that diverge from ours, except as it regards to economic transactions and desiring stability. At issue is that Iran is actively attempting to Destabilize Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen, and fueling Assad in Syria and anti-Israeli organizations in Gaza and Lebanon. Notice that Gaza has been really quiet since Iran got focused in Iraq and Syria. This is not coincidental.
ISIS, Al Queda, Shia, and more moderate national interests are locked on a mortal struggle for dominance of the world of Islam.
From what I can tell, our leaders have judged that the hierarchy of enemy/frenemy/ potential allies/ friends looks like:
ISIS - Bad
Al Queda - less bad and disrupted; may be convenient to leave alone if they engage ISIS in Syria
Shia - potential ally against Sunni extremists
Moderate nations (ie Jordan, Egypt, etc) - reordering of who and how we support them; very uncomfortable with our attempts at rapproachment with Iran and its proxies.
I would argue that are overall best interest is in stability, not necessarily choosing winners and losers. Every nation in the region has interests that diverge from ours, except as it regards to economic transactions and desiring stability. At issue is that Iran is actively attempting to Destabilize Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen, and fueling Assad in Syria and anti-Israeli organizations in Gaza and Lebanon. Notice that Gaza has been really quiet since Iran got focused in Iraq and Syria. This is not coincidental.
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Hezbollah I guess at this point is Ancient History from my time, Shia Extremist. The new in Clique is Daesh/ISIS/ISIL Sunni Whack Jobs. Never fond of Religious Fanatics of any faith.
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CPT (Join to see)
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
They are not "Ancient History" they are both well funded and well organized.
They are not "Ancient History" they are both well funded and well organized.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
CPT (Join to see) - Funded by the Iranian State that is a Pretty Big Purse, I concur.
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I think we do...and then the next administration is going to blame the last one's intelligence failure. We are playing geopolitical chess game with rising powers for dominance and resources. Therefore, anyone else is just a peon that needs to be brought in line (sarcasm). As a result we stick our fingers in every hole we can find and then scream when something bites.
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