Arab states back US push against IS

[webfact]

Islamic State crisis: Arab states join US fight

(BBC) -- Ten Arab countries have agreed to help the US in its fight against the jihadist group, Islamic State (IS).

After talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Jeddah, they pledged to provide military support and humanitarian aid, and to halt the flow of funds and foreign fighters to IS.

Mr Kerry told the BBC they were "full-throatedly ready" to combat the group.

However, Russia warned the US against expanding its campaign of air strikes from Iraq into neighbouring Syria.

The Russian foreign ministry said any such action, without the backing of the UN Security Council, would be "an act of aggression" and a "gross violation" of international law.

On Wednesday, President Barack Obama set out his plans to "destroy and degrade" IS and revealed that he had authorised air strikes in Syria.

Full story: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29166372


-- BBC 2014-09-12

[NeverSure]

Russia warned...

[GeorgeO]

...the irony of it....! The Russian Foreign Ministry said "any such action, without the backing of the UN Security Council, would be "an act of aggression" and a "gross violation" of international law".

[terryp]

its about time Saudi and Qatar were outed as the main sponsors of ISIL.via the US of course

Great to see many on TV have absolutely NO idea of what this is all about and what it will become....keep poking the bear fools and see what happens

[terryp]

...the irony of it....! The Russian Foreign Ministry said "any such action, without the backing of the UN Security Council, would be "an act of aggression" and a "gross violation" of international law".

WHAT ..you do understand that its the EU being pushed by the US (Sorus and partners) that caused the conflict in the Ukraine? (wait until next week when gas supply to Europe is reduced )......Syria is a Russian friend so of course they are going to standup for them; just as the smoke screen of the US and .................well whats the point

[NeverSure]

...the irony of it....! The Russian Foreign Ministry said "any such action, without the backing of the UN Security Council, would be "an act of aggression" and a "gross violation" of international law".

WHAT ..you do understand that its the EU being pushed by the US (Sorus and partners) that caused the conflict in the Ukraine? (wait until next week when gas supply to Europe is reduced )......Syria is a Russian friend so of course they are going to standup for them; just as the smoke screen of the US and .................well whats the point

Of course. Putin is the good guy and the US and EU are the bad guys. Got it.

[richusa]

Go talk to Qatar to stop buying oil from IS. Qatar is the richest country in the world and the only have natural gas. THEY NEED THE OIL FROM THIS GROUP.

[hawker9000]

its about time Saudi and Qatar were outed as the main sponsors of ISIL.via the US of course

Great to see many on TV have absolutely NO idea of what this is all about and what it will become....keep poking the bear fools and see what happens

Except it's the bear that's been doing all the poking... That airliner the Russians shot down looked pretty well "poked" to me! (And before you start, save your breath, terry. No one - besides the RT editorial staff drones - is buying the Ukrainian shootdown fairy tale. 'Just a waste of vodka-laced hot air.)

'Don't see why ISIL needs Saudi or Quatar as "sponsors". All that black market oil money - probably dwarfs funds flowing from their various extortions, other criminal activity, and sympathetic muslims here & there. Maybe a good drone program can get a handle on those tanker truck routes before they hit Iran, the Russian border, whatever...

[TVGerry]

Oh those crazy Russians!

[chooka]

"The Russian foreign ministry said any such action, without the backing of the UN Security Council, would be "an act of aggression"

Lets not get aggressive against this murdering excrement. Play nice and try not to hurt or offend them and respect their religious rights the slaughter whoever they please.

To hell with what the Russians think, wipe this scum off the planet

[Loptr]

The Arab states want the US to carry their water, again...

Fool me once, shame on you... Fool me twice, shame on me... Fool me a third time and I'm a freaking idiot...

[ABCer]

...the irony of it....! The Russian Foreign Ministry said "any such action, without the backing of the UN Security Council, would be "an act of aggression" and a "gross violation" of international law".

WHAT ..you do understand that its the EU being pushed by the US (Sorus and partners) that caused the conflict in the Ukraine? (wait until next week when gas supply to Europe is reduced )......Syria is a Russian friend so of course they are going to standup for them; just as the smoke screen of the US and .................well whats the point

Of course. Putin is the good guy and the US and EU are the bad guys. Got it.

NeverSure, you got it wrong.

Neither Putin nor USA or EU are good guys. I am afraid Putin is just smarter.

In this particular matter only.

As to Arab states back up - with 'friends' like this USA has no hope of a 'quick solution'.

[mjef]

It's pretty funny that not a long time ago Arab states joined forces to overthrow Bashar Assad by funding basically all rebels of any type in Syria and providing them with weapons without even thinking about the consequences (or maybe it's all part of a bigger plan, who knows!). But even funnier, now the US and Arab states are joining forces as heroes to eliminate ISIS and save the world. Go get'em Godfather!

And funniest of all are the guys who think ISIS came out of nowhere without even a penny and they somehow discovered some oil fields and started selling oil and suddenly became so rich and powerful! 555

[Publicus]

...the irony of it....! The Russian Foreign Ministry said "any such action, without the backing of the UN Security Council, would be "an act of aggression" and a "gross violation" of international law".

WHAT ..you do understand that its the EU being pushed by the US (Sorus and partners) that caused the conflict in the Ukraine? (wait until next week when gas supply to Europe is reduced )......Syria is a Russian friend so of course they are going to standup for them; just as the smoke screen of the US and .................well whats the point

Of course. Putin is the good guy and the US and EU are the bad guys. Got it.

NeverSure, you got it wrong.

Neither Putin nor USA or EU are good guys. I am afraid Putin is just smarter.

In this particular matter only.

As to Arab states back up - with 'friends' like this USA has no hope of a 'quick solution'.

I don't mean to cut in on anyone's potential dialogue, so I'm just wondering why it should be that Putin "is just smarter" than the USA or the EU but "in this particular matter only."

If Putin happens to be autistic that would be one thing but any evidence of that is slim at best.

You don't know much about the Pentagon's new Air-Sea Battle Doctrine as its new war fighting strategy. The coming campaign in Iraq and Syria will be low-intensity rather than all out, but it will be according to the new doctrine that omits boots on the ground. The days of boots on the ground are past.

Special Forces, yes, divisions of army troops, no.

Hide and watch.

http://www.wired.com/2012/08/air-sea-battle-2/

[rickirs]

This agreement is really an amazing effort by the US.

The religion-driven politics of the region go back hundreds of years pitting sunnis against shiites inter-sprinkled with discrimination against christians. Sunni Gulf States like Saudia Arabia, Egypt, and Qatar have been supporting rebels against the Asaad Shiite regime while Shiite Iran has been supporting Asaad. Iraq is caught in between with an almost even split of Sunnis and Shiites but had a Shiite-led government under Maliki who marginalized Sunni power in the country but to a lesser degree than did Shiite dictator Sadaam; Maliki is now out with a Sunni leader in place who is trying for a power coalition of both Sunnis and Shiites to defang ISIS of political attraction. Saudia Arabia's support of ISIS also served a more domestic purpose of retaining it as the true champion and protector of Islam, keeping combative ISIS elements in Syria/Iraq and out of Saudia Arabia; the Saudi Kingdom would not be compatiable with a caliphate state. Egypt has a super majority of sunnis and considers itself as Saudia Arabia's equal when it comes to middle east leadership.

Kerry has gotten all these countries under one political roof that ultimately protects US and European national security. What remains is the role for Asaad and Putin in stablizing the region. Asaad will not give up national security and Russia wants to maintain its political influence over Syria. This agreement is also, thus far, a win for Israel and Jordon who have thus far been unaffected by ISIS but in the long run could become targets of ISIS land grabs.

The US has seen once before under President Bush that military force alone will not alter middle east dynamics. It must be the middle east countries themselves that must develop cooperative national security strategies to assure a stable and peaceful environment for all to flourish. This means an eventual shift away from religious state secularism. Perhaps just a dream.

[JoeLing]

No government really cares about the people.
Be it white, black, jews, sunny, shiites or who ever else but,
good for our global weapons industries and their share holders.

It's all in our western economic interest.

Although 100% fictional, the movie "Harodim" might have some truth in it.

[JoeLing]

...... ultimately protects US and European national security. ....

I don't believe it protects our national security but more our national interests.

I'm pretty sure, if our western nations wouldn't have meddled in other countries

sovereign issues, we would not need to worry about our national security but

probably, we would need to worry about our economies.

If one considers that the top 10 weapons industries in the US alone, directly

employs more than 1 million people, where would our economies go without

conflicts and wars?

[transam]

...... ultimately protects US and European national security. ....

I don't believe it protects our national security but more our national interests.

I'm pretty sure, if our western nations wouldn't have meddled in other countries

sovereign issues, we would not need to worry about our national security but

probably, we would need to worry about our economies.

If one considers that the top 10 weapons industries in the US alone, directly

employs more than 1 million people, where would our economies go without

conflicts and wars?

You have gas for your ride....?............

[JoeLing]

...... ultimately protects US and European national security. ....

I don't believe it protects our national security but more our national interests.

I'm pretty sure, if our western nations wouldn't have meddled in other countries

sovereign issues, we would not need to worry about our national security but

probably, we would need to worry about our economies.

If one considers that the top 10 weapons industries in the US alone, directly

employs more than 1 million people, where would our economies go without

conflicts and wars?

You have gas for your ride....?............

Naaa, I walk

But seriously, no oil in Afghanistan, Somalia or Yemen but plenty of potential arms buyers.

Just lucky we can produce our own beer. and don't need to relay on African countries for that

[edit]

Did I say lucky? Maybe if we would be unlucky enough to have to relay on African countries for

beer, our weapons industries would do even better.

[simple1]

This agreement is really an amazing effort by the US.

The religion-driven politics of the region go back hundreds of years pitting sunnis against shiites inter-sprinkled with discrimination against christians. Sunni Gulf States like Saudia Arabia, Egypt, and Qatar have been supporting rebels against the Asaad Shiite regime while Shiite Iran has been supporting Asaad. Iraq is caught in between with an almost even split of Sunnis and Shiites but had a Shiite-led government under Maliki who marginalized Sunni power in the country but to a lesser degree than did Shiite dictator Sadaam; Maliki is now out with a Sunni leader in place who is trying for a power coalition of both Sunnis and Shiites to defang ISIS of political attraction. Saudia Arabia's support of ISIS also served a more domestic purpose of retaining it as the true champion and protector of Islam, keeping combative ISIS elements in Syria/Iraq and out of Saudia Arabia; the Saudi Kingdom would not be compatiable with a caliphate state. Egypt has a super majority of sunnis and considers itself as Saudia Arabia's equal when it comes to middle east leadership.

Kerry has gotten all these countries under one political roof that ultimately protects US and European national security. What remains is the role for Asaad and Putin in stablizing the region. Asaad will not give up national security and Russia wants to maintain its political influence over Syria. This agreement is also, thus far, a win for Israel and Jordon who have thus far been unaffected by ISIS but in the long run could become targets of ISIS land grabs.

The US has seen once before under President Bush that military force alone will not alter middle east dynamics. It must be the middle east countries themselves that must develop cooperative national security strategies to assure a stable and peaceful environment for all to flourish. This means an eventual shift away from religious state secularism. Perhaps just a dream.

Bit of a heads up for you...

Saddam was Sunni, but in practice a secular socialist, supported by a number of Sunni tribes. Shiites are the majority with nearly double the numbers of Sunnis. New PM is Shiite who really welds power or should we say hopes to do so. President is Sunni, but a Kurd, so will not have the loyalty of the Arab Sunni tribes

[Steely Dan]

Firstly, Qatar is the number one sponsor of terrorism today, the Qatari football team for the World Cup being staged there should look no further than IS for shirt sponsors.

That said I am surprised if does pan out that words are translated into action by the Arab states, many of whom have legitimate concerns that US policy has actually enabled political Islam at the expense of their own stability. Perhaps we have reached the low water mark for this delusional policy, the following resignation might help. A US government advisor tweeting that a Caliphate is inevitable reeks of infiltration.

http://unitedwithisrael.org/homeland-security-advisor-quits-after-inevitable-return-of-caliphate-tweet/

[simple1]

From a Stratfor review titled "The Virtue of Subtlety Against Islamic State", worth reading the analysis at URL below.

U.S. strategy is sound. It is to allow the balance of power to play out, to come in only when it absolutely must -- with overwhelming force, as in Kuwait -- and to avoid intervention where it cannot succeed. The tactical application of strategy is the problem. In this case the tactic is not direct intervention by the United States, save as a satisfying gesture to avenge murdered Americans. But the solution rests in doing as little as possible and forcing regional powers into the fray, then in maintaining the balance of power in this coalition.

http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/virtue-subtlety-us-strategy-against-islamic-state

[coma]

I liked Obamas speech yesterday until he started ragging the Assad regime and committed to arming opposition "moderates" in Syria. There is no such thing as moderates in Syria. Naive idiot Mr Obama. The ONLY way to do business in Syria is in conjuction with the Syrian government. If not Obama will be fighting the regime, ISIS and at sometime soon, these so call moderates. Once again, bloody idiot.

[simple1]

Perhaps we have reached the low water mark for this delusional policy, the following resignation might help. A US government advisor tweeting that a Caliphate is inevitable reeks of infiltration.

http://unitedwithisrael.org/homeland-security-advisor-quits-after-inevitable-return-of-caliphate-tweet/

With that guy the Hundred Flowers Campaign comes to mind

[Loptr]

...the irony of it....! The Russian Foreign Ministry said "any such action, without the backing of the UN Security Council, would be "an act of aggression" and a "gross violation" of international law".

WHAT ..you do understand that its the EU being pushed by the US (Sorus and partners) that caused the conflict in the Ukraine? (wait until next week when gas supply to Europe is reduced )......Syria is a Russian friend so of course they are going to standup for them; just as the smoke screen of the US and .................well whats the point

Of course. Putin is the good guy and the US and EU are the bad guys. Got it.

You really need to spend 30 minutes researching just how this mess started in Ukraine... If you had, you would have a much different opinion as to who is the aggressor...

[Ulic]

The US should have stayed out of the middle east from day one. I understand it

has always been about cheap oil, but the price has always been too high and

it just supports the military industrial complex.

I/ Put the Shah of Iran into power, (a murderous despot), how did that work out?

2 / Stayed out of Iraq

3/ Not got involved in the regime change in Egypt

4/ Not got involved in regime change in Libya

5/ Not got involved in regime change in Syria

Let the Arabs sort it out between themselves. It is too complicated for a group of people not

used to voting and are divided on regional tribal and religious lines. They will eventually

get things sorted. Civil war, yes, every country has had one, and sometimes more.

When they are tired of war, peace will breakout.

[hawker9000]

...the irony of it....! The Russian Foreign Ministry said "any such action, without the backing of the UN Security Council, would be "an act of aggression" and a "gross violation" of international law".

WHAT ..you do understand that its the EU being pushed by the US (Sorus and partners) that caused the conflict in the Ukraine? (wait until next week when gas supply to Europe is reduced )......Syria is a Russian friend so of course they are going to standup for them; just as the smoke screen of the US and .................well whats the point

Of course. Putin is the good guy and the US and EU are the bad guys. Got it.

NeverSure, you got it wrong.

Neither Putin nor USA or EU are good guys. I am afraid Putin is just smarter.

In this particular matter only.

As to Arab states back up - with 'friends' like this USA has no hope of a 'quick solution'.

I don't mean to cut in on anyone's potential dialogue, so I'm just wondering why it should be that Putin "is just smarter" than the USA or the EU but "in this particular matter only."

If Putin happens to be autistic that would be one thing but any evidence of that is slim at best.

You don't know much about the Pentagon's new Air-Sea Battle Doctrine as its new war fighting strategy. The coming campaign in Iraq and Syria will be low-intensity rather than all out, but it will be according to the new doctrine that omits boots on the ground. The days of boots on the ground are past.

Special Forces, yes, divisions of army troops, no.

Hide and watch.

http://www.wired.com/2012/08/air-sea-battle-2/

"You don't know much about the Pentagon's new Air-Sea Battle Doctrine as its new war fighting strategy."

...and quite obviously neither do you. Air-Sea Battle Doctrine is NOT a "strategy". You (and others) are tossing the term around as if you actually knew what you were talking about without the vaguest notion of what it really is (and is not). It's just an operational concept.

Now since I know you're going to dredge up all manner of non-authoritative armchair jaw-wagging to try and support the unsupportable, here's a DOD link - presumably you'll find that helpful, since they're the originators:

http://www.defense.gov/pubs/ASB-ConceptImplementation-Summary-May-2013.pdf

[arjunadawn]

Go talk to Qatar to stop buying oil from IS. Qatar is the richest country in the world and the only have natural gas. THEY NEED THE OIL FROM THIS GROUP.

This group is overwhelming sponsored by Qatar, from direct funds, to purchasing former East Bloc weapons and routing through Turkey, to buying Libyan arms and again routing into the pipeline through turkey. I am uncertain that Qatar is richest country in world and it would depend on how that is measured, but your point remains. It is just misleading to suggest (unintentionally, Im sure) that Qatari support for IS is through backdoor, discounted fuel purchases. I cannot even imagine the overland mechanism for sending this fuel south except by tiny trailer trucks and any amount would be noted in the south or Iraq. This fuel, IMO, is primarily going any way but south. Just thoughts. Thanks richusa

[arabicsteve]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Go talk to Qatar to stop buying oil from IS. Qatar is the richest country in the world and the only have natural gas. THEY NEED THE OIL FROM THIS GROUP.

So if Qatar has no oil what does Qatar Petroleum do?

Extract from Wikipedia:

Economy of Qatar

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

Petroleum is the cornerstone of Qatar's economy and accounts for more than 70% of total government revenue, more than 60% of gross domestic product, and roughly 85% of export earnings. Proved oil reserves of 15 billion barrels (588,000,000 m³) should ensure continued output at current levels for 23 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP that ranks among the highest in the world. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 7000 km³, more than 5% of the world total, third largest in the world. Production and export of natural gas are becoming increasingly important. Long-term goals feature the development of off-shore petroleum and the diversification of the economy.

Just to clarify some misunderstanding.

[arjunadawn]

its about time Saudi and Qatar were outed as the main sponsors of ISIL.via the US of course

Great to see many on TV have absolutely NO idea of what this is all about and what it will become....keep poking the bear fools and see what happens

Except it's the bear that's been doing all the poking... That airliner the Russians shot down looked pretty well "poked" to me! (And before you start, save your breath, terry. No one - besides the RT editorial staff drones - is buying the Ukrainian shootdown fairy tale. 'Just a waste of vodka-laced hot air.)

'Don't see why ISIL needs Saudi or Quatar as "sponsors". All that black market oil money - probably dwarfs funds flowing from their various extortions, other criminal activity, and sympathetic muslims here & there. Maybe a good drone program can get a handle on those tanker truck routes before they hit Iran, the Russian border, whatever...

The cart is before the horse. The black market money came long after start up capital, opponents neutralized, etc. SA and Qatar and Turkey and the US are overwhelmingly feeding this creature. After Libya was sacked to cannibalize the weapons and tunnels established to transit these weapons to and thru turkey, AQ and other opponents in Libya destabilized the market because this stuff was not going directly to AQ preferred affiliates; but everyone knows Libya weapons are all over the battlespace in the Levant now. But Libya was a dead horse and IS was just... about.. ready to be a further tool. They needed more weapons, more fear, cover for action (IS), and plausible deniability (the west). "Lets recover the US arsenal in Iraq!"

The entire recent IS introduction to the world and in and outs regarding Iraq was nothing more than a massive battlefield recovery operation. It was perfect, brilliant, but IMO, got just a little too adventurous when pushing north, so the US would eventually have to impress upon IS playtime in Iraq is over, take your new weapons and re-consolidate in Syria (where the US would for a time have cover for status regarding not replying- IS off the grid). IS needed means to invade Iraq and the US needed this moment to be so sensational that their plausible deniability would be believed. They elected to also turn IS into the 21st century's "Emmanuel Goldstein;" a brilliant if not utterly predictable use of IS (watch your remaining freedom as you will now be asked to exchange even this for a bit more security).

IS needed trucks and lots of them until they had tanks, and lots of them! In meetings with the US "representatives" for the "unaffiliated" anti Assad groups said their leader on the ground "prefers Toyota" trucks. BAM! On or around 50 or so Toyotas (and of course misc trucks were already present) were shipped ASAP from US State Department (I dont know if State funds or State just facilitated this BSa ). Within ridiculously short time these same vehicles became the international media "snapshot" representing the IS and their modern "technicals," and their grave threat they were to the world. (Don't get me wrong, they are a grave threat, just not for the reasons the West leads you to believe).

IS penetrated Iraq was no more than probing the enemy lines (for strengths and weaknesses and forcing the enemy to define what he will protect and surrender) and battlefield recovery. IS had no intentions of pushing to Baghdad or the south now. IS blitzkrieg-ed , probed, recovered, and re-consolidated in the temporary security provided by the Russian/Syria umbrella. It is truly dizzying how complicated this gets with the competing goals, temporary alliances, religious and tribal overlays, and US direct instigation. I will not continue as I am now in the present but this represents one perspective on recent events regarding IS. The entire play is reminiscent of a PsyOps manual, and creative thinking.

The regional arabs see Assad as that which must go (multiple reasons), and Iraq as predominantly in the Shiite fold, an intolerable development. Routing Iran requires routing the shia, conceding Kurdish autonomy (because regional arabs dont care), and fracturing Iraq so no great force sits on their doorstep.

(This is my take, derived from observation and multiple sources available online).