Iraq says 50 percent of bombers arrive via Syria

[maddezmom]

DUBAI, Feb 4 (Reuters) - The Iraqi government said on Sunday that half the Sunni Muslim militants behind the bombings shaking the country had arrived through neighbouring Syria.

The United States and Iraqi officials have long accused Iraq's neighbours, particularly Syria and Iran, of failing to stop Islamic militants from crossing into Iraq to carry out attacks.

U.S. and Iraqi officials say many of the insurgents responsible for the violence are not Iraqis.

"We have confirmation that 50 percent of these takfiris and killers who call themselves Arab jihadists come across the Syrian border," Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told Al Arabiya TV, referring to radical Sunnis whose ideology brands some Muslims as infidels and allows their killing.

more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L04434532.htm


Syria hits out at latest accusations from Iraq

DAMASCUS (AFP) - Syria has reacted angrily to accusations by the Iraqi government that half the bombings rocking the country were the work of infiltrators from neighbouring Syria.

"The comments made by (Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh) are contrary to reality and aimed at harming relations between Iraq and Syria that Damascus wants to strengthen and develop," a Syrian official told AFP.

~snip~
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070204/wl_mideast_afp/iraqunrestsyria_070204113856

[ixion]

1. yeah, right... the Iraqis just LOVE being occupied

yeah. right. whatever. :eyes:

[maddezmom]

2. last week the Iranians

this week the Syrians....what will next week bring? :eyes:

[twilight_sailing]

3. One thing you can be sure of, it won't be about the Saudi's.

Bush LOVES him some Saudis.

[ixion]

4. exactly...

loves them long time, as the saying goes.

[magellan]

5. Meanwhile, no worry about who/what's coming into Iraq from Saudi Arabia

I'll bet that border's wide open.

[Igel]

9. Not all that wide open.

Mostly it's desert; the roads are monitored--the official Sa'udi line is different from that of many of the family in charge of the country and of many of the clerics--and the primary routes in the east pass through Shi'ite territories.

It's been said for years that Syria's the primary route. In the last month or so it's been a real mix of foreigner Arabs arrested (or found) in Iraqi.

[Dover]

6. Prep propaganda for an attack on Syria?

Gonna invade all the countries surrounding Iran to tighten the noose? Syria could be next.

[ohio2007]

16. What happened to the Iran invasion plan?

It's been two years since the MSM has been quoting "unnamed" sources and according to those "experts",we already invaded Iran in 2005.



:sarcasm:

[Eurobabe]

22. Bush wants a TWOFER

[Amonester]

7. W ait a minute... Iraq's gov. = Shia, Syria gov. = Sunni... ummm...

Ya think they're at War or something?

These puppets learned how to lie fast from the neocons...

Didn't they? Any true evidence yet? :crazy:

[Igel]

10. Syria's ruled by Alawites.

Even though the country's majority Sunni.

Alawites are a branch of the Shi'a, not Sunnis at all.

[ohio2007]

14. Syrians,in general, are more closely related to Assyrians

and Phoenicians despite the fact they speak Arabic.
And the ruling B'athist party had a falling out years ago with the Iraqi B'athist party.So politically,they are also isolated from their neighbors ex ruling minority party

[Igel]

20. And yet it remains that the group in power

are mostly Alawites.

But they're Arabs, of whatever descent (before Arabic, Aramaic; before that, Akkadian, and before that Eblaite and Sumerian and probably other languages Semitic and not).

[Bucky]

24. Syria's run by Baathists. They, like Iraq's Baathists, are secular Stalinists

I don't think Iran's conservative Shiite leaders even consider Alawism to even be a legitimate form of Islam. They're comparable to Mormons, taking the traditions of Islam and claiming to be Muslims, but having gone off on their own path in terms of theology: they revere Ali not just as the proper caliph of Mohammed, but actually as an incarnation of God.

An Alawite may tell you he's a Shiite, but a Shiite will tell you that same Alawite is definitely going to Hell.

[bemildred]

8. So, did they take a survey?

Posthumously, perhaps? How did they "confirm" this nugget? And why should Syria (or Iran) be able to keep them in, if the Iraqi "government" can't keep them out? Have you taken a look at those borders?

[John Q. Citizen]

11. If they "know" this why don't they stop them at the border? And where do the other

50% come from?

[ohio2007]

12. That was my thinking also

I'm waiting for the info on where the origins of the weapons that brought down four helocopters recently.
I keep it a secret?
Is this info just a bargaining chip to be played some time down the road ?

[tabasco]

13. How the heck would they know?

Unfortunately, Iraqis are not in charge of security in Iraq. Due to Bush's needless invasion, the US is responsible for Iraqi security under international law.

[ohio2007]

15. We broke it,we own it, now humpty dumpty

must put all the broken parts back together again. And then make it stand on it's own. That is make the Iraqi's responsible for security since they understand the Arab ways.
When its all said and done, I blame the British empire,Lawrence of Arabia et al for creating this artificial entity made of many tribes in the first place.

[rocktivity]

17. Of course, it's just a coincidence

that Iran and Syria just happen to be the next stops on Bush's "Liberty And Justice For Oil" tour.

:headbang:
rocknation

[IndianaGreen]

18. And the evidence is...? Maliki's bulging bank account!

The USA cannot even control its border with Mexico and we are telling others to control their borders! Who are we fooling?

[Miss Chybil]

19. How have they confirmed 50% of them come from Syria?

Did they line them all up and do a headcount? I really don't care where they come from. If we weren't there, neither would they be. As my friend likes to say, "Don't start no shit. Their won't be none."

[Eurobabe]

21. they checked their passports.

:eyes:

[HuffleClaw]

23. bullshit

parroted white house-ordered propaganda

[Bucky]

25. Iraqi leaders aren't being very puppety lately. I think what you see here is...

probably it's more anti-Syrian, anti-Baathist, and anti-Alawite prejudice among Iraq's moderate Shiite, anti-Baathist leaders. They do not want the US to fight with Iran (altho most of them are going to be a bit warey of Iran, too). Some would be thrilled if Syria was our target instead. That would probably put a better choke on the insurgency.