U.S. set up new military base at Iraq-Syria border

[sabra]

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http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=9385

U.S. set up new military base at Iraq-Syria border


The U.S. army set up its first long-term military base along a strategic route near Iraq's border with Syria.

The base will house about 1,800 U.S. soldiers. It is located north of the Euphrates River, three miles from the town of Rawah, along a major route that connects the Syrian border to roads leading north toward Mosul and east to Baghdad.

The U.S. claims that Syria is aiding the Iraqi resistance by allowing foreign fighters to cross its borders into Iraq.

Syria denies the U.S. claims, insisting that it is doing all it can to prevent the infiltration of fighters.

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[cyberpj]

1. So how about a military base at US-Mexico border?

Is US aiding the Iraqi resistance by allowing foreign fighters to cross it's borders into US?

[wellst0nev0ter]

2. The "Road To Damascus" Moment?

I want to be the first to say that it is in Syria's best interest to foster a terrorist training ground in its neighboring country, because they never had to deal with ultra-orthodox Sunni terror groups like the Muslim Brothers ever in their political life


















:sarcasm:

[Botany]

3. Do the math

1800 troops to guard about 380 miles of border.

So this should stop the fighting? Poor Guys are just going to be targets.

And isn't this where we just lost 41 of our troops?

[endarkenment]

4. "just going to be targets"

well that would be the point, wouldn't it? And then use incidents near the border to justify incursions and do everything possible to develop a confrontation with syrian troops.

[MidwestTransplant]

8. 1800 and about 3/4 or more are probably support troops

I am sure there will be lot's of incoming mortar shells for a while.

[Bumblebee]

5. That where 20 Marines from Ohio were killed

pieces of a puzzle...

[bemildred]

7. Yeah. I've been wondering if it's a coinkydink.

Time will tell.

[VegasWolf]

6. Strange, I didn't realize that there was any oil on the Western side

of Iraq.

[NYC]

9. Isn't a pipeline supposed to go through Damascus?

??? Something like that. I can't keep it all straight.

[DELUSIONAL]

10. Is this base on the NEOCON's wish list

Isn't there an existing oil pipeline that goes through Syria to Israel?

It makes me really uncomfortable when another country (Israel) seems to be directing the foreign policy of the US -- as in invading Iraq and perhaps Syria (by bits and pieces and threats).

Was the invasion of Iraq in the BEST interest of the US -- I don't think so. Pouring billions and billions down the rat hole (or into the Halliburton off shore bank accounts) -- how does this make the US safer -- stronger?

[CarinKaryn]

11. Our next invasion take-off point.

How sad, we are lining up to kill more people.