Last month, the New York Times reported about the connections between Hezbollah, Syria and Iraq
A senior American intelligence official said Monday that the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah had been training members of the Mahdi Army, the Iraqi Shiite militia led by Moktada al-Sadr.
The official said that 1,000 to 2,000 fighters from the Mahdi Army and other Shiite militias had been trained by Hezbollah in Lebanon. A small number of Hezbollah operatives have also visited Iraq to help with training, the official said.
Iran has facilitated the link between Hezbollah and the Shiite militias in Iraq, the official said. Syrian officials have also cooperated, though there is debate about whether it has the blessing of the senior leaders in Syria.
It is important to note that Hezbollah of Lebanon and the Mahdi Army of Iraq are both Shi'ite groups. Both are Iranian proxy armies, and both are supported by Syria.
During a demonstration in Iraq last summer, the crowds were heard chanting by the AP
"Mahdi Army and Hezbollah are one. Let them confront us if they dare," the predominantly male crowd shouted, waving the flags of Hezbollah, Lebanon and Iraq.
And Iran's support of the Mahdi Army, the largest faction in Iraq propogating anti-government and sectarian violence, is unquestionably supported by Iran
Iran has transferred millions of dollars as well as weapons and expertise to Iraq's Mahdi Army.
Officials said the Mahdi Army has become a leading Iranian surrogate in Iraq.
Iran also trains Hezbollah
The Iranians instruct and train Hezbollah terrorists to use the new weapons at designated training camps in Iran, using Revolutionary Guard bases and installations. Additional instruction and guidance are provided by the Revolutionary Guards for Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon.
As does Syria
Iran isn't the only country that supports Hezbollah. Syria allows Hezbollah to train fighters in remote camps in Syria and territory under its control in Lebanon.
Given all of this, it is clear to everyone that the most moronic idea to come out of the Iraq Study Group's recommendations is that we hold negaotiations with Syria and Iran. And Bush has refused to do so.
However, Senator Kerry, who is the King of Dumb Ideas, along with Senator Dodd have decided to take Foreign Policy, an area that is exclusively part of the Executive Branch, into their own hands
U.S. Senators John Kerry and Christopher Dodd reviewed the situation in Iraq with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Wednesday and agreed on the importance for Damascus to cooperate with efforts to maintain the unity and stability of its war-ravaged neighbor....
The US Embassy in Damascus said the meeting with Assad, which lasted two and a half hours, covered "a full-range of topics relating to US-Syrian relations and regional issues."
...The US senators and Assad "reviewed the situation in Iraq and stressed the importance of supporting the current political process to arrive at setting a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops," SANA said.
Right. So one has to wonder if the Senators are bargaining with Assad.
Kerry: So, Assad, stop all this training of the Mahdi Army and allowing Islamists into Iraq, and we'll let you have Lebanon.
Dodd:...And Israel too
Kerry: And Israel too.
Assad: Hmmmm. I don't know.
Kerry: How 'bout we throw in Texas
Assad: Texas?
