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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 4-Aug-2014
4-Aug-14 World View -- Iran trapped in a quagmire supporting both Syria and Iraq

Web Log - August, 2014

4-Aug-14 World View -- Iran trapped in a quagmire supporting both Syria and Iraq

Israel faces harsh international criticism over shelling of UN shelter

This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com

ISIS captures Iraq's biggest hydroelectric dam, driving back Kurds
Iran trapped in a quagmire supporting both Syria and Iraq
Israel faces harsh international criticism over shelling of UN shelter

ISIS captures Iraq's biggest hydroelectric dam, driving back Kurds

Mosul hydroelectric dam

Mosul hydroelectric dam

Terrorists with the Islamic State / of Iraq and Syria (IS or ISIS) defeated Kurdish Peshmerga (militia) forces and took control of Iraq's biggest hydroelectric dam, located near Mosul. This gives ISIS control of the water supply and electricity of much of northern Iraq, and also the ability to flood major cities, threatening Baghdad. Earlier, ISIS militants successful.y captured an oil field and nearby villages, after fighting with Kurdish forces who had control of the area. Many analysts continue to remain skeptical of ISIS's long-term ability to control the huge swath of land it's captured in a series of lightning raids, but so far ISIS has not only held on to its gains, but continues to increase them. Al Arabiya and CNN

Iran trapped in a quagmire supporting both Syria and Iraq

During the last three years, Iran has invested a significant portion of its military resources supporting the regime of president Bashar al-Assad of Syria, supplying Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), weapons and money both to Syria's regime and to Hezbollah militia from Lebanon who are supporting al-Assad in Syria. However, Iran has been caught by surprise by a major threat on its own doorstep, the rapid rise of the Islamic State / of Iraq and Syria (IS or ISIS). ISIS is a Sunni Muslim terrorist organization with an objective of exterminating all Shia Muslims. ISIS is threatening Iran's allies in Iraq, as well as significant Shia religious sites in Iraq that Iran is committed to defending. Iran is known to be supplying weapons to Iraq's government. Iran has denied sending troops into Iraq, but some recent funerals of IRGC fighters killed in Iraq indicates the presence of at least a small number of Iranian troops. In addition, some Hezbollah forces that had been fighting in Syria, as well as Iraqi forces that had been defending al-Assad in Syria, have been redeployed to Iraq. Some reports indicate that ISIS in Syria has begun to engage the Syria army much more forcefully than in the past.

The result is that Iran finds that it's fallen deep into a quagmire (a term that Americans will recall from past wars). What was a relatively breezy level of military support for al-Assad in Syria has now turned into a two-front war facing an enemy that's threatening Syria's Alawite/Shia regime, Iraq's Shia government, and Iran itself. Reuters and Al Arabiya

Israel faces harsh international criticism over shelling of UN shelter

On Sunday, Israel faced international criticism, including harsh criticism from the United States and United Nations, after an Israeli shell killed ten Palestinians just outside a United Nations school sheltering 3000 people who had fled there from earlier violence. United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon expressed "shock and disbelief" that this had happened three times in the last week, and said:

"The Israel Defense Forces have been repeatedly informed of the location of these sites. This attack, along with other breaches of international law, must be swiftly investigated and those responsible held accountable. It is a moral outrage and a criminal act."

U.S. State Dept. spokesman Jen Psaki said, "The United States is appalled by today’s disgraceful shelling outside an UNRWA school in Rafah sheltering some 3,000 displaced persons, in which ten more Palestinian civilians were tragically killed."

Israel says that it's investigating what happened. Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Al Ahram (Cairo)

(Comments: For reader comments, questions and discussion, see the 4-Aug-14 World View -- Iran trapped in a quagmire supporting both Syria and Iraq thread of the Generational Dynamics forum. Comments may be posted anonymously.) (4-Aug-2014) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 4-Aug-2014 4-Aug-14 World View -- Iran trapped in a quagmire supporting both Syria and Iraq

ISIS captures Iraq's biggest hydroelectric dam, driving back Kurds

Iran trapped in a quagmire supporting both Syria and Iraq

Israel faces harsh international criticism over shelling of UN shelter

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 4-Aug-2014
4-Aug-14 World View -- Iran trapped in a quagmire supporting both Syria and Iraq