Will all these :hidden partners" actually do their bit in the fight against the barbaric ISIS?
Hidden partners? How much Russia, Iran could help US against Islamic State. (+video)
More than three dozen nations have signed on to the anti-Islamic State coalition, US officials say. But Russia and Iran are also likely to play roles, and some Arab countries will prefer to keep quiet about their help.
By Howard LaFranchi, Staff writer SEPTEMBER 15, 2014
But there are overt participants, and then there are the hidden partners – some of whom will be more central to the anti-Islamic State (IS) effort than, say, Albania, which has agreed to provide some arms and ammunition to Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga forces.
Among these “hidden partners” that won’t publicly enlist in the coalition but will very likely play crucial roles in the fight against IS, also known as ISIS or ISIL: Russia and Iran. And some Arab countries will help but will prefer to keep quiet about their assistance.
Recommended: Sunni and Shiite Islam: Do you know the difference? Take our quiz.
As the battle already under way in Iraq shifts to Syria, the US may even find itself teaming up with Jabhat al-Nusra, some Middle East diplomats and analysts speculate. The Nusra Front rebel group is one of IS’s stronger foes in northern Syria at the moment – but it comes with the inconvenient qualification of being an Al Qaeda affiliate.
Continue reading at:
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-Policy/2014/0915/Hidden-partners-How-much-R
Hidden partners? How much Russia, Iran could help US against Islamic State. (+video)
More than three dozen nations have signed on to the anti-Islamic State coalition, US officials say. But Russia and Iran are also likely to play roles, and some Arab countries will prefer to keep quiet about their help.
By Howard LaFranchi, Staff writer SEPTEMBER 15, 2014
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Brendan Smialowski/Reuters
View Caption
But there are overt participants, and then there are the hidden partners – some of whom will be more central to the anti-Islamic State (IS) effort than, say, Albania, which has agreed to provide some arms and ammunition to Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga forces.
Among these “hidden partners” that won’t publicly enlist in the coalition but will very likely play crucial roles in the fight against IS, also known as ISIS or ISIL: Russia and Iran. And some Arab countries will help but will prefer to keep quiet about their assistance.
Recommended: Sunni and Shiite Islam: Do you know the difference? Take our quiz.
As the battle already under way in Iraq shifts to Syria, the US may even find itself teaming up with Jabhat al-Nusra, some Middle East diplomats and analysts speculate. The Nusra Front rebel group is one of IS’s stronger foes in northern Syria at the moment – but it comes with the inconvenient qualification of being an Al Qaeda affiliate.
Continue reading at:
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-Policy/2014/0915/Hidden-partners-How-much-R
