Pentagon officials have confirmed in several media outlets tonight that the US has begun providing some limited air support for the Iran-backed Iraqi offensive against Tikrit.
The Pentagon had previously been noticably annoyed at Iraqi officials choosing Iranian support for the Tikrit offensive, and never even seeking US backing. It was only later, when the offensive stalled, that the Iraqis requested air support.
Though Iraqi officials have described the offensive as indefinitely on hold, Pentagon officials maintain the Iraq “hasn’t given up” on trying to retake the city, and that they are on board to back it.
For now, the Pentagon officials say their involvement only involves intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, but that they were also willing to provide airstrikes in the campaign, if requested by Iraq.
That’s a huge shift, as before the suggestion was the US didn’t want any joint operations with the Iranians, and it was an “us or them” proposition. In Tikrit, it seems, that no longer applies.
Good. Another reason to become friends with the Iranians.
Big surprise!
Anyway, while I have no beef with Iran, I fail to see why the USA should be helping the Sh'ite regime restore its power over Sunni sections of the country that would prefer otherwise. First the Baathist remnants rebelled against the US-installed, Sh'ite dominated Baghdad "national" government, then the AQ in M, and now ISIS. Revolt will be endemic in the Sunni areas, until either a real political settlement is reached, autonomy is granted a la the Kurds, or a new strongman (to replace Saddam) emerges and unites the whole country. It is simply none of the USA's business, and does not serve its interest, to help fight the Sunnis for the sectarian Sh'ite government's benefit. There is no moral interest being served here either.
In the end there will be no Tikrit left to be liberated.
Provoke an Attack on Iran? “Lets Bring it On… At the End of the Day… We Ought to Take ‘Em Out” October 03, 2012
Is the Obama administration seeking to trigger a war pretext incident, a justification to wage an all out war on Iran?
https://youtu.be/HLckaMG_8fU
General Wesley Clark: Wars Were Planned – Seven Countries In Five Years
"This is a memo that describes how we're going to take out seven countries in five years, starting with Iraq, and then Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and, finishing off, Iran." I said, "Is it classified?" He said, "Yes, sir." I said, "Well, don't show it to me." And I saw him a year or so ago, and I said, "You remember that?" He said, "Sir, I didn't show you that memo! I didn't show it to you!"
General Wesley Clark Asked About 7 Country War Plan
This is how sausages are made, Just because the US government is purportedly working with Iran against the US deep state backed ISIL, in no way means that the persecution and threats to Iran by Israel/USA will end