dianavan:

The Syrian government is controlled by Baathist members of a small Shi'ite sect known as the Alawites. Not likely that they could wield influence over the Sunnis except maybe over some Sunni Baathists. I'd look at SAUDI ARABIA as being more of an influence over the current troubles in Iraq. Iran has both friends and enemies in the ruling coalition.   The friends of Iran are already working with them and the enemies are trying to do the opposite. The smaller minorities (Armenians Assyrians, Chaldeans, etc)and the Kurds are the pro-American faction, but the Kurds are afraid we'll betray them to the Turks.

Greg F.:

In fairness to Kissinger, he inherited Johnson's mistakes in Viet Nam and he did work on getting America out, and on dealing with China as a separate issue. I'm sure he gave Iraq a great deal of thought before coming out with a statement like that.


McGrath:

America owes nothing to people who aren't allies. An ally isn't just someone with a common enemy. Think of the USSR in WW II. However, I share your concern that our government will do something dirty to the groups that do support us there in order to weasel out. And that includes Congress as well as the White House.

Joe