(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) Michael Knights - Iran has found an economical and sustainable means of resourcing its expansion of military and political influence across the Middle East through the so-called Iranian Foreign Legion, comprised of Iran-backed militias. Iran can draw upon a deep well of volunteers and wage-seekers in Lebanon, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and the Gulf States to "fight to the last Arab" or "the last Afghan" in its regional wars because these casualties bear no political repercussions in Iran. To contain and roll back Iranian-backed militias, the U.S. must compete in any and all spaces where Iran could seek to expand. The U.S. needs to intensify its direct and indirect support to allied forces or even neutral forces who may not love the U.S. but also don't like Iran either. From testimony submitted to the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism on Oct. 4.
2017-10-06 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive