Epstein Secrets

ing countries. Indeed, Lebanon's Salafists have already been spurred into action, and a similar effect may be seen in Iraq. The wave of bombings in Baghdad and beyond on Monday may be a portent of some Iraqi Sunni insurgents, spurred by events in Syria, to try and reverse their defeat in that country's

ve, the regime could endure. Although they continue to function, neither appears intact any longer; their control of key areas such as Damascus and Aleppo is in doubt, and the reliability of their personnel, given defections, is no longer certain. We had thought that there was a reasonable chance of t

In any case, as long as the Iranians were polite, we were going to have two meetings. And so there is another get- together scheduled for May 23 in Baghdad. The odds are high, however, that the next session will lead to no diplomatic yellow-brick road. Round two could be a success, and lead to a round

evolutionaries. A previously unknown group calling itself the al-Nusra Front has asserted responsibility for bombings in the cities of Damascus and Aleppo using language and imagery reminiscent of the statements and videos put out by al-Qaeda-affiliated organizations in Iraq, although no evidence of t

ing its allies in Iraq and promoting collaboration between Iraq's government and Syria. Washington, meanwhile, has dispatched military advisers to Baghdad. On their own, these efforts are valiant. But without coordination, they won't be fruitful. Iraq was until recently a battleground between Iran and

ned, fought alongside, and led these Iraqi fighters. Their cooperation and integration have been crucial in regime victories in Damascus, Homs, and Aleppo, key battlegrounds in Assad's strategy of attrition. The presence of the Iraqi militias allowed Hezbollah's smaller force, with remnants of Syria's

y has backed the secular pan-Iraqi movement of Ayad Allawi. Following months of contention after the 2010 elections, Maliki formed a government in Baghdad, scoring a victory for Tehran. Maliki has cracked down on Ankara-backed factions, issuing an arrest warrant for Tariq al-Hashimi, Iraq's vice presi

lawite minority — begin. As a result, most Alawites are rallying to Assad, as are some Sunnis who have benefitted from his regime, particularly in Aleppo and Damascus, the capital. These pro-regime Alawites and Sunnis see the chaos and soccer riots in Egypt and say to themselves: "Assad or chaos? We'

. Operation Litany—Israel invades South Lebanon. UN Security Council Resolutions 425 and 426 (Lebanon). Camp David Accords. Arab League Summit in Baghdad. Egypt suspended from the Organiza- tion. Its headquarters to be moved to Tunis. HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_023152 --- PAGE BREAK --- OUP CORRECTED PROOE -

fying Industrial Zones. Mahmoud Abbas elected President of the Palestinian Authority. Assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. Aleppo Understandings. UN Security Council Resolution 1595 establishes an International Inde- pendent Inquiry Commission (UNIIC) into the assassination of