Pair of disquieting stories in Easter Sunday’s papers, at home and abroad:
— The Pentagon’s official newspaper, Stars and Stripes, warns in a front-page analysis that Iraq is sliding backwards:
Iraq experts say that recent developments in Iraq and a growing Iranian influence are signs that America’s hopes are dimming for Iraq to become the “beacon of hope” that President George W. Bush had envisioned in a 2005 speech.
…The Jerusalem Post picks up on the theme as well:
Israel is increasingly concerned with the military build-up in Iraq amid intelligence reports that the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) is solidifying its presence in the country, according to a senior IDF officer. Of particular concern is the Pentagon’s approval in late 2011 of the sale of 36 F16 multi-role combat aircraft to Iraq.