Thread by @Charles_Lister

Good article by @ajaltamimi, underlining the extent to which #Iran/#IRGC has integrated its influence within #Syria's state, not separate/parallel to it.

His argument against "think tanks" though, targets a specific sub-set or orgs, not all by any means.

joshualandis.com/blog/the-think…

#pt: To anyone opposed to #Iran's expansive position in #Syria who looks honestly at the issue, the days of "rolling back" or "defeating" #Tehran in #Syria are long gone - though containment of its strategic threat/s is a perfectly feasible objective, if it's genuinely pursued.

#pt: The most credible #Iran threat to raise is not its extensive influence over militia, but its strategy of deploying/growing strategic military assets - directly & indirectly - in #Syria to threaten the interests of the U.S & its allies.

- That's a whole separate discussion.