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| Iraq |
| 'Clear evidence' Iran is arming, training Iraqi extremists: US general |
| 2006-08-23 |
| This is no surprise to most of us. Let's hope it getting out into the right places. A senior US military official said there is "clear evidence" that Iran is funding, training and arming Shiite extremists to destabilize Iraq. "I think it is irrefutable that Iran is responsible for training, funding and equipping some of these Shia extremist groups, and also providing advanced IED technology," said Brigadier General Michael Barbero, using the acronym for "improvised explosive devices." "And there is clear evidence of that," he added at a Pentagon press conference. Barbero, deputy operations director of the joint staff, said he had seen no reports of "direct contact" involving Iranian paramilitary or intelligence forces. But he said he had seen "reports of their involvement and presence there as trainers to train these terrorists and Shia extremist groups." How to respond to destabilizing Iranian activity was a question for policymakers, Barbero said. But he said neutralizing the Shiite extremist groups in Iraq "will go a long way to removing their direct influence into the affairs of the sovereign country of Iraq." In recent weeks, US military forces have stepped up raids against Shiite and Sunni extremist groups in Baghdad in an effort to tamp down a wave of violence that has raised fears of civil war. The violence last month forced the United States to extend the tours of nearly 4,000 troops, preventing a reduction in the size of the 133,000-strong US force. "Our intent is to draw down the number of troops," Barbero said. "And, as I said, that will be driven by the conditions on the ground and the requests from the commanders on the ground." Also, a good article by Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad in the WSJ about the new security plan being put into place. Read it here. |
| Posted by:Sherry |
| #12 Wonder how the polls for Bush would be, if, that main question about his handlin' of whatever is followed by why? And included a choice of something similar to "he isn't being Cowboy enough. I want my tough Bush back." Worked in my office today -- most, all big Bush supporters, but wantin' him to go back to "Texas talkin." Several comments about still owing the Iranians for those 444 days of our hostages. One could just "feel" the emotion coming out, with this reminder of history as we discussed it. One guy, shaking his head with a frown on his face, just walked off, mutterin', "they took our people." |
| Posted by: Sherry 2006-08-23 22:58 |
| #11 Now, General, when you say "neutralize the Shee-it extremist groups", that presents an image of lots of dead, rotting carcases strewn all over the damn place. Just what did you have in mind ? |
| Posted by: SOP35/Rat 2006-08-23 20:21 |
| #10 Ahmadinejad: buy life insurance for your family, if your murder cult posing as a religion, permits it. |
| Posted by: Snease Shaiting3550 2006-08-23 19:56 |
| #9 Be nice until it's time not to be nice. Thanks, Dalton, lol... |
| Posted by: Raj 2006-08-23 19:43 |
| #8 I hope they're guarding their refineries real well. Sure wouldn't want any work accidents. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-08-23 18:40 |
| #7 And seizing one's embassy and diplomatic personnel is traditionally an act of war. One of these days, before its too late, we might actually get a lion*. Hasn’t any one figured out yet, that if the “international community” cowers before Iran, how they’d behave if we started to act like Iran? *"It is better to have a lion at the head of an army of sheep, than a sheep at the head of an army of lions." Daniel Defoe |
| Posted by: Angaviger Craiter1890 2006-08-23 18:40 |
| #6 Iran wants us out of Iraq and will do anythign it can to make that happen. Watch them start working with the feckless MSM to try and make that happen. Will G.W.B. be the first US President to have the balls to treat Iran as it treats us. They have been at war with us since Carter. When do we strike them? Never? I think a pretty convincing picture exists that fully and leagly entitles us to smash them. No wining hearts and minds. No Democracy building, No nation building. Just a total beat down that will serve as a demonstration to the Suni's as what they can expect if they don't get with the program and wipe out the jihad preachers and fighters on their own. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2006-08-23 18:37 |
| #5 We are trying to win hearts and minds, but are willing to splatter them if necessary - US Military |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2006-08-23 16:50 |
| #4 What troop buildup in Iraq ???? |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-08-23 16:38 |
| #3 Indeed, DepotGuy. "Be nice until it's time not to be nice." |
| Posted by: flyover 2006-08-23 16:37 |
| #2 "His comments came the same day that Iran turned aside demands by the international community that it halt uranium enrichment..." That might explain why it took so long for the US military to go on the record and clear its throat on this one. |
| Posted by: DepotGuy 2006-08-23 16:28 |
| #1 But is there any clear evidence we are returning the favor to Iran? If not then why not? |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2006-08-23 16:06 |