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| Iraq |
| Iran 'taking control of Basra by stealth' |
| 2007-01-16 |
| Iranian intelligence is preparing for complete dominance of southern Iraq when the British withdraw by penetrating Basra's security network and political parties, it can be revealed. Iraqi intelligence sources disclosed to The Daily Telegraph that Iran plans to reap the huge financial rewards presented by the southern oil fields and prevent Western businesses from gaining a foothold inside Basra. British and American political and military leaders are also concerned over Teheran "giving succour" to terrorists who continue to kill troops every week. Commanders are anxious that once they pull out of Basra in May the Iranian-backed militias will take over the political and security structures, undoing four years of work that has cost 129 British lives and billions of pounds. Only the Iraqi army stands in the way of the murderous militias. But while it is regarded as competent, the key moment will come when responsibility for administering Basra is given to the Iraqi government with local politicians taking over. At that point a showdown between the Baghdad-controlled Iraqi army and Iranian-backed Basra militias is expected. Iran has found it easy to build alliances with fellow Shias who form the majority in southern Iraq. The Iranian-backed insurgents have many recruits among the city's jobless. They are encouraged to attack British patrols and positions to make them look strong as part of the power struggle for Basra, an Iraqi official said. He added that if the British withdrew from the region too early Sunnis would be killed to drive them out and the work of the last four years would have been destroyed. More at the link |
| Posted by:mrp |
| #2 In another article "Iran's hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday that he sent a message to Saudi King Abdullah proposing that they cooperate in helping stabilize Iraq." You can have Anbar province, we'll take Basra |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2007-01-16 23:12 |
| #1 If Iran controls Iraq oil fields, Iran controls Iraq. The time to target Shiite power is: now. Unfortunately, the Wall Street Journal editorialists and other nation-builder morons treat Shiites like we used to view Poles and Hungarians under Communism. When stupidity prospers none dare call it stupidity. |
| Posted by: Sneaze Shaiting3550 2007-01-16 01:18 |