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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Italian security report sez Sadr's taking orders from Khamenei |
| 2004-04-09 |
| Iraqi Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr, who is directing a widespread armed uprising against the coalition forces in Baghdad and southern Iraq, receives his orders directly from the office of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Italian foreign intelligence organization, Servizio per le Informazioni e la Sicurezza Militare (SISMI), a unit of the Italian defense ministry, said today in a report to the Italian parliament. The report, which prompted a call to foreign minister Kamal Kharrazi by Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini, said without political, financial and military support from the Supreme Leader, Moqtada Sadr and his al-Mahdi brigade could not have mounted their multiple, simultaneous attacks. Italian foreign minister asked Kharrazi to do what he can to put an end to the deadly clashes in Iraq. Agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp and the Quds special forces have infiltrated Iraq in the past months and have organized and armed Moqta Sadr's al-Mahdi brigade, SISMI said in its report. The Iranian agents work under the cover of several religious charity organizations in Sadr city in Baghdad and in the Shiite cities of Karbala, Najaf and Kufa. Iran is spending $70 million per month to support these front organizations. The Supreme Leader has sent cleric Mohammad-Hossein Haeri to coordinate the efforts that are aimed at pushing the coalition forces out of Iraq, according to Italian daily La Stampa, which adds that, with that goal in mind, Sadr's al-Mahdi brigade has been attacking the Italian, Spanish, Bulgarian, Polish and Portuguese forces in Iraq. In his mission in Iraq, Haeri represents Qum-based senior Iraqi Shiite religious leader Ayatollah Kazem Haeri. Two Iranian intelligence officers who have recently defected to Britain have given the British intelligence agents documents showing the role being played by the Islamic Republic government in the recent unrest in Iraq, Italy's daily La Reformista reports, quoting British sources. Even though Moqta Sadr is said to have links with the Islamic government in Tehran, it appears that the Iranian government in general prefers to deal with recent crisis in Iraq cautiously. By supporting Moqta Sadr, and the Shiite organizations opposing Moqta Sadr, Iran is playing both sides in order to come out as the winner of the current crisis, regardless of the outcome of the current insurgency, Agence France Press wrote yesterday in a commentary. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #25 Tibor, very cool. So easy, yet so... |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-04-10 12:42:07 AM |
| #24 The problem is that 95% of people dont know what 'Dhimmi' means. Don't forget 4 out of 5 murdering dictators prefer John Kerry. (The fifth (Saddam) could not be reached for commment). (I heard this here on Rantburg first :) |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2004-04-09 11:56:15 PM |
| #23 lol |
| Posted by: Mr. Davis 2004-04-09 11:42:10 PM |
| #22 There's lots of interesting stuff going on now -- the NORK's are blustering again, China is stirring up trouble in Taiwan and Syria and Iran are making trouble in Iraq. While I have no doubts about our ability to lick all of these threats, I just worry about timing . . . and the election. I honestly think that most of the rest of the world is actively trying to get John Kerry elected. GWB's ads should say just that -- "Hi. I'm President George W. Bush. My opponent is preferred at least 10 to 1 by the Communists in China, the lunatics in North Korea, the pussies in France, the KGB in Russia, the mullahs in Iran, the Baathists in Iraq and Syria, the Paleidiots in the West Bank and Gaza, OBL's remains in a cave somewhere in Afghanistan, the remnants of al Qaeda in their ratholes and their Saudi palaces, the Spanish Socialists, the ungrateful Germans, the leftists and academic elites throughout the U.S. and abroad, and Ted Kennedy and the extreme left-wing of American politics. If that's not reason enough to vote for me, then enjoy being part of the Dhimmi. I'm George Bush and I approve of this message." |
| Posted by: Tibor 2004-04-09 11:39:59 PM |
| #21 Dodo> I am sure that the US and Israel are working closely on the Bushehr situation. I would imagine that Israel has humint assets on the ground that would help get intel. I would also imagine that Iranian elements in resistance to the Black Turbans have been gathering intel, as that is how we found out about U235 centrifuges, etc. Everybody in the public is blathering about Sadr, Falluja, and the price of tea in China, while the REAL work is quitely going on. The threat is just too dangerous and cannot be ignored. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-04-09 10:41:04 PM |
| #20 Alaska Paul, I agree with you on Bushehr. The fun is supposed to start very soon. I just hope the USA is coordinated with Israel on this at least on the strategic level. It would be embaresing if Americam bombers have to turn back because the target has been destroyed by the IAF two hours before Zero time. |
| Posted by: The Dodo 2004-04-09 3:59:39 PM |
| #19 Let's not go Henny Penny over the press reports, folks. The Marines are sticking to their plan and they are cleaning out Fallujah. Sadr and his Merry Men are shooting their wad and trying to make an innsurrection with the help from Teheran in hopes of demoralizing us. Every time they do this they attrit their assets, which are personnel and materael. These ops against Sadr will take time and patience. They must be systematic. But when the allies ops are over, Sadr will have shot his wad, and this should make us stronger. On the subject of Iran, it is very apparant that the Black Turbans see a direct threat of a free Iraq to their power. They also see an opportunity to save their asses and strengthen their position by using Sadr as a proxy. $70 million per month is a very reasonable investment for saving their collective asses. As far as the Bushehr reactor is concerned, that is a separate issue. It cannot be allowed to be loaded with fissile fuel. Once that is done, a strike will produce a huge radioactive hazard, so Bushehr will have to be hit sooner rather than later. The US and her allies will not talk about that one publically. I am sure that mission planning is basically done. The Nataz and other sites for U235 concentration will be a tougher nut to crack, as they are underground facilities. I would think that the concentrators have been humming for a while, so the Iranians may already have enough U235 fissile material for a bomb or two. It will definitely be exciting in the next few weeks to a month or two. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-04-09 1:51:54 PM |
| #18 I'm with LH; we need to approach this thing like a snake with a rat: Don't try to get it down in one bite, start at one end, and slowly work toward the other. And never let go. |
| Posted by: Carl in N.H 2004-04-09 1:41:21 PM |
| #17 1. Note Rafsanjani, one of the rulers of Iran, has now openly supported the Sadr revolt. Dissident Ayatollah Montazeri, OTOH, opposes the revolt, and support Ayatollah Sistani. We seem to have a broad civil war within Shia Islam going on, one that stretches from Iran to Iraq to Lebanon. 2. WRT to strategy - going into Iran now is still a dangerous thing, and the preferable strategy is still, winning the war in Iraq and using THAT victory to lever the situation in Iran, IF VICTORY on the ground in Iraq is possible. If it is not, then action against Iran must be considered. My sense is still that our situation on the ground in Iraq is stronger than it appears looking at the headlines, and that the correct sequence is to defeat Sadr, than use that to empower Sistani and humiliate Rafsanjani. I am willing to change my mind if and when that strategy appears infeasible. |
| Posted by: Liberalhawk 2004-04-09 1:25:33 PM |
| #16 I hear you Jarhead...this stuff takes time...I am willing to see it through and support GW and our troops 100%...do you really think we will have the balls to deal with Tehran as need be? ...Why the "nice" rebukes from Rummy and Powell? Whats the thinking? Just heard on radio from Sen. Santorum and they do not know who is funding/arming Sadr...come on!...they know...I know for gosh sakes! Why the tip-toeing? Brien |
| Posted by: Brien 2004-04-09 1:25:22 PM |
| #15 One thing for certain is sadr needs to be killed. Not even an exile to Iran should be allowed. The mullahs will use him again. And destroy his mafia thugs. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-04-09 1:19:50 PM |
| #14 Brien, I understand your frustration and that of others on the mighty R'burg. I'd stress trying not to get overly pissed about the media or their slanted coverage, plus we're going to have some not so good days on the ground - these ops take some time and we have the entire Shia holy weekend to get through. I think the fly paper effect is working though - if Iraq and Iran want to send their biggest fanatics to die - sounds good to me. It's only a matter of time, the eye of mordor will turn east on the derelict mullahs in Tehran as soon as we are finished w/their spawn in Iraq. It may be Allah's job to judge them but we will arrange the meeting. |
| Posted by: Jarhead 2004-04-09 1:02:14 PM |
| #13 Thanks Charles...so its troop strength. Ok. So its one issue at a time. I get it. Still frustrated at the tame rhetoric toward Tehran. Maybe we are sending some very stark messages behind the scenes...I hope so. Also, Syria has also had "fighters" killed and captured in these battles...no? Why this all is not blared in the news back here is not suprising...it is sickening! |
| Posted by: Brien 2004-04-09 12:49:13 PM |
| #12 Iran has been infiltrating since day 1. They are pushing destabilization for a variety of reasons, foremost among them that if a functioning democracy emerges next door, the people of Iran will rise up and fry the mullahs. One would think that Sistani knows this. What I don't know is if he would support or oppose such an uprising. It is his links with the Iranians that I do not understand and those are the ones that are critical. It seems clear now that we need about 3 more divisions for all that we have going on or need to have going on. It might be nice if some of the Euro-pussies antied up some significant troop numbers as well. (I can dream can't I???) |
| Posted by: remote man 2004-04-09 12:46:43 PM |
| #11 Any assets in Tehran? If this is true, it's a perfect excuse to take out Khamenei. |
| Posted by: mojo 2004-04-09 11:38:04 AM |
| #10 anymouse has it right. Bush should stop messing with this issue. I do not care if it is only a faction of thr iranian government. iran should be held accountable. destroy all nuke facilities and move significant forces to the border. and let the mullah fucks know exactly the consequences - american military on the outskirts of tehran....and screw the humanitarian part.... |
| Posted by: Dan 2004-04-09 11:02:21 AM |
| #9 Troops ,Brien. Iran is twice as large as Iraq and we need our troops ready and fresh. Right now we're dealing with Iraq, but that doesn't mean we don't know what Iran's up too. |
| Posted by: Charles 2004-04-09 10:17:32 AM |
| #8 Why are we NOT dealing with Iran more forcefully? Does anyone have an idea? To hear Rummy the other about this, he said that the Iranian involvement was "unhelpful"...I think that was the word. I know in conflicts past we were constantly engaging the enmemy behind the enemy in covert fashion. Brien |
| Posted by: Brien 2004-04-09 9:31:23 AM |
| #7 read the Gaming Out Iraq topic.. Very insightfull! |
| Posted by: lyot 2004-04-09 7:57:17 AM |
| #6 If Sadr's offensive is Iran's war by proxy, we need to make a large-scale counter move. But the current strategy seems reactive not proactive. There have been reports that Iran was infiltrating for how long now? |
| Posted by: virginian 2004-04-09 7:44:09 AM |
| #5 So when are we going to start the invasion.I say right after Bush is reelected:) |
| Posted by: djohn66 2004-04-09 7:09:45 AM |
| #4 my take on this : Iran is stirring up trouble in Iraq through Mehdi army, in order to make sure they can go ahead with their nuclear plans. Deflecting the attention to Iraq is just what it needs.. |
| Posted by: lyot 2004-04-09 4:30:02 AM |
| #3 Jeez, are we gonna have to change the $20s, $50s, and $100s again already? |
| Posted by: Pete Stanley 2004-04-09 3:17:48 AM |
| #2 Smoke the Iranian nuke facilities for gosh sakes....what are they going to do...send 1000s of fanatical shit-tite revolutionary guards to attack us??? |
| Posted by: anymouse 2004-04-09 2:03:03 AM |
| #1 Zeyad reports: A friend of mine told me today that he had been in contact with some clients who were members of Al-Mahdi Army, he said that they all received salaries from Sadr's offices throughout Iraq in US dollars. I asked him where he thought the money came from, he gave me a wry smile and said what do you think? "Iran?" I offered, and he nodded back in silence. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2004-04-09 1:50:03 AM |