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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Iran's Revolutionary Guards Control Missile and Nuclear-Weapons Programs |
| 2004-12-13 |
| From The New York Times, an opinion article by Vali Nasr, a professor of national security affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and by Ali Gheissari, a professor of history at the University of San Diego. .... [Iran's] Revolutionary Guards were formed in May 1979 by young rebels loyal to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini; their job was to combat the well-organized leftist militias that had challenged clerical control of the revolution. The guards evolved into a full-fledged military force during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980's, and were involved in many of the key campaigns. They also played a direct role in the organization and training of Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Badr Brigade in Iraq. While the guards had a lower profile in the 1990's, the victory of the reformist Mohammad Khatami in the presidential election of 1997 led the conservative clerical leadership to give them new support. In exchange for the guards cracking down on advocates of reform, the government gave them generous financing for troop training and new heavy-weapons systems - including giving them oversight of missile and nuclear research programs - as well as increases in salaries and benefits. The guard corps expanded its intelligence service, paramilitary ranks and even its air and naval capacity. It now has close to 150,000 soldiers, making up about a third of the nation's military. Today the guards are commanded by a group of ideological conservatives, notably Gen. Yahya Rahim Safavi, who has even criticized the government for its willingness to negotiate with Europe over the country's nuclear activities. These commanders share strong personal bonds forged in the Iran-Iraq war, during which many were involved in ferocious campaigns that involved chemical attacks. They hold common views on Iran's regional dominant role, the nature of the country's external threats, and protecting the values of the revolution. |
| Posted by:Mike Sylwester |
| #4 The conclusion of the article points out that the RGs are acting independently from the Mullaz and are equally corrupt. Iran is a tough nut. The fact that it has the potential for division into at least 2 corrupt factions works to our advantage. Worth tracking here @ Rantburg. It is possible to envision independent minded RG generals with which we could do business. I tend to agree that the regular forces are the most likely hope for sparking regime change. Ambitious RG generals, JDAM and coffee house students are next in order of probability. Something's gotta happen before they get nukes. Unfortunately it is doubtful we can take them out militarily so regime change by any means necessary must be our goal. |
| Posted by: JAB 2004-12-13 10:56:17 PM |
| #3 Tom, right, albeit... I think that regular Reza Iraniani would have quite a score to settle with them Islamogoons, too. |
| Posted by: Sobiesky 2004-12-13 8:34:04 AM |
| #2 Probably similar to Saddam's "elite" -- we need to kill most of them and destroy their weapons in the first strike so they don't melt away and become "insurgents". |
| Posted by: Tom 2004-12-13 8:30:41 AM |
| #1 an Islamic Mafia in charge of the nukes and missiles. These assholes can't be rehabilitated. Kill.Them |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-12-13 8:23:00 AM |