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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Iranian reformist confirms al-Qaeda in Iran, protected by IRGC |
| 2006-03-23 |
| One day after a US daily reported that American intelligence officials believe the Iranian regime is hosting al-Qaeda militants and allowing senior operatives to help plan the network's operations, an Iranian source close to the reformists confirmed the report to Adnkronos International (AKI). "With the victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad relations with al-Qaeda have been resumed and strengthened," said the source, who used to work for Iran's intelligence services under the government of Mohammed Khatami. The Los Angeles Times said US intelligence officials cited evidence from highly classified satellite feeds and electronic eavesdropping as proof that the recently elected Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may be forging an alliance with the terrorist network's operatives as a way to expand Iran's influence. The report said the president might also simply be looking the other way as al-Qaeda leaders in Iran cooperate with their counterparts abroad. According to the source consulted by AKI, around 100 members of the terrorist organisation are living in Iran under the protection of the Pasdaran, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps. Soleyman Abu Gaith, Seif al-Adel, Abdullah Mohammad Rajab, Abdulaziz al-Masri and Abu Mohammed al-Masri are men close to al-Qaeda currently in Iran, according to the United States. The former intelligence official told AKI the list also included "three children and two wives of Osama bin Laden." He also recalled that al-Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri recently visited the Islamic Republic "to meet with three envoys of Jordan's Abu Mussab al Zarqawi." Ties between Iran and al-Qaeda were highlighted by the US September 11 commission, which disclosed many details on possible connections in its final report. The commission said Iran and the terrorist group had worked together sporadically in the 1990s, reportedly trading secrets on how to make explosives. Many al-Qaeda operatives and family members, however, have reportedly lived in Iran since 2001, when they fled the US-led bombing of Afghanistan. Iran declared four months ago that no al-Qaeda members live in the country, though officials have in the past claimed that some members of the terror network are kept under house arrest and their activities monitored. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #11 The current Iranian line, as noted by Asefi's comments, is that these people are not in Iran and that all al-Qaeda members have been extradicted back to their home countries - never you mind that Egypt has yet to receive al-Adel and Co. And we have always been at war with Eurasia. |
| Posted by: Dan Darling 2006-03-23 18:47 |
| #10 Sunnis and Shiites are mortal enemies, but put aside their squabbles in some circumstances. For example, Sunni Sauds allow Shiites to carry out Hajj/pilgrimage, even though Sunni dogma treats Shiites as apostates. Sunni proliferator Khan, the head louse of the Paki jihad-nuke program, paid a secret visit to Teheran, and came away with barrels of cash. And Mushy is shielding Khan from justice. Something's up. |
| Posted by: Listen to Dogs 2006-03-23 16:28 |
| #9 Point taken Dan. Even though the “Reformists” and the “Exile Groups” share some common objectives it was unfair to equate the two as the same. Because much of the intelligence gathering has been attributed to the NCRI, I made an assumption on this report. My bad. However, given the timing of the negotiations regarding Iranian nuclear capabilities and the pending UNSC decision, it’s very difficult to temper my cynicisms. The object of my rancor is not the conjecture but the process of how it’s being reported. Between the assertions of IED technology signature, HAMAS assistance, AQ collaboration, and promoting sectarian acrimony in Iraq it’s getting almost “incubator” like. Leaked information of classified reports from anonymous sources is the definition agenda driven news. I’ll try not to openly contemplate their motivations so frequently |
| Posted by: DepotGuy 2006-03-23 16:16 |
| #8 should be " lately I saw" not "lately i was" :) |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2006-03-23 15:48 |
| #7 Heres something that confuses me, dan, perhaps you can help. I had thought the Iranian explanation for NOT extraditing was these guys was that we hadnt handed to them some Taliban that were involved in a massacre of Iranian diplos in Herat pre-2001. And my further impression was that we hadnt handed them the Talibs cause we hadnt finished milking said Talibs for intell. Lately I was an MSM story that said the reason the Iranians hadnt extradited the AQniks, was cause we hadnt turned over the MEK to them. I wondering if you know what the current Iranian line is, and what our current response is. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2006-03-23 15:48 |
| #6 Reformists wouldn't be the MEK, DepotGuy, particularly if this guy worked for VEVAK under Khatami. And there are more than enough reformists pissed as to the fact that they've outlived their usefulness to start airing some of the regime's dirty laundry. I think you're being overly cynical as to some of this stuff. Sure, a lot of it is coming from anonymous sources and the like, but that's one of the problems of working from open-source intel to begin with and this is probably the best that we're going to get. As far as why people in government aren't openly going public on this (though Burns has), I would think that the reason is simple: once you start saying that the al-Qaeda leadership is operating out of Iran, a number of things proceed from that which I don't think the US wants at this stage. |
| Posted by: Dan Darling 2006-03-23 13:38 |
| #5 “One day after a US daily reported…” You know what they say…Strike while the speculation iron is hot. Well-done LA Times! “…close to the reformists…” Reformists sounds so much more credible then say…Marxist Terrorist Cult… don’tcha think? “…said the source, who used to work for Iran's intelligence services…” He’s turned over a new leaf and is simply a “whistle-blower” wanting to get the facts out. “…officials cited evidence from highly classified satellite feeds and electronic eavesdropping as proof…” What more proof do you need? Sure it’s un-verifiable information from an anonymous source but look…it says highly classified right there. |
| Posted by: DepotGuy 2006-03-23 10:29 |
| #4 :> 9.7 Major points for making sense with a flourish. |
| Posted by: 6 2006-03-23 06:12 |
| #3 Again the hounds of Hell come into play between or above the rift in the IslamicWorld/Umma/Juche or UN-inspired TRIFECTA of autocracy., war will come to an END only after BUsh, Cheney, or Blair etc. come to see the the Whole entirety of the THREAT before us or they do so, incorporating Silicon Valley, Wall-St and the Media in doing so. ###s will be the last test. DIVIDE and CONQUER. |
| Posted by: MendiolaBot 2006-03-23 04:14 |
| #2 Smart or good politics is not necessarily great or good leadership, or command in war - Hey, Osama, my old Afghan friend, there's still INDIA!? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2006-03-23 01:33 |
| #1 Will say again that the WOT, among other things/precepts, is a war for control of the world, and future OWG/World Order,and what Nation(s, ideos and -isms will dominate said world and OWG. Potentially the greatest protection the Burqua Boyz, and SpetzNorks etc., have are those anti-Americans within the Fed and NPE, whom needed to conspire, collude or scheme in 9-11 and the deaths of 000's of Amer citizens in order to enable and entrench PC/PDeniable Revolution, Anarchy, Socialism, and OWG against their own People and Country, for power, $$$ and ambition, and where in the name of the People = de facto against the People at the same time. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2006-03-23 01:28 |