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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Iranian Unit to Be Labeled 'Terrorist' |
| 2007-08-15 |
| The Revolutionary Guard Corps so designated! Bush getting tough? The United States has decided to designate Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, the country's 125,000-strong elite military branch, as a "specially designated global terrorist," according to U.S. officials, a move that allows Washington to target the group's business operations and finances. The Bush administration has chosen to move against the Revolutionary Guard Corps because of what U.S. officials have described as its growing involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as its support for extremists throughout the Middle East, the sources said. The decision follows congressional pressure on the administration to toughen its stance against Tehran, as well as U.S. frustration with the ineffectiveness of U.N. resolutions against Iran's nuclear program, officials said. The designation of the Revolutionary Guard will be made under Executive Order 13224, which President Bush signed two weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to obstruct terrorist funding. It authorizes the United States to identify individuals, businesses, charities and extremist groups engaged in terrorist activities. The Revolutionary Guard would be the first national military branch included on the list, U.S. officials said -- a highly unusual move because it is part of a government, rather than a typical non-state terrorist organization. The order allows the United States to block the assets of terrorists and to disrupt operations by foreign businesses that "provide support, services or assistance to, or otherwise associate with, terrorists." |
| Posted by:Sherry |
| #5 I thought Iran was designated by GW as part of the "Axis of Weazels?" |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2007-08-15 17:18 |
| #4 Formed in 1979 and originally tasked with protecting the world's only modern theocracy, the Revolutionary Guard... I believe the Vatican qualifies as a theocracy. Not making a point; just being pedantic. Though if the Pope had 125,000 Swiss Guards I would hope for a more robust response to the murder of nuns, blood-curdling islamic death threats, etc. |
| Posted by: Excalibur 2007-08-15 10:27 |
| #3 This might have taken a long time to announce, because the IRGC has lots of international resources and connections, and you want maximum effect by closing down as many as possible all at once, thus hitting them really hard. Suddenly the money and equipment supplies just dry up, hopefully leaving them in the lurch and in a panic to reopen their pipeline. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2007-08-15 09:44 |
| #1 Road to war > Dubya entrenchin', Moud escalatin'. Sniff, sniff, and to think it only took 40 yarns. Next move is Moud's becuz Dubya isn't stopping. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-08-15 04:47 |