Article

2007-02-22 Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Armed clashes reported in restive Iran province

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Posted by Steve White 2007-02-22 00:00|| || Front Page|| [7 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 These are Arabs rebelling against the Persians.

And, as Iraq has shown, the Arab (Sunni) can no longer stand by while the US and Iraq provide a counterweight to the Iranians.

No US finger prints, but I bet there's Saudi money (and if we are doing our jobs right in spookland, we are telling the saudis exactly who and how much to pay).

Posted by OldSpook 2007-02-22 02:48|| 2007-02-22 02:48|| Front Page Top

#2 A day late & a dollar short.

Posted by gromgoru 2007-02-22 03:15|| 2007-02-22 03:15|| Front Page Top

#3 I would be happy to throw in a dollar.

Posted by SteveS 2007-02-22 06:00|| 2007-02-22 06:00|| Front Page Top

#4 "Imagine that Iran is a hardboiled egg with a thin shell. We should tap it lightly wherever we can until tiny fissures join and shatter the shell."

--Victor Davis Hanson

Posted by Mike 2007-02-22 06:29|| 2007-02-22 06:29|| Front Page Top

#5 Very interesting observation there, OldSpook.

Posted by phil_b 2007-02-22 07:49|| 2007-02-22 07:49|| Front Page Top

#6 Good job. Keep up the tapping there, Spook.

Posted by Mike 2007-02-22 08:08|| 2007-02-22 08:08|| Front Page Top

#7 I don't think the Balochis are Arabs (nor are they Persian or Urdu). It seems to me they are a regional tribal confederation, similar, in that sense to the Kurds.

In any event they have two big gripes against the mullahs
- ethnic Baluchis are persecuted
- Sunnis are persecuted

Posted by mhw 2007-02-22 09:22|| http://hypocrisy-incorporated.blogspot.com/]">[http://hypocrisy-incorporated.blogspot.com/] 2007-02-22 09:22|| Front Page Top

#8 There is some potential here for a big payoff for Pakistan. Baluchistan is split between them and Iran, creating headaches for both countries. But if Baluchistan could be united under Pakistan control, it would not only settle it down, but it would xfer this mineral rich region away from Iran.

If arranged by the US, this would make Perv our bestest buddy in the whole world, and would give him enough juice to really lean on his Islamists--maybe even enough to take over both Wazoos and actually own his own country.

Posted by Anonymoose 2007-02-22 09:45|| 2007-02-22 09:45|| Front Page Top

#9 You mean Saudi money can be used for good?

Holy Shiite!

(sorry for the pun, I couldn't resist.)

Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader 2007-02-22 10:14|| 2007-02-22 10:14|| Front Page Top

#10 1. These are Sunnis, but I dont think theyre arabs, rather ethnic Baluchis

2. Some of them are probably tied into AQ. I would not suggest getting into bed with them. Even if you thought it could work against Iran with few side benefits for AQ, if it ever got out it do profound damage to the overall WOT.

3. Its not clear to me how ethnically fragile Iran actually is. Its about 50% minorities, IIUC, but that includes Azeris, many of whom are supportive of the regime (and some of the top mullahs are Azeri) I think undermining the regime has to involved turning ethnically Farsi Shia against it, not just the minorities, and going to hard in support of minorities might just alienate the Farsis. While we should maintain contact with the opposition, including the ethnic minorities, I still think our best shot is via economic sanctions.

Posted by liberalhawk 2007-02-22 11:41|| 2007-02-22 11:41|| Front Page Top

#11 Balochistan map

Posted by Bobby 2007-02-22 17:53|| 2007-02-22 17:53|| Front Page Top

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