August 10, 2005
Bomb cache found in Iraq believed to be from Iranian Revolutionary Guard: official
Just as we surmised....
WASHINGTON - US intelligence believes that a cache of manufactured bombs seized in Iraq about two weeks ago was smuggled into the country from Iran by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, an intelligence official said Tuesday.
"We believe they came from Iran's Revolutionary Guards," the official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. The find is significant not only because of the Iranian connection but also because it indicates manufactured bombs are now being introduced in a conflict that has seen the use of mainly improvised explosive devices.
"I think we believe there is more of them out there, that this is just the first cache we've actually obtained," the official said. He said intelligence analysts had "fairly high confidence" that the bombs came from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
Building a case for retaliation? Keep your eyes open.
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Posted by: Traderrob at
10:09 AM
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Just a point of clarification.
The articles does not mention if this was a Sunni or Shia stockpile. The Shia have been biding their time, waiting to kill Sunnis after we pull out.
I have no doubt that the Shia parties elected to power in Baghdad have logistical and material support from Iran. Iran wants to make nice with their Shia neighbors and sees helping the Iraqi government as a key way to gain influence in Iraq. They have certain cultural differences (Persians vs Arabs), but have a similar ideological bent.
They would like to see Iraq become Iran Lite. Less Ayatollah directed politics, but more public policy based on Shia Islam. Kind of like an experiment.
But I could be talking out my behind.
Posted by: Bill Dautrive at August 10, 2005 10:38 AM (G95Uf)
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Who was it who said that the way to solve intractible problems was to enlarge them? Well, whoever it was, is right on target because the only way to help the situation in Iraq is to look across the border at Saudi Arabia, Syria, and most importantly Iran.
Time to put the fear of God in them. Permanently.
Posted by: lawhawk at August 10, 2005 10:54 AM (AcoYr)
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http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16220430%255E2703,00.html
This is another story on the same issue. It
appears that the Iranian weapons are not targetting US troops, but are used to intimidate Iraqis and install hard line Shia parties into local positions of power. Then they "behave". They do not attack Americans because, as Rusty points out, they are rational actors. They are seizing the mechinisms of legitimate power, often through illegitimate means. Then they wait.
The Shia would like nothing more than a fully functioning Iraqi army and police force, under Shia control. Then they could exact revenge on the Sunnis under the cover of the law.
My concern is that the initial story allows the mind to fill in the blank that Iranian weapons are blowing up American troops. In fact, it turns out that Iranians are arming those who hate Americans, but not enough to attack - today. The US and Iran have convergent interests in Iraq. Both want a stable, popularly elected government. What that government will do and say is where our interested diverge.
Posted by: Bill Dautrive at August 10, 2005 12:00 PM (G95Uf)
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