blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/06/document_iran_c.html
Document_iran_c_mn NATO officials say they have caught Iran red-handed, shipping heavy arms, C4 explosives and advanced roadside bombs to the Taliban for use against NATO forces, in what the officials say is a dramatic escalation of Iran's proxy war against the United States and Great Britain. "It is inconceivable that it is anyone other than the Iranian government that's doing it," said former White House counterterrorism official Richard Clarke, an ABC News consultant. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates stopped short earlier this week of blaming Iran, saying the US did not have evidence "of the involvement of the Iranian government in support of the Taliban." com, concludes there is clear evidence of Iran's involvement. "This is part of a considered policy," says the analysis, "rather than the result of low-level corruption and weapons smuggling." Iran and the Taliban had been fierce enemies when the Taliban was in power in Afghanistan, and their apparent collaboration came as a surprise to some in the intelligence community. "I think their goal is to make it very clear that Iran has the capability to make life worse for the United States on a variety of fronts," said Seth Jones of the Rand Institute, "even if they have to do some business with a group that has historically been their enemy." The coalition analysis says munitions recovered in two Iranian convoys, on April 11 and May 3, had "clear indications that they originated in Iran. Some were identical to Iranian supplied goods previously discovered in Iraq." The April convoy was tracked from Iran into Helmand province and led a fierce firefight that destroyed one vehicle, according to the official analysis. A second vehicle was reportedly found to contain small arms ammunition, mortar rounds and more than 650 pounds of C4 demolition charges. A second convoy of two vehicles was spotted on May 3 and led to the capture of five occupants and the seizure of RPG-7mm rockets and more than 1,000 pounds of C4, the analysis says. Also among the munitions are components for the lethal EFPs, or explosive formed projectiles, the roadside bombs that US officials say Iran has provided to Iraqi insurgents with deadly results. "These clearly have the hallmarks of the Iranian Revolution Guards' Quds force," said Jones. The coalition diplomatic message says the demolition charges "contained the same fake US markings found on explosives recovered from insurgents operating in the Baghdad area." "We believe these intercepted munitions are part of a much bigger flow of support from Iran to the Taliban," the message says. The Taliban receives larger supplies of weapons through profits from opium dealing, officials say, but the Iranian presence could be significant. "It means the insurgency in Afghanistan is likely to be prolonged," said Jones.
Posted by: max2424 | Jun 6, 2007 6:49:01 PM Please don't become part of the new neo con push for a new war in Iran. We had far too much of the media serving as the mouthpiece for this administration leading up to the Iraq war. Here's a fact to consider: the Iranian government is Shi'a. They have been at odds with each other since the 7th century. Posted by: John Hubers | Jun 6, 2007 6:53:49 PM max2424 don't be silly. It's tough to fight an enemy that won't declare war against you. Posted by: Chris | Jun 6, 2007 6:55:17 PM Doesnt anyone remember that we supplied Iraq during its war with Iran? That when we went back we left a lot of explosives ungarded after we found them. Posted by: Tim Simpson | Jun 6, 2007 6:58:19 PM Remember the saying "The enemy of my enemy is my friend" Posted by: steve salter | Jun 6, 2007 7:02:52 PM As soon as I see this reported by a reputable source that is not a member of the United States corporate media, I'll start believing it. ABC News, like the rest of the American media, helped the Bush Administration lie us into the quagmire in Iraq. The RAND Corporation, who they quote so freely, is run by people who stand to make BILLIONS off of the next war that we are lied into. Let me hear this from someone who doesn't stand to make a profit off of the next military misadventure. Posted by: Tom | Jun 6, 2007 7:08:00 PM The way this story is written, it gives absolute authority to the analysis of one senior coalition official. I find it perfectly plausible that the Iranian government may be behind these shipments, (it also could be someone at a lower level or smugglers,) but to write this story in the somewhat sensationalist way you did offers alot more weight (without evidence) than this report should receive. If the report has evidence that the Iranian government is behind it, then, sure, make that headline, but hiding behind "Report says" and analysis of unnamed official without evidence should no longer be acceptable reporting in this country. Not after similar reporting contributed to the war in Iraq.
mikevotes | Jun 6, 2007 7:09:46 PM Read the article three or four times. You will see that both sources are SPECULATING that the Iranian government is inolved. Why is this disinformation being used on the American public? Why are the powers that be trying so hard to get another diastrous war started? I guess the small army that we "indirectly" fund against Iran isn't a big problem huh? I guess this is what our elders mean when they say "Your digging your own Ditch" Hmmmm... Posted by: the one who sees | Jun 6, 2007 7:20:22 PM Mr Hubers, Even your own US government (whose current policies you seem to have contempt for) has made deals with devils to protect more pressing politcal priorities and goals. Have you ever pointed out to anyone that the United States in the past provided assistance to Bin Laden and Saddam? If so, then you are well aware of such tactics and are likely too wrapped up in your own political viewpoint to consider the story on the merits of the facts which have been cited. Alas, if only you had posted your sage advice to Dan Rather before it was too late. Also, if you know anything about Mr Richard Clarke, you'll know he is no fan of the current administration or it's foreign policies.
Tyler Durden | Jun 6, 2007 7:20:37 PM If you don't think Iran is supplying anything to anyone that opposes the US, you live in a dream world. Posted by: Robert Hicks | Jun 6, 2007 7:21:04 PM This message board is evidence of the chit chat that will occur among liberals after Iran supplies terrorists with a nuclear weapon that goes off in a US port city. "We really don't know who's to blame" the liberals will whine. "After all, we brought it on ourselves because we are so unkind to other people in the world" the liberals will add. It's time to use some bunker busters on Iranian nuclear sites.
Robert L Barney | Jun 6, 2007 7:21:36 PM Here's what it's come to: The conservatives see a liberal media, and the bias that comes with it, and the liberals see a 'corporate media' and think they're in league with the Bush Administration. Let me ask all of you this: Do you honestly think that Iran's government isn't doing this? This hasn't changed whether the administration has been Republican or Democrat. At what point is taking on Iran the right thing to do instead of liberal or conservative, Republican or Democrat? How many more have to die - do we wait until Iran takes out Israel w/a nuke? Posted by: Brian | Jun 6, 2007 7:21:47 PM To the utopians and Bush-haters who believe Iran is not a threat and not supplying arms; Hating Bush is one thing, but closing your eyes is another. Iran won't supply to the Taliban because they are Shiite and the Taliban are Sunni? Once we are gone, they can control the Taliban who wouldn't be worth spit if not for their help. They want to be the super-power in the Mid-East and the world and they'll do anything to accomplish it. They didn't do anything to us so why should we bother them? The truth is we must stop them before they become too entrenched and then decide to attack Israel and steal the oil of Iraq and other Gulf states. Posted by: boB | Jun 6, 2007 7:23:14 PM "Red-handed" in Babylon, or, "China Bats Last" Is "the US", the world's biggest arms dealer, also determined to be the planet's ONLY source for implements...
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