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| Iraq |
| US concern as Iranian-backed troops enter Iraq |
| 2003-02-18 |
| Via DrudgeReport.com Iranian-backed Iraqi opposition forces have crossed into northern Iraq from Iran with the aim of securing the frontier in the event of war, according to senior Iranian officials. Yet another reason why Turkey matters. The forces, numbering up to 5,000 troops, with some heavy equipment, are nominally under the command of Ayatollah Mohammad Baqir al-Hakim, a prominent Iraqi Shia Muslim opposition leader who has been based in Iran since 1980 and lives in Tehran. If the leader calls himself Ayatollah Mohammad, we've got to be worried. Iranian officials insist that force's role in the north is defensive but its presence will exacerbate the concerns of the US and especially the Arab world that military intervention in Iraq will lead to a permanent disintegration of the country. Through inserting a proxy force, Iran is underlining that it cannot be ignored in future discussions over Iraq's make-up. Stories like this lead me to conclude we've waited too long. |
| Posted by:JAB |
| #5 I don't think the Iraqis would be so kind as to allow us to announce our alliance with Iran. |
| Posted by: Dishman 2003-02-18 20:41:18 |
| #4 This kind of suggests to me that the Iranians think we're going to invade real soon. They wanted to get some kind of force in Iraq, but not too early -- since that would give the Iraqis a chance to kick them back out again. |
| Posted by: Patrick Phillips 2003-02-18 19:07:30 |
| #3 Not too late....yet. If we go in by 1st of March, and bag Sammy & Co quickly, that leaves Ayatollah (insert name here) out in the sticks where they're said to be at the moment. Still...that's a big IF. We need to get Turkey onboard now and kick-start this thing. |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2003-02-18 18:26:59 |
| #2 How will we know whether their Iranians or Iraqis? Friendly fire does happen. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-02-18 17:23:19 |
| #1 Very Interesting! 1) How do we know they are Iranians? 2) Best case: its our idea, on our schedule, with the purpose of starting a landslide of unrest in Iraq. 3) Worst case: we didnt see this one coming. 4) Likely case: Do we really care? If Iran does in iraq and that just leaves Iran standing, doesnt that help our case? Cool beans. I love it when the 'conventional wisdom' has to take a walk. |
| Posted by: Frank Martin 2003-02-18 17:09:29 |