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Iraq
Iranian forces crossed Iraqi border: report
2007-06-26
Hat tip Drudge.
Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces have been spotted by British troops crossing the border into southern Iraq, The Sun tabloid reported on Tuesday. Britain's defence ministry would not confirm or deny the report, with a spokesman declining to comment on "intelligence matters".

An unidentified intelligence source told the tabloid: "It is an extremely alarming development and raises the stakes considerably. In effect, it means we are in a full on war with Iran -- but nobody has officially declared it."

"We have hard proof that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps have crossed the border to attack us. It is very hard for us to strike back. All we can do is try to defend ourselves. We are badly on the back foot."
I'm not surprised that the Brits think this: they also didn't defend their boat when the Iranians seized it. What they need to do is give the Revolutionary Guards a black eye, and dare them to come back for some more.
The Sun said that radar sightings of Iranian helicopters crossing into the Iraqi desert were confirmed to it by very senior military sources.

In response to the report, a British defence ministry spokesman said: "There is evidence that explosive devices used against our troops in southern Iraq originated in Iran."

"Any Iranian link to armed militias in Iraq either through weapons supply, training or funding are unacceptable."
It's fine to say that, but then you're obligated to do something about it.
Britain has about 7,100 soldiers in Iraq, most of whom are based in the southern city of Basra and surrounding areas, though the government has pledged to reduce that to between 5,000 and 5,500 this year.
Posted by:Steve White

#30  In effect, it means we are in a full on war with Iran -- but nobody has officially declared it.

Jimmy wouldn't declare it in 1979, why should anyone else?*

*(Except to save the Western world.)
Posted by: Zenster   2007-06-26 22:24  

#29  k - my thick-headed misunderstanding....
Posted by: Frank G   2007-06-26 22:18  

#28  Abu got what I was trying to say. It's not that GWB or any other Rep is unwilling to face what needs to be done; it's that the 'Rats in Congress, the seditionist media, and the chattering classes view any Republican as worse enemy than the worst terrorist state.
Posted by: Gary and the Samoyeds   2007-06-26 22:00  

#27  heh we got arm chair generals and deep arm chair strategic thinkers! LOL!

Some of us used to do it for a living - no LOL.
Posted by: Pappy   2007-06-26 20:55  

#26  Whoaa...an "An unidentified intelligence source" is quoted in a tabloid rag picked up by an online tabloid. i luv da smell of 'ganda in da mornin.
Posted by: DepotGuy   2007-06-26 20:22  

#25  Sorry, #7 Bobby - NOTHING can explain Peanut's ramblings.

(Well, except evil....)
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2007-06-26 18:22  

#24  the comment that a Republican wont go into Iran might be on target for the reason that the Democrats will punish ANY Republican for political gain while the Republicans will go along with what it right and best for the country regardless of who is president.

If we only had a responsible press to hold the treasonous bastards' feet to the fire....

Posted by: Abu do you love   2007-06-26 18:15  

#23  And you would correct that statement how, Spemble ?
Posted by: wxjames   2007-06-26 17:31  

#22  heh we got arm chair generals and deep arm chair strategic thinkers! LOL!

Posted by: RD   2007-06-26 17:18  

#21  What good does it do us to whack a reccy? The only people that should whack an Iranian reccy into the middle of nowhere is the Iraqis, and they can't do it. Sooo.... Let Iran probe. Let them reccy into an empty desert. What are they going to learn? That it's hot? If we respond, they learn our tactics. We shouldn't teach them those until it's too late for them to learn.
Posted by: Mike N.   2007-06-26 14:26  

#20  Um JFM,

1) There's no need to supply if you just bomb the shit out them.
2) Iraq (remember there?) has a nice long border with Iran.
3) There's also a nice long coast line complete with some harbors.
4) Afghanistan would serve for small SOPs.

So, if we wanted to we certainly could.
Posted by: AlanC   2007-06-26 14:19  

#19  In WW2, Stalin drew the German armies in deep then reacted in force

Our own revisionist historian?
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2007-06-26 13:57  

#18  I think its a sucker play. Let the Iranians stick a toe in and find it is nice and warm. Let them next sit down in it. Then let them run around in the shallow end. Then when they go to the deep end - you nail them - no retreat - sealed off but with plenty of evidence of their excursion. This is probably the way the lawyers at DoD have decided we have to do it.
Posted by: Jack is Back!   2007-06-26 13:14  

#17  Fpr all the armchair generals who think they are better than Bush. How are you going to supply the armies attacking Iran? Through Pakistan?
Posted by: JFM   2007-06-26 12:15  

#16  I'm with Pappy.
You don't swing the hammer at the hot metal until it's passing over the anvil. It would be smart to have an accounting of Iranian forces and attack at the weak points. In WW2, Stalin drew the German armies in deep then reacted in force, knowing that their supplies and communications would break down. In this case, we face an Iranian army with little experience. Come closer, please, another 200 miles.
Posted by: wxjames   2007-06-26 10:25  

#15  They're testing their ability to screw with us. If there is no response, why not come into iraq.

That's part of the 'test'.

How Long Are We Going To Remain Too Politically Scared To Face Our Resposnsibility And Attack Iran?

Methinks you 'generals' and Mister Dollard confuse different-stragetic-approach for cowardice.
Posted by: Pappy   2007-06-26 09:53  

#14  If it was me in command of that theater, I would destroy the Iranian troops on the ground, round up the bodies and dump them over Tehran from low flying plane. Little notes would be attached to the bodies saying in Parsi, that if I caught a whiff of Iranians in Iraq again, next time the plane would be loaded with a fun toys and the Iranian leadership would catch a whiff of fuel.
Posted by: DarthVader   2007-06-26 09:39  

#13  pretty broad brush there, Jackal Gary. Think FredT would have trouble responding?
Posted by: Frank G   2007-06-26 09:30  

#12  #11: How Long Are We Going To Remain Too Politically Scared To Face Our Resposnsibility And Attack Iran?

As long as a this Republican is in office.

There, fixed it for ya'.....
Posted by: Snomomble Grundy6207   2007-06-26 08:46  

#11  How Long Are We Going To Remain Too Politically Scared To Face Our Resposnsibility And Attack Iran?

As long as a Republican is in office.
Posted by: Gary and the Samoyeds   2007-06-26 08:32  

#10  Pat Dollard, How Long Are We Going To Remain Too Politically Scared To Face Our Resposnsibility And Attack Iran?

Pat has good sources in Iraq up and down the chain.
Posted by: RD   2007-06-26 07:42  

#9  For a moment there you had me worried, RD

on rare occasions I worry myself.

;-)
Posted by: RD   2007-06-26 07:35  

#8  They're testing their ability to screw with us. If there is no response, why not come into iraq.

And why is the British defense minister pissing his pants about it? Maybe kill the bastards next time, we'll have the "PROOF" that DinnerJacket taunted us to come up with just the other day.
Posted by: bigjim-ky   2007-06-26 06:53  

#7  But RD's theory would help explain Jimmy Carter's ramblings!
Posted by: Bobby   2007-06-26 06:51  

#6  /NAW.. hopelessly romantic

For a moment there you had me worried, RD
Posted by: gromgoru   2007-06-26 06:41  

#5  Could it be that all the pussy footing around by the Brits, Israel, and the US these last couple of years has been with purpose? A not so sublime sucker play; The Super Power feigning weakness aimed at luring in both Iran and the fat old Twelfth Imami to attack us in a apocalyptic way?

/NAW.. hopelessly romantic

wishful thinking eh... well I hopes that ourstocks in theater, Iraq, Kuwait and the many Persian Gulf bases should be packed full with...

Das gesamte MLRS Gruppe ,

Artillerie Familie,

Flugzeug und Lagerarme

GRUB Logistik,

POL Logistik,

Munitionslogistik.
Posted by: RD   2007-06-26 06:35  

#4  Is Iran stirring?

Hamas took over Gaza with Iranian help

Lebanon just took out a refugee camp to get at a terrorist group.

UN Peacekeepers in Lebanon hit by an roadside bomb

Iran send troops into Iraq.


Will we see more rockets from Gaza again? Will Hezbollah or Syria start to cause some cross border friction?

It portends to be a real hot summer. Hope our troops stay safe. The Navy will see a lot more action this go around.

And George is pushing Immigration...
Posted by: Danking70   2007-06-26 02:11  

#3  My fear are small Iranian teams with MANPADS.
Posted by: Besoeker   2007-06-26 01:35  

#2  Well, it's on Drudge. And it will get lots of eyeballs and at least force a confirmation or denial.

I would have preferred a siren but then that's just me.

What will it take to respond? A mass casualty attack?
Posted by: Danking70   2007-06-26 01:32  

#1  "We are badly on the back foot."

WTF? There must be dozens of Air Force pilots who would jump at the chance of bagging an Iranian chopper. Just get on the damn radio!

(Or is it the current official coalition policy to ignore even blatant Iranian invasions? If so, we have the most spineless 'leadership' in the history of the Republic.)
Posted by: PBMcL   2007-06-26 00:52  

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