U.S. says Iran sending missiles to Iraq

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: AP

BAGHDAD - The U.S. military accused Iran on Sunday of smuggling surface-to-air missiles and other advanced weapons into Iraq for use against American troops.

The new allegations came as Iraqi leaders condemned the latest U.S. detention of an Iranian in northern Iraq, saying the man was in their country on official business.

Military spokesman Rear Adm. Mark Fox said U.S. troops were continuing to find Iranian-supplied weaponry including the Misagh 1, a portable surface-to-air missile that uses an infrared guidance system.

Other advanced Iranian weaponry found in Iraq includes the RPG-29 rocket-propelled grenade, 240 mm rockets and armor-piercing roadside bombs known as explosively formed penetrators, or EFPs, Fox said.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070923/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq;_ylt=AmajIeGBc1CRnhZFtV7fdi1vaA8F

[FormerRepub]

1. Iran sending missiles

You know, when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in the '80s (leading to the demise of the Soviet govt according to some), we sent tons of arms, etc. to the Mujahaden, etc resistance to fight the Soviets. (The Taliban is using some of these arms against us now.) I don't remember the Soviet Union threatening us if we didn't back off. The piece above sounds like the run-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq to me. Why in the world would anyone in his right mind think that Iran WOULDN'T try to assist a Shiite govt in Iraq against the U.S., a sworn enemy? Bush has really opened a can of worms here. I read where the Saudi's recently "read the riot act" to Darth Cheney....I wonder why.

[daleo]

2. All good points

I agree that this is part of the runup to an attack on Iran.

[FormerRepub]

3. Run-up

If Bush were able to provoke the Iranians into attacking our troops currently building checkpoints along the Iraqi/Iranian border to stop this influx of arms, etc., would he have to get authorization from Congress to respond? I haven't seen anything on the "rules of engagement" here although I do remember the Dems trying (unsuccessfully) to attach an amendment to a military spending bill to the effect that Bush was not permitted to use any of those funds to attack Iran.....

[daleo]

4. I think he would have a free hand for 90 days

That's what I recall reading anyway. After 90 days the congress is supposed to formally declare war. Mind you, there are probably some vague measures that have already been passed that he could use as a fig leaf of legitimacy. When it comes to all that, he would have to be impeached, I think.

[FormerRepub]

5. Impeachment

I don't recall ever seeing a President who had so many people "spooked". It's difficult to believe that George H. W. Bush could have produced a son capable of such an enormous international travesty. I wonder if impeachment with a conviction in the Senate could proceed quickly enough to prevent a major catastrophe in the event the President decided he was going to invade Iran.

[stop the bleeding]

6. US says Iran smuggling missiles to Iraq

Source: AP

AP - 25 minutes ago
BAGHDAD - The U.S. military accused Iran on Sunday of smuggling surface-to-air missiles and other advanced weapons into Iraq for use against American troops. The new allegations came as Iraqi leaders condemned the latest U.S. detention of an Iranian in northern Iraq, saying the man was in their country on official business

~snip~

Other advanced Iranian weaponry found in Iraq includes the RPG-29 rocket-propelled grenade, 240 mm rockets and armor-piercing roadside bombs known as explosively formed penetrators, or EFPs, Fox said.

An American soldier was killed Saturday and another wounded when an EFP hit their patrol in eastern Baghdad, the military said.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070924/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq;_ylt=Amb4uJBKswd8HyxZRgjjSFGs0NUE

[movonne]

7. Yea I believe this one....

[tech3149]

8. Like they wouldn't want to hold them in reserve for self defense?

I call BS, just more propaganda.

[krispos42]

9. And how about all those Saudi weapons?

In fact, I bet it would be reeeeeeeaaaaal interesting to find out how much Iranian hardware was paid for with Saudi money and US dollars.

After all, we managed to lose $9,000,000,000 in CASH over there. And god knows how much money the various and sundry contractors are paying insurgents in bribes...

[Kelly Rupert]

12. Am I misreading this, or are you actually suggesting

that the Saudis and Iranians have ties to any of the same people?

[bemildred]

10. You know, I blow hot and cold on this issue.

1.) On the one hand, Iran has every reason to want to keep the US military enmeshed in the Iraq tar-baby, and thus there is every reason in realpolitik terms for them to support an effective insurgency there, to prevent the success of our "mission" there, and the freeing up of resources that might otherwise soon be turned their way.

2.) On the other hand, the Iraq war has been just great for the current regime in Iran, it's been a gift to them, and they have a huge incentive to support a stable Iraq which is friendly and cooperative with them. And that means supporting the current Shi'ia led Iraqi regime, which portends to be their best buddy for years to come.

[Kelly Rupert]

11. I believe it, yeah.

Any nation in Iran's situation would. Iraq is the fulcrum of the middle east--it would be shocking if there were bordering nations that were not in some way attempting to influence the power struggle/civil war.

[tuckessee]

13. Surface to air missiles?

Then we'll be seeing a lot downed aircraft in the near future if this is true.

Unless, of course, we believe the Americans are so good they capture every missile before it gets used.

[DemoTex]

18. Or out-maneuver every SAM fired.

[HuffleClaw]

14. more agitprop?

next we'll hear about a 'dirty bomb' in baghdad

[bjobotts]

15. Yeah? Well so is Blackwater...and Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia etc.

This is more of the US PR to get people fearful and angry at Iran so Bush/Cheney can justify attacking them.

[scarface2004]

16. so? what s wrong with that?!

i hope iran kicks our ass!!

[lligrd]

17. Wolf, Wolf, Wolf

How many times do they think we will fall for this chit?

[Imagevision]

19. U.S. says, - U.S. says, - exactly who is this; " U.S. says"?????

With this administartion one can't help but to question authority... but not if your a republican.