LAT: U.S. says Pakistan, Iran helping Taliban

[steve2470]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-afghan-spies22-2009sep22,0,3144734.story

The U.S. military commander in Afghanistan says he has evidence that factions of Pakistani and Iranian spy services are supporting insurgent groups that carry out attacks on coalition troops.

Taliban fighters in Afghanistan are being aided by "elements of some intelligence agencies," Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal wrote in a detailed analysis of the military situation delivered to the White House earlier this month.

McChrystal went on to single out Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency as well as the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as contributing to the external forces working to undermine U.S. interests and destabilize the government in Kabul.

The remarks reflect long-running U.S. concerns about Pakistan and Iran, but it is rare that they have been voiced so prominently by a top U.S. official. McChrystal submitted his assessment last month, and a declassified version was published Sunday on the Washington Post website.

more at link above

[Lost-in-FL]

1. Not much have changed in Afghanistan since the Soviets invaded.

It is just that the Saudis and the US aren't helping the Taliban this time around.

[Monk06]

2. Pakistan has been playing the US for suckers since the Soviets were in Afghanistan

For the Paks, Afghanistan is just one big cash
cow from drug money, weapons smuggling and US
military aid.

The last thing that Pakistan wants is the end
of the Taliban.

[Selatius]

3. Well, we're certainly not going to bomb and invade Iran for this.

What are we seriously going to do? Level even more economic sanctions against Iran?

[Obamanaut]

4. Bring the troops home, and let the taliban have it. nt

[Chulanowa]

5. Bingo

Even if this report is true (And frankly, I always doubt the claims of "foreign agents" - it made no sense when Stalin did it, it makes no sense now) then what it says to me is pretty simple.

Iran and Pakistan are neighbors with Afghanistan, and at least Pakistan is very politically shaky. The last thing either one of these countries wants is a ruined state next door. it is amazingly obvious that the Coalition forces and the "official" government of Pakistan cannot bring Stability to the country. The Taliban did - at enormous cost, but the truth is... I doubt Pakistanis and iranians really give a fuck what happens to Afghans, so long as it stays inside Afghanistan.

[FarCenter]

6. Of course they are -- they are supporting their co-religionists and want us out of the neighborhood

[cbdo2007]

7. Thanks...I'll put this in my "No Shit, Sherlock" file

[bdamomma]

8. isn't that guy McChrystal one of Cheney's friends??? makes you wonder.