the opinionist

And I’m not referring to a touchy-feely sit down with Iran - over sushi or skewered mutton! I’m talking about the most severe military engagement with Iran and the use of weapons systems that will put the Iranian regime out of action, permanently.

Before I’m labeled another Bush-moron - a war-loving jerk with no vested interests, ‘no skin in the game’ beyond a silly blog; let me explain.

It is very easy to build an argument against any expanded military actions inside, around or through the existing debacle that is Iraq. Very easy indeed; and clearly understandable when you consider the incompetent application of a clearly courageous and exceptional U.S. military fighting force into a situation with no mission boundaries, and invisible enemy and political second-guessing. No doubt the current Bush administration, our military forces, the fallen, the families of the fallen, and the current and future generations of tax payers have and will pay an extraordinarily high price for the Iraq venture.

BUT Iran has - for all intent and purposes - declared war on the U.S. and its strategic interests in the Middle East.

Very few few people - regardless of political stripes - will deny Iran’s intentions against the U.S. and its allies are purely evil. Iran’s clerics, and the pathologically bonkers President Ahmadinejad have confirmed this statement again and again.

Iran has placed its military inside Iraq and is already fighting U.S., Iraqi and coalition forces - in outright battles, insurgent skirmishes and via fifth column / Shia supporters.

The U.S. maintains it is building a mountain of evidence against Iran as quoted by the New York Times article yesterday, “Iranian Reveals Plan to Expand Role in Iraq” in which State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said of evidence tying Iran to attacks inside Iraq, “There is a high degree of confidence in the information that we already have, and we are constantly accumulating more…”

When might the U.S. government release this mountain of evidence against Iran? What the hell are they waiting for?

Yesterday’s press briefing by the State Department once again confirmed the existence of such evidence but there is no timeline nor impetus to release said evidence.

Ten days ago (January 20, 2007) a unit of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), the Qods Force, executed a detailed and sophisticated attack on U.S. soldiers from an American Civil Affairs Unit based in Karbala, Iraq (about 80 miles just south / south west of Baghdad).

For some reason news reports of this attack have not been picked up by mainstream media.

The initial report by the American Forces Information Service - AFIS - was further investigated and expanded upon by Steve Schippert of ThreatsWatch.org in the informative article dated yesterday - January 29th.

The report states that well-trained, well-armed attacks attacked the U.S. soldiers during their meeting with Iraqi security forces and local civilian leaders in a guarded compound in Karbala.

“In the attack, five soldiers were killed and three wounded. Four American soliders were executed after they were captured and spirited away in the attackers’ vehicles”

The attackers drove black GMC Suburban vehicles, as used by US convoys, wore authentic American uniforms and equipment, spoke English without a ‘discernable accent’ and played the role of a 12-man American military unit, complete with identification cards for checkpoint inspections.

The report goes on to describe the condition in which the four captured American soldiers were found - which adds to the anger.

The Fourth Rail web site adds or confirms specific points in these sources - which helps counter criticism, I hope, of hidden agendas and twisted facts.

Unfortunately, these Iranian incursions inside Iraq - aimed at disrupting - at the vest least - the ambitions of the U.S. and Iraqi forces - are not isolated incidents.
The Washington Post posted an article on Friday (January 26, 2007), “Group Claims Iran has Agents in Iraq” that adds fuel to the fire.

With Friday’s reported decision to allow U.S. military forces to engage and shoot-to-kill Iranian operatives inside Iraq, the argument for greater involvement against Iranian activities that put American lives at risk - should be broadened.

Politicians are clamoring over each other - across parties - to denounce the Bush Administration’s handling of the Iraq war - and perhaps for good reason.

What better way to extricate the U.S. from Iraq than through a permanent eradication of the Iranian problem. Cohesive and effective military action against Iranian interests inside Iran might help Iran reconsider its future role in the Persian Gulf. Taking out of its nuclear ambitions, military structure and a few palaces might assist in that quest.

Posted on January 30th, 2007 under Bush, Iran, Iraq, Karbala, Qods Force •  Email This Post • RSS 2.0 feed • Leave a response, or trackback