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LoungeMachine
01-13-2007, 12:18 AM
THE CONFLICT IN IRAQ: IRAN'S INFLUENCE; OPERATION IN DIYALA

'Shadow' of Iran growing, spy czar says

U.S. intelligence chief Negroponte expresses a new level of concern over the country's abilities and intentions.

By Greg Miller, Times Staff Writer
January 12, 2007


WASHINGTON — Iran has exploited the war in Iraq and a proxy fight with Israel to emerge as a more powerful and confident foe of the United States and is casting a growing "shadow" of influence across the Middle East, the nation's top intelligence official testified Thursday.

During a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on national security threats, National Intelligence Director John D. Negroponte and other officials expressed a new level of concern over Iran's capabilities and intentions, saying the Islamic regime's pursuit of nuclear weapons was only one element of its increasingly aggressive behavior.

"Iran's influence is rising in ways that go beyond the menace of its nuclear program," said Negroponte, ticking off several developments that had emboldened the country in the last year.

Among them, he said, was an increase in oil revenue that allowed greater funding of terrorist activities, and a belief in Iran and Lebanon that Hezbollah — the Tehran-sponsored militant group based in Lebanon — was the victor in heavy fighting with Israel last summer.

Iran "regards its ability to conduct terrorist operations abroad as a key element of its national security strategy," Negroponte said, adding that Hezbollah, which the United States classifies as a terrorist organization, "could decide to conduct attacks against U.S. interests if it feels its survival — or that of Iran — is threatened."

His testimony comes at a crucial juncture in the long-strained relationship between the United States and Iran, as the Bush administration struggles for ways to derail Tehran's pursuit of nuclear weapons and curb its interference in the Iraq war. Iran's Shiite Muslim government is a strong supporter of Iraqi Shiite militias involved in sectarian violence.

Indeed, U.S. forces took six Iranian nationals into custody in Iraq on Thursday, while lawmakers in Washington used three separate Capitol Hill hearings to express their concerns that President Bush's plan to deploy 21,500 more troops to Iraq in an effort to stabilize the country could lead to a military confrontation with Iran.

At a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.), the panel's chairman, pressed Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to say whether the administration believed it had authority to invade Iran without congressional approval — a question Rice declined to answer.

She said that the goal was to protect U.S. troops, and that "we believe we can do what we need to do inside Iraq." She added, however, that "obviously, the president isn't going to rule anything out to protect the troops. But the plan is to take these networks down in Iraq."

Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), a Vietnam veteran, told Rice he feared the new Bush strategy could lead to an invasion of Iran, which the administration might justify as necessary to track down militia supporters. He recalled that the Nixon administration secretly ordered U.S. troops into Cambodia during the Vietnam war.

The Bush plan, Hagel said, "represents the most dangerous policy blunder since Vietnam, if it's carried out."

In his appearance before the intelligence panel, Negroponte described an array of evolving threats to the United States, including North Korea's recent missile tests, which demonstrate Pyongyang's ongoing pursuit of weapons capable of striking North America, and indications that Al Qaeda is gaining strength.

The hearing was probably Negroponte's last as the nation's intelligence chief. He has been nominated to the No. 2 position at the State Department. The session was also the first in several years in which Democrats held the majority.

Intelligence panel Chairman John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.) used his opening remarks to chastise the White House for what he called its "misguided" policies on Iraq. He promised an aggressive schedule of hearings on such controversial programs as the CIA-run secret prison network and the National Security Agency's wiretapping of international communications involving terrorism suspects in the United States.

Much of the hearing focused on the situation in Iraq, which Negroponte described as at a "precarious juncture."

Senators from both parties voiced varying degrees of skepticism about Bush's new strategy, with Democrats sharply critical of both the current situation and the flawed intelligence used to justify the invasion nearly four years ago.

"We're very far from the 'slam dunk' your predecessor promised," said Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), referring to former CIA Director George J. Tenet's certainty, expressed in a comment to Bush weeks before the invasion, that Iraq possessed banned weapons. "We're also very far from the 'mission accomplished' that the president promised us."

Army Lt. Gen. Michael D. Maples, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, described the ongoing U.S. military presence in Iraq as "the primary counter to a breakdown in central authority" in the country, and said that most Iraqis "recall a past in which sectarian identity did not have the significance it does today."

But the intelligence officials seemed to largely agree with the White House argument that leaving Iraq would risk a wave of instability across the Middle East and a rising terrorist threat to the United States.

"If we leave under the current circumstances, everything gets worse," said CIA Director Michael V. Hayden. In that scenario, he added, Iraq could become a safe haven for Al Qaeda that would be "perhaps more dangerous than the one they had in Afghanistan."

Iran and Syria are fueling the fighting in Iraq, the officials contended.

Negroponte said that "40 to 70" foreign fighters enter Iraq each month through Syria, and that "many, if not most, of those are suicide bombers." Iran has provided money, support and deadly munitions to Shiite groups, including so-called "explosively formed projectiles," capable of ripping through heavy armor, that are supplanting ordinary roadside bombs as a major threat to U.S. troops.

In testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates acknowledged that the United States had stepped up efforts to counter Iranian support for the Shiite militias.

"We are beginning to move aggressively to try and identify and root out the networks that are involved in helping to bring Iranian-supplied [bombs] into Iraq," Gates said, "and making it clear that those who are involved in activities that cost the lives of American soldiers are going to be subject to actions on the part of the United States inside Iraq."

Nitro Express
01-13-2007, 02:24 AM
Let's see. "We need to invade because he's got weapons of mass destruction!"; "Mission Accomplished!"; "I'm the Decider!"

Then the idiot fired Rumsfeld, puts together a task force to analyze the situation in Iraq. They say it's a lost cause but Bush wants to dump more troops into an unwinnable situation.

What credability. The guy is an angry two year old in the sandbox who makes the rules because he's the decider.

LoungeMachine
01-13-2007, 11:50 PM
Rice: U.S. Aims to Curb Iran Aggression

Condoleezza Rice says Bush-authorized raids on Iranian targets in Iraq protect Americans



(AP) U.S. raids that President Bush approved against Iranian targets in Iraq are part of broad efforts to confront Tehran's aggression, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Saturday.

"The United States is simply responding to Iranian activities that have been going on for a while now that threaten not just to destabilize the chance for Iraq to proceed to stability but also that endanger our forces," Rice said before meeting with Israel's foreign minister.

Bush approved the strategy several months ago, U.S. officials said, in response to what Washington claims is Iran's support for terrorists inside Iraq and the alleged funneling of bombs to anti-U.S. insurgents.

Echoing other Bush administration figures, Rice said the U.S. does not intend to cross the Iraq-Iran border to attack Iranians.

Five Iranians were detained by U.S.-led forces after a raid Thursday on an Iranian government liaison office in northern Iraq. The move further frayed relations between the two countries.

The United States accuses Iran of helping provide roadside bombs that have killed American troops in Iraq. Also, a bitter standoff already exists over Iran's nuclear program.

Rice told reporters that the Iranian office was not a diplomatic consulate, which would be protected by international treaty.

The State Department said Friday that U.S.-led forces entered an Iranian building in Kurdish-controlled Irbil because information linked it to Revolutionary Guards and other Iranian elements engaging in violent activities in Iraq.

State Department spokesman Tom Casey said there was no truth to reports that Iran was carrying out legitimate diplomatic activity at the site.

But Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, a Kurd, contended the Iranians were working in a liaison office that had government approval and was in the process of being approved as a consulate. In Iran, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said the U.S. raid constituted an intervention in Iranian-Iraqi affairs.

Nickdfresh
01-14-2007, 10:48 AM
Curb Iran's "aggression" Who have they invaded recently???

Let the Iranian people sort out their shit gov't, we'll sort out ours...

Warham
01-14-2007, 11:25 PM
Iran's not causing any trouble in the Mideast. Leave 'em be.

LoungeMachine
01-15-2007, 01:37 AM
Originally posted by Warham
Iran's not causing any trouble in the Mideast. Leave 'em be.

Gee, neither are we. :rolleyes:

fucking dumbass

Warham
01-15-2007, 07:17 AM
Originally posted by LoungeMachine
Gee, neither are we. :rolleyes:

fucking dumbass

This thread is about Iran.

Stay on topic.

Seshmeister
01-15-2007, 09:37 AM
Originally posted by Warham
Iran's not causing any trouble in the Mideast. Leave 'em be.

Iran hasn't attacked another nation in over 100 years.

In the same period the US has invaded over 20.

· 2003 invasion of Iraq
· 2001 invasion of Afghanistan
· 1994 invasion of Haiti
· 1991 invasion of Kuwait
· 1989 invasion of Panama
· 1983 invasion of Grenada
· 1965 invasion of Dominican Republic
· 1945 invasion of Japan
· 1945 invasion of Burma
· 1944 invasion of Guam
· 1944 Invasion of Southern France
· 1944 invasion of Marshall Islands
· 1943 invasion of Italy
· 1943 invasion of Sicily
· 1942 invasion of North Africa
· 1942 invasion of Indonesia
· 1941 invasion of Solomon Islands
· 1941 invasion of Greenland and Iceland
· 1915 invasion of Haiti
· 1898 invasion of the Philippines
· 1898 invasion of Puerto Rico
· 1898 invasion of Spanish Cuba

LoungeMachine
01-15-2007, 09:39 AM
Originally posted by Warham
This thread is about Iran.

Stay on topic.

This thread is about Rice, Negroponte, and Bush you fucking half wit.

I started the thread, so STFU

It's about how this administration HAS NO CREDIBILITY LEFT after all of their LIES.

Much like you.

LoungeMachine
01-15-2007, 09:40 AM
Originally posted by Seshmeister
Iran hasn't attacked another nation in over 100 years.

In the same period the US has invaded over 20.

· 2003 invasion of Iraq
· 2001 invasion of Afghanistan
· 1994 invasion of Haiti
· 1991 invasion of Kuwait
· 1989 invasion of Panama
· 1983 invasion of Grenada
· 1965 invasion of Dominican Republic
· 1945 invasion of Japan
· 1945 invasion of Burma
· 1944 invasion of Guam
· 1944 Invasion of Southern France
· 1944 invasion of Marshall Islands
· 1943 invasion of Italy
· 1943 invasion of Sicily
· 1942 invasion of North Africa
· 1942 invasion of Indonesia
· 1941 invasion of Solomon Islands
· 1941 invasion of Greenland and Iceland
· 1915 invasion of Haiti
· 1898 invasion of the Philippines
· 1898 invasion of Puerto Rico
· 1898 invasion of Spanish Cuba


The Bush Doctrine is one of IMPERIALISM

As for the list, I guess sending in "advisors" before invading is why Korea and Viet Nam aren't on your list.

Seshmeister
01-15-2007, 11:25 AM
Korea was under the UN.

I think Vietnam should be on it.

EAT MY ASSHOLE
01-15-2007, 11:39 AM
Originally posted by Seshmeister
· 1915 invasion of Haiti
· 1898 invasion of the Philippines
· 1898 invasion of Puerto Rico
· 1898 invasion of Spanish Cuba


Originally posted by LoungeMachine
The Bush Doctrine is one of IMPERIALISM

The 1898 invasion of Spanish Cuba was part of the Bush Doctrine??!???

knuckleboner
01-15-2007, 11:40 AM
Originally posted by Seshmeister
Iran hasn't attacked another nation in over 100 years.



well...technically, they invaded the U.S. when they stormed our embassy.



though, this is a moot point. the U.S. will NOT invade iran. i suppose it's possible for a limited air strike, though i doubt that as well, as it could just as likely lead to a ground confrontation when iranian troops cross over into iraq.

iran knows that the U.S. will not be able to attack it after we have spread our resources out over iraq and afghanistan. it's flexing its muscles.

we don't want to encourage iran to do so, so we're acting like they're still in the crosshairs. it's posturing. but so long as the rest of the world doesn't jump on the use-force-against-iran-bandwagon, then iran has the upper hand.


(and i think that vietnam was first a french operation, not initially a U.S. decision.)

Warham
01-15-2007, 04:43 PM
Originally posted by LoungeMachine
The Bush Doctrine is one of IMPERIALISM

Yeah, because we know Bush was president in 1898.

:rolleyes:

Warham
01-15-2007, 04:46 PM
Originally posted by Seshmeister
Iran hasn't attacked another nation in over 100 years.

In the same period the US has invaded over 20.

· 2003 invasion of Iraq
· 2001 invasion of Afghanistan
· 1994 invasion of Haiti
· 1991 invasion of Kuwait
· 1989 invasion of Panama
· 1983 invasion of Grenada
· 1965 invasion of Dominican Republic
· 1945 invasion of Japan
· 1945 invasion of Burma
· 1944 invasion of Guam
· 1944 Invasion of Southern France
· 1944 invasion of Marshall Islands
· 1943 invasion of Italy
· 1943 invasion of Sicily
· 1942 invasion of North Africa
· 1942 invasion of Indonesia
· 1941 invasion of Solomon Islands
· 1941 invasion of Greenland and Iceland
· 1915 invasion of Haiti
· 1898 invasion of the Philippines
· 1898 invasion of Puerto Rico
· 1898 invasion of Spanish Cuba

Sesh, Sesh, Sesh.

Where did you copy and paste this ridiculous list from?

We invaded Japan? You mean after they attacked Pearl Harbor, or did the person who wrote this list forget that?

I won't even get into the others, because I could pick this list apart.

Nickdfresh
01-15-2007, 07:18 PM
What was "ridiculous" about it?


The list made no pronouncements or judgements...

Hardrock69
01-16-2007, 09:26 AM
Gates: Iran Is Target Of Military Build Up
Huge Military deployment in Gulf is ominous, neocon propaganda is mounting

Steve Watson
Infowars.net
Monday, January 15, 2007

The Defense Secretary Robert Gates today announced that the massive increase in military power in the Persian Gulf is directly aimed at Iran. Gates' comments follow a weekend of intense and heavy loaded rhetoric on the part of many neocon figureheads, signaling that the faintest spark could ignite a huge escalation of conflict in the middle east.

Speaking in Brussels after meeting Nato officials, Mr Gates said: "We are simply reaffirming that statement of the importance of the Gulf region to the United States and our determination to be an ongoing strong presence in that area for a long time into the future."

Gates said that Patriot anti-missile missiles, aircraft carriers, and cruise-missile-firing ships have been deployed in order to show Iran that the US means business and will not be distracted by the turmoil in Iraq. The build up has now been going on for weeks and shows no sign of being purely a warning.

The Patriot missiles are intended to shoot down Iranian missiles. The naval forces are there to pre-empt Iranian interference with oil shipments, which would be immediate retaliations to any strike.

A former commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Eduard Baltin, has today revealed that he believes a missile attack on the Iranians is imminent, while Republican Congressman and 2008 Presidential candidate Ron Paul fears a staged Gulf of Tonkin style incident may be used to provoke air strikes on Iran.

Indeed, the Fars news agency reported yesterday that there have already been rumours of nonexistent clashes between Iranian and American battleships in the Persian Gulf waters. A senior Iranian official viewed the rumor as "a part of the enemies' psychological war on Iran".

Last week US-led forces in northern Iraq arrested five Iranians who the US military says were connected to an Iranian Revolutionary Guard faction that funds and arms insurgents in Iraq - a claim Iran has also rejected.

This sudden assertion is comical.Why would Iranian Shi’ites want to arm Iraqi Sunnis, who want to kill Iraqi Shi’ites allied with Iran? A few appearances on the US propaganda outlets by the neocons are supposed to convince us that this is now the case however.

Dick Cheney appeared on Fox news and, between denouncing critics of the Iraq war, accused Iran of "fishing in troubled waters inside Iraq". Meanwhile the national security adviser, arch neocon Stephen Hadley, said the US was "going to need to deal with what Iran is doing inside Iraq", at the same time not ruling out a skirmish inside Iran.

In reality what the neocons have dubbed as 'evidence' of Iranian meddling, including the presence of Iranian officials, in Iraq, is not troubling to Iraq's Shia political parties, many of whose senior figures fled Saddam and lived for over twenty years in exile in Iran. Such figures see a powerful Shia neighbour in Iran, a friend and a religious and political exemplar in the midst of crisis.

And while the Iraqi government is actually talking to Iran, comfortably resolving security issues and praising Iranian cooperation, the neocons in the White House are running around foaming at the mouth, refusing to engage in talks and deploying war ships.

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As the London Guardian has reported, Donald Rumsfeld and the AEI have developed a strategy for regime change in Iran that does not involve a ground invasion. Weapons of mass destruction will provide the rationale for military action, though it won't be limited to attacks on a few weapons factories. It will include limiting Iranian retaliatory capability, using bombers to destroy up to 10,000 targets in the first day of any war, and special forces flying in to destroy anything that's left.

The neocons would then be able to install another puppet regime and further control the region, plundering it's wealth and resources, while provoking the Muslim and Arab world to fight amongst themselves and hopefully, in the words of Henry Kissinger, kill each other off.

In other developments, Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich stated:

"if Bush attacks Iran, all bets[regarding impeachment] are off." Later he added, "We need to safeguard our Constitution." If the President takes steps towards another war, Kucinich warned, Congress could make "an active effort" toward impeachment.

"The President is clearly trying to provoke Iran," he said, adding that the Bush administration is "treading on the thinnest ice it has ever been on."

Former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, Paul Craig Roberts has asserted that the only way to stop the impending attack on Iran is to press for immediate impeachment:

"Americans don’t have much time to realize this and to act before it is too late. Bush’s “surge” speech last Wednesday night makes it completely clear that his real purpose is to start wars with Iran and Syria before failure in Iraq brings an end to the neoconservative/Israeli plan to establish hegemony over the Middle East."


http://www.infowars.net/articles/january2007/150107Iran_attack.htm