Iranians may be helping Iraqis build bombs
BAGHDAD - Iranian intelligence operatives have been training Iraqi fighters inside
Iran on how to use and assemble deadly roadside bombs known as EFPs, the U.S. military spokesman said Wednesday.
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Commanders of a splinter group inside the Shiite Mahdi Army militia have told The Associated Press that there are as many as 4,000 members of their organization that were trained in Iran and that they have stockpiles of EFPs, a weapon that causes great uneasiness among U.S. forces here because they penetrate heavily armored vehicles.
U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell would not say how many militia fighters had been trained in Iran but said that questioning of fighters captured as recently as this month confirmed many had been in Iranian training camps.
"We know that they are being in fact manufactured and smuggled into this country, and we know that training does go on in Iran for people to learn how to assemble them and how to employ them. We know that training has gone on as recently as this past month from detainees debriefs," Caldwell said at a weekly briefing.
EFP stands for explosively formed penetrator, deadly roadside bombs that hurl a fist-size lump of molten copper capable of piercing armor.
In January, U.S. officials said at least 170 U.S. soldiers had been killed by EFPs.
Caldwell also said the U.S. military had evidence that Iranian intelligence agents were active in
Iraq in funding, training and arming Shiite militia fighters.
"We also know that training still is being conducted in Iran for insurgent elements from Iraq. We know that as recent as last week from debriefing personnel," he said.
"The do receive training on how to assemble and employ EFPs," Caldwell said, adding that fighters also were trained in how to carry out complex attacks that used explosives followed by assaults with rocket-propelled grenades and small arms.
note from AG: I imagine the Bush administration is releasing this intelligence to gin up support for a strike against Iran.
However, this kind of stuff goes on all the time. In the Vietnam War, Russia supplied anti aircraft missles to North Vietnam. Many U.S. airmen were killed by these missles, but the U.S. didn't bomb Russia.
In the Russia-Afghanistan War, the U.S. supplied shoulder fired anti aircraft missles to the Afghan fighters. Many Russian choppers and airplanes were shot down. These missles were a vital part of the Russian defeat in Afghanistan, yet Russia did not bomb the U.S.
The U.S. has supported, overtly and clandestinely, many conflicts around the world. In the early seventies the CIA sponsored a coup that overthrew, and murdered, Allende, the democratically elected President of Chile.
I guess the Bush Administration is "shocked, shocked!" that an outside power would participate in an American war.
Iran on how to use and assemble deadly roadside bombs known as EFPs, the U.S. military spokesman said Wednesday.
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Commanders of a splinter group inside the Shiite Mahdi Army militia have told The Associated Press that there are as many as 4,000 members of their organization that were trained in Iran and that they have stockpiles of EFPs, a weapon that causes great uneasiness among U.S. forces here because they penetrate heavily armored vehicles.
U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell would not say how many militia fighters had been trained in Iran but said that questioning of fighters captured as recently as this month confirmed many had been in Iranian training camps.
"We know that they are being in fact manufactured and smuggled into this country, and we know that training does go on in Iran for people to learn how to assemble them and how to employ them. We know that training has gone on as recently as this past month from detainees debriefs," Caldwell said at a weekly briefing.
EFP stands for explosively formed penetrator, deadly roadside bombs that hurl a fist-size lump of molten copper capable of piercing armor.
In January, U.S. officials said at least 170 U.S. soldiers had been killed by EFPs.
Caldwell also said the U.S. military had evidence that Iranian intelligence agents were active in
Iraq in funding, training and arming Shiite militia fighters.
"We also know that training still is being conducted in Iran for insurgent elements from Iraq. We know that as recent as last week from debriefing personnel," he said.
"The do receive training on how to assemble and employ EFPs," Caldwell said, adding that fighters also were trained in how to carry out complex attacks that used explosives followed by assaults with rocket-propelled grenades and small arms.
note from AG: I imagine the Bush administration is releasing this intelligence to gin up support for a strike against Iran.
However, this kind of stuff goes on all the time. In the Vietnam War, Russia supplied anti aircraft missles to North Vietnam. Many U.S. airmen were killed by these missles, but the U.S. didn't bomb Russia.
In the Russia-Afghanistan War, the U.S. supplied shoulder fired anti aircraft missles to the Afghan fighters. Many Russian choppers and airplanes were shot down. These missles were a vital part of the Russian defeat in Afghanistan, yet Russia did not bomb the U.S.
The U.S. has supported, overtly and clandestinely, many conflicts around the world. In the early seventies the CIA sponsored a coup that overthrew, and murdered, Allende, the democratically elected President of Chile.
I guess the Bush Administration is "shocked, shocked!" that an outside power would participate in an American war.
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Wow, we just figured that out. I also think Germany and Japan didn't like us in WW2. Nothing like real time intelligence. 0 -
Iranians were in Iraq before we got there. Remember when Saddam cut all the prisons wide open and let the thugs out? Guess who Iranian intelligence officers recruited? In addition, Rumsfeld was the big brain behind disbanding the Iraqi military. They were working for a pittance. They would have probably been loyal had they simply been hired by the provisional government in order to remain in their duty positions. We would have so much time and so much money. Our work with the Iraqi police would already be done. They'd at least be as far along as the Iraqi Army has come in the last couple years.
What a waste.
There is no question about Iranian involvement. Like I said, their intelligence officers were in Iraq before we got here. Just go ask an Iraqi.0 -
Color me surprised... Iran doing its best to drive an American military presence away from its doorstep.
Will wonders never cease?0 -
quote:Originally posted by ElMuertoMonkey
Color me surprised... Iran doing its best to drive an American military presence away from its doorstep.
Will wonders never cease?
if you want to kill americans then you will have to suffer the consenquences......unless liberals get their way.0 -
This administration had better be da*n well sure that this is actually what IS happening in Iran AND have verifiable and irrefutable proof before this allegation becomes another WMD needle in a sandpit haystack. Our various intelligence agencies' observations are occasionally "suspect" to say the least. 0 -
newt,
I'm sorry, but couldn't help but laugh at your post. "Conservatives" had six years of unparalelled power and what did they accomplish? They launched the war, they conducted it, and they called the shots... but it's the "liberals" who are to blame? I suppose it's the intestinal fortitude the conservatives are so renowned for that leads them to blame everyone but themselves for their own actions, huh?
It's disingenuous in the extreme to blame the failure the neocons designed and executed on the "liberals" who just recently took up office - it's like blaming the janitor for using a broom instead of a flamethrower on the mess someone else made.0 -
quote:Originally posted by royc38
Wow, we just figured that out...Nothing like real time intelligence.
This information actually hit the news quite some time ago.0 -
American's support communist Chinese....Chinese turn around and support Iran...Iran turns around and uses that support to fight Americans....
There is one way to stop the circle of us killing our own troops.0 -
ObiWan,
That's what the neocons thought and that's what got us into this mess in the first place...0 -
quote:Originally posted by ElMuertoMonkey
newt,
I'm sorry, but couldn't help but laugh at your post. "Conservatives" had six years of unparalelled power and what did they accomplish? They launched the war, they conducted it, and they called the shots... but it's the "liberals" who are to blame? I suppose it's the intestinal fortitude the conservatives are so renowned for that leads them to blame everyone but themselves for their own actions, huh?
It's disingenuous in the extreme to blame the failure the neocons designed and executed on the "liberals" who just recently took up office - it's like blaming the janitor for using a broom instead of a flamethrower on the mess someone else made.
you are half correct. conservatives havent been on power for 6 years, republicans have. there is a difference. republicans today are liberals from 30 years ago. they have unfortunately adopted the old liberal philosphy of fighting wars....ala vietnam.
i have repeadtly blasted the administration and all others who were unwillingly to fight this war in the necesarry manner to win.
however, in all fairness, you must admit that it is the liberals in media, UN, and even our own congress who oppose more "destructive" means of waging war.
american has had hard times winning wars since Korea. america is alot more liberal since korea.
but please dont confuse conservatives with republicans. the current republicans are certainly not conservatives
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quote:Originally posted by ElMuertoMonkey
ObiWan,
That's what the neocons thought and that's what got us into this mess in the first place...
What got us into this mess?
WMD's with Klingon Cloaking Capability?0 -
quote:Originally posted by ObiWan
American's support communist Chinese....Chinese turn around and support Iran...Iran turns around and uses that support to fight Americans....
There is one way to stop the circle of us killing our own troops.
actually america doesnt support communist china. we are destroying communist china. in many respects china is more capitolistic than american right now and everyday america becomes more socialistic and china becomes more democratic and capitolistic.
do you even know what percentage of chinas leaders are communist ?0
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