Posted on 07/03/2004 4:52:37 PM PDT by blam
New Iraq government accuses Iran and Syria of backing insurgents
By Damien McElroy in Baghdad
(Filed: 04/07/2004)
The new Iraqi government will publish damning evidence this week linking foreign powers, including Iran and Syria, to the Muslim extremists and loyalists of the former regime who launched a bloody rebellion after the fall of Saddam Hussein.
Hoshyar Zebari, the foreign minister, told The Telegraph that the interim government had gathered intelligence detailing the support provided to insurgent groups by some neighbouring nations.
Although he did not name the countries, senior Iraqi officials indicated that Iran and Syria were the worst offenders. The accusation that governments in Teheran and Damascus have been aiding the insurgents could create an immediate diplomatic crisis for the Baghdad administration that assumed power only last week.
Insurgents had benefited from financial support, logistical assistance and training from neighbouring government agencies, said Mr Zebari. Baghdad also believed that up to 10,000 foreign spies and undercover agents had infiltrated the country since last year's war.
He even indicated that Iraq might not oppose attacks by American troops based in Iraq on neighbouring states if they were backing the insurgents.
"Since we started to look at the security situation, we have seen how foreign governments have been helping terrorists," said Mr Zebari. "Why they are doing it we cannot say, but we know where the support is coming from. We have plans to put this before the public within days and it will have substantial impact."
He said it was important for the new government to prove that it was in the "driving seat" in defending Iraqi security, despite the probable diplomatic fallout from such a step. Some neighbouring countries, he said, had written off the new Iraq, branding the prime minister, Ayad Allawi, and his ministers as American and British stooges.
"Foreign support for terrorists is ongoing, very risky and very dangerous," he added. "But it will backfire on those governments. A stable and peaceful Iraq is a better neighbour for them."
Powerful elements within Iran have been backing radical Shias in Iraq, including supporters of the militant cleric, Moqtada al-Sadr, who has played a prominent role in the insurgency against the US-led coalition.
In a further signal that Iraq's new rulers will take a tough line with hostile neighbours, Adnan al-Assadi, the deputy interior minister, told The Telegraph that hundreds of former Ba'athist officials, who had fled to Syria, were supplying funds and volunteers to the resistance.
this shouldnt be a surprise to anyone...
Allawi is a good guy and he is very very good for Iraq....
I only hope that the Iraqis see this...
UHM......WOW! This could get very interesting......
"up to 10,000 foreign spies and undercover agents had infiltrated the country since last year's war."
Good grief!!!
Then it's a miracle, we are doing so well.
I think it's time to invade Iran and Syria.
The transfer to strong men was a diplomatic coup for this administration IMHO. A confrontation between Iraq and it's neighbors over certain and demonstrable evidence of military and terrorist action..........and after they've all recognized the new government........will have the anti-Americans in a full hissy fit. Not to mention a few Arab/Islamist despots very very nervous.
I think Iraq wants us bleeding heart hawks out so they can fix things the 'right' way even more than the US liberal bleeding hearts want us out.
Sadly enough we all know this, have known it, and realize now that this is the concerning dissension to ME peace.
calling NYT, LATimes, WaPo, ErrAmerica,....
Car 54, where are you?
..."Geepers, Mr. Kent! Are you sure"? Superman, "Yes, Jimmy, I am sure"...
I only hope that the Iraqis see this...
The new Iraqi interum government is saying what the CPA would not.
Iraqis don't have a problem speaking their mind.
It should come as no surprise that terrorists who operate without the auspices of a nation-state cross borders wherever they can. Al-Qaeda has been found from Chechnya to the southern tip of the Arab Peninsula.
They must taken our advice and first killed all the lawyers.
Saddam is a lawyer. He might be the last one.
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