Police Seize Forged Ballots Headed to Iraq From Iran (2 More Tanker Trucks Sent From Iran)

NY Times ^ | Dec 14 2005 | DEXTER FILKINS

[jmc1969]

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Dec. 13 - Less than two days before nationwide elections, the Iraqi border police seized a tanker on Tuesday that had just crossed from Iran filled with thousands of forged ballots, an official at the Interior Ministry said.

The tanker was seized in the evening by agents with the American-trained border protection force at the Iraqi town of Badra, after crossing at Munthirya on the Iraqi border, the official said. According to the Iraqi official, the border police found several thousand partly completed ballots inside.

The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, said the Iranian truck driver told the police under interrogation that at least three other trucks filled with ballots had crossed from Iran at different spots along the border.

The official, who did not attend the interrogation, said he did not know where the driver was headed, or what he intended to do with the ballots.

The seizure of the truck comes at a delicate time in Iran's relations with both Iraq and the United States. The American government has said Iranian agents are deeply involved in trying to influence events in Iraq, by funneling money to Shiite political parties and by arming and training many of the illegal militias that are bedeviling the country.

Agents of the Iranian government are believed to be supporting the two main Shiite political parties here - the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq and the Dawa Party -with money and other assistance. Both parties support a strong role for Islam in the Iraqi state.

[jmc1969]

I really hope the pro-Iranian parties to lose this election.

[Dr Stormfist]

Nice...let's send them all back inside cruise missiles...along with some explosives. =)

[Gordongekko909]

I hear Mary Mapes was driving one of the trucks.

[MJY1288]

I believe once the situation calms down in Iraq, Iran will be attacked by Israel, and we will attack Syria

[Darksheare]

Iran seems to want to catch a 'zot' and a regime change.
Sheesh.

Egads.. I just used 'zot' to talk about a country..
I'm losing it.
;-)

[Gone_Postal]

seems the Iranians watch the democraps in this country well.

[jpf]

Where do they think they are, Chicago?

[fan4fan1]

Wow. I guess they really are catching up with America in the political process. Sounds like standard Democratic party operating procedure.

[Brad from Tennessee]

The saw the reporter who wrote this story, Dexter Filkins, interviewed on C-Span a couple of months ago. The guy was surprisingly supportive of what the U.S. is trying to achieve in Iraq. He also actually gets out into the country with the troops and gets shot at. He expressed a comradeship with the soldiers he has met. The interview lasted about an hour and left me with a very positive feeling about the outcome of the war.

[Gordongekko909]

[SandRat]

Proff positive that the Iranian rulers are really Democs at heart.

[Darksheare]

LOL!!

[Proud_USA_Republican]

The Iranian president will say the truck was being driven by Zionists trying to make it look like the Iranians did it.

Watch.

[CarrotAndStick]

Why can't the Iraqis use these low-cost electronic voting machines to eliminate this problem?

Electronic Voting machine (EVM)

[VeniVidiVici]

George Bush and company better make A TON OF NOISE ABOUT THIS!!!!!

[CommandoFrank]

Has anyone seen James 'Cue-ball' Carvel lately?

[bnelson44]

OK, I don't get it, where was the truck going?

[BykrBayb]

I think the delivery truck gave them away.

[Doctor Raoul]

I hear Mary Mapes was driving one of the trucks.

With Lucy Ramirez co-driving.

[FlingWingFlyer]

LOL!