Iraqi paper claims Iranians fighting there

UPI ^ | May 10 2006

[jmc1969]

An Iraqi daily is claiming that a "staggeringly high" proportion of foreign jihadis arrested in Iraq are Iranian.

al-Taji, a newspaper with close connections to the Kurdistan Democratic Party Massoud Barzani, noted that 1,577 of the 1,972 jihadis arrested since last May were Iranians.

Al-Taji, quoting a commander of the Iraqi border guard speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the other foreign militants arrested included nine Nigerians, four Indians, 364 Afghanis, two Pakistanis and one Russian citizen from Dagestan in the northern Caucasus.

The Bush administration has consistently maintained that Iran is covertly sending fighters into neighboring Iraq, a charge that Iran has repeatedly denied.

[Millicent_Hornswaggle]

My husband said when he was over there, most of the insurgants were Iranian. When he was down at Al Kut, they watched them come across the border at night.

[AliVeritas]

Sure you're not surprised... they were in the north two weeks ago.

[Marine_Uncle]

Well. You have been saying for a long time they are in Iraq in ever increasing numbers. Pat yourself on the back on this one.
Things to look bad for the Iranians on all fronts. Looks like Syria is quite quiet of lately. Other then the visits by the madman, recently, we hear nothing coming out of Damascus.
Perhaps a wait and see attitude has set into place.
The soon to be fully functional Iraqi government must have thrown them all a real curve ball. Now they don't know what to think or do.

[mlc9852]

The Iraqi people have been saying this for some time now. It isn't a surprise.

[Beckwith]

Why don't the Iraqi's just parade them in front of Fox News.

CNN, AP and Rooters would then have to cover the story and they'd have Ahmadamncrazyman by the shorts.

[Phsstpok]

When he was down at Al Kut, they watched them come across the border at night.

This may be a silly question, but if they could see them crossing the border, why didn't they  shoot them? 

[kinghorse]

Because they are doing the job Iraqis won't do! Ruin the country.

[wideawake]

Human rights nightmare. They would claim that they were peaceful refugees fleeing from Iran's oppressive regime to a place where there is freedom to practice their brand of Shia Islam.

[BenLurkin]

Just my opinion but . . . there wouldn't even be an "insurgency" were it not for Iran's involvement.

[tobyhill]

Iraq:"The World's Largest Bug Zapper"

[Recon Dad]

Once they fully establish a dead zone all along the Iranian border this will dry up like along the Syrian border.
Anything that is in the area is killed.

[Millicent_Hornswaggle]

Because the military has orders about those things. This was in April of 03 and they weren't supposed to shoot unless they were shot at.

[Marine_Uncle]

"Once they fully establish a dead zone all along the Iranian border this will dry up like along the Syrian border. Anything that is in the area is killed."
I'm with ya on that one dad. I really think you are right.
I am sure Balad and Al Asad AFB's are sending a light of f18 and F16 on air recon along the Iranian border. And surely Predators and other non-manned flights are 24/7 in many areas where vehicles can pass off road.
And now with the dozens of operational border forts in place on the eastern front, the Iraqi will have a few BN worth of ground troops covering large patrol areas plus the actual road border crossing check points.
It is only a matter of time for them to create the dead zone you speak of.

[Phsstpok]

Well, if we're going to have to follow rules.....

Seriously, I knew that, but it is still a valid question. The answer is right and it IS the right thing, but it is incredibly frustrating.

Can you tell I'm reading Thucydides for the first time, not just about his histories, right now?

[Phsstpok]

Oh, and I forgot to say thank you to you husband and to you, as well.

Forgive me for being (conventional and) thoughtless.

[FBD]

>"...nine Nigerians, four Indians, 364 Afghanis, two Pakistanis and one Russian..."<

-annnnnnnnnnd the common denominator IS:
They are ALL devout Muslims.

-nuff said.

[Wiz]

ping