EXCLUSIVE: Iranian Weapons Arm Iraqi Militia

ABC News ^ | November 30 2006 | JONATHAN KARL AND MARTIN CLANCY

[jmc1969]

U.S. officials say they have found smoking-gun evidence of Iranian support for terrorists in Iraq: brand-new weapons fresh from Iranian factories. According to a senior defense official, coalition forces have recently seized Iranian-made weapons and munitions that bear manufacturing dates in 2006.

This suggests, say the sources, that the material is going directly from Iranian factories to Shia militias, rather than taking a roundabout path through the black market. "There is no way this could be done without (Iranian) government approval," says a senior official.

Iranian-made munitions found in Iraq include advanced IEDs designed to pierce armor and anti-tank weapons. U.S. intelligence believes the weapons have been supplied to Iraq's growing Shia militias from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, which is also believed to be training Iraqi militia fighters in Iran.

Evidence is mounting, too, that the most powerful militia in Iraq, Moktada al-Sadr's Mahdi army, is receiving training support from the Iranian-backed terrorists of Hezbollah.

Two senior U.S. defense officials confirmed to ABC News earlier reports that fighters from the Mahdi army have traveled to Lebanon to receive training from Hezbollah.

While the New York Times reported that as many as 2,000 Iraqi militia fighters had received training in Lebanon, one of the senior officials said he believed the number was "closer to 1,000." Officials say a much smaller number of Hezbollah fighters have also traveled through Syria and into Iraq to provide training.

[Graymatter]

They're playin' that old Beach Boys tune in my head again...

[Lucky9teen]

[Eagle of Liberty]

Nut-men-a-job wants nukes, lets give it to him, and end the Islamic revolution for a thousand years.

We could give him one as a token of peace with a remotely-armed fuse from one of their IEDS that we have found hooked to the detonation mechanism.

James Baker could deliver it. "We recognize your desire for nuclear weapons, so as a sign of our willingness to assist in your endeavors, please accept this Trident missle tipped with active warheads."

30 minutes after all Americans are out of harm's way, BOOM!

[Jeff Chandler]

We didn't fight the British "honorably" during the Revolution.

Bad analogy. We didn't blow up innocent children, cut women's throats, etc..

[concerned about politics]

U.S. officials say they have found smoking-gun evidence of Iranian support for terrorists in Iraq: brand-new weapons fresh from Iranian factories. According to a senior defense official, coalition forces have recently seized Iranian-made weapons and munitions that bear manufacturing dates in 2006.

Of course Iran wants the US to lose the war. Iran wants to control Iraq.

Bush was trying to get the word out to the voters before the elections, but the liberal press was too busy campaigning for the democrats and people didn't get the whole story.

(He who controls communication controls the world. Reality is created by the press. What isn't reported is just as important as what is.)

[GraniteStateConservative]

What more do we need to know?

That there is a government constituency that has asked for the weapons and are appreciative because it means they can fight Sunnis? The alternative is for us to arm the Shia militias.

[NonValueAdded]

I love how MSM media outlets report on facts that have been known for months if not years as if they were the first to discover it - yesterday!

[TheRobb7]

I asked Jveritas to do a guest essay about this on my website, http://therobb7.bravejournal.com/

You'll find it on the Wednesday October 4th entry.

These weapons are coming from EVERYWHERE and it's past time to do something.

[Rennes Templar]

"shocted, stuned."

That's series! This could be hugh!

We'll probably do the same with them as North Korea, stop iPod imports.

[McGruff]

I thought we had proof for at least a year ago that Iran was supplying improved IEDs that were killing and maiming our soldiers. We should have done something about that they day we had proof. Our young men and women deserve it.

[Mo1]

big question is what will the US do about it, publicly or otherwise?

Thanks to the Democrats and the anitwar liberals in the media .. there ain't much we can do about it

All part of the sad lesson we are all about to learn

[sappy]

Let the code verifications begin............

[concerned about politics]

OK...When are the Democrats going to surrender to Iran?

Are you kidding? The DUmmies have been praising Iran ever since they received their letter of support from the Iranian mad man yesterday. He's their newly elected God of the year.

[Thrusher]

We'll probably do the same with them as North Korea, stop iPod imports.

I'm pretty sure denying them meaningful access to iPods is against the Geneva Convention.

[NonValueAdded]

Now that the Dems have regained Congress....ABC discovers THIS?

Expect a LOT more of that from all the usual suspects. It's their message to the RATs that "we made you, we can break you," letting the RATs know who is really in charge.

(cue Manuel ... "I will get your bill")

[ilgipper]

move troops out of the cities and to the borders. Let the Iraqi troops/police deal with the cities, with our guys on stand by to come in to take care of situations.

[roaddog727]

Nuke'em til they glow...

Then shoot'em in the dark

[RobbyS]

We need to talk to the bastards, all right. Maybe: back out of Iraq or we will join with the Israelis and bomb the heck out of your military facilities. We could take on the Iransins while the Israelis handled the Syrians. How do you say that in diplomatize?

[popdonnelly]

"Jim Baker says we need to TALK with Iran"

We need to talk to them about how we will knock the crap out of them.

[philsfan24]

"I know, why don't you get the UN to give them a "harsh reprimand."

Threatened? Threatened? Times up. Start carpet bombing."

screw the useless un. you need to give them one warning. they screw up, then start the carpet bombing.