Posted on 01/04/2007 4:12:50 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
Five Iranians arrested by US troops in Baghdad last month were on a covert mission to influence Iraq's government, British officials have told the BBC. The five men were senior intelligence officers "up to no good", an unnamed official told the Newsnight programme.
The arrests caused a diplomatic row when it became clear that the Iranians, who have since been released, had been invited by the Iraqi government. Tehran has protested to the US, saying some of the men were diplomats. The White House has suggested the arrests validated US claims of Iranian "meddling" in Iraq. 'No smoking gun' A number of Iranians were arrested in the Iraqi capital on 21 December, when US forces raided a compound belonging to Abdul Aziz Hakim, leader of a powerful pro-Iranian Shia party.
Inside were Iranian officials and documents that, Newsnight's diplomatic editor Mark Urban says, caused consternation among coalition military commanders. "There were five senior officers in various Iranian intelligence organisations... it was a very significant meeting... these people have been collared, relatively speaking, up to no good," an unnamed British official told the programme. Officials told Newsnight the arrests produced highly important intelligence, but no "smoking gun" about weapons supplies or attacks on coalition forces. They said that the arrested men were in Iraq to hold high-level meeting with representatives of several Iraqi Shia factions.
"There was discussion of whether the [Prime Minister Nouri] Maliki government would succeed, who should be in which ministerial jobs," one official told the programme. "It was a very significant meeting... the fact of who some of the Iranians were is very important," the official said. Following the arrests, the Americans quickly released several Iranian diplomats and three intelligence officers. However, they continued for some time to hold two intelligence officers seized at the Hakim compound. A US military spokesman in Baghdad told the New York Times newspaper that the raid had produced "specific intelligence from highly credible sources that linked individuals and locations with criminal activities". The spokesman added that "some of that specific intelligence dealt explicitly with force protection issues including attacks on Multinational Forces". Washington now wants the Iranians concerned to be banned from returning to Iraq. The Iraqi government is reportedly considering such a step.
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We could have held the Iranians hostage for a year, but civilized nations don't do that sort of thing.
Hmmmm...put this in the early running for the biggest "NO SH*T" statement of 2007.
We could have held the Iranians hostage for a year, but civilized nations don't do that sort of thing.
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Yeah, and the ACLU would have come to their rescue...to the rescue of their friends.
Even (according to the Bible) when God "whistled" for Darius, Cyrus, and Nebucanezar to take the Jews into captivity.. because of their(Jews) penchant to worship pagan Gods..
The BBC:
"There were five senior officers in various Iranian intelligence organisations... it was a very significant meeting... these people have been collared, relatively speaking, up to no good," an unnamed British official told the programme.
Officials told Newsnight the arrests produced highly important intelligence, but no "smoking gun" about weapons supplies or attacks on coalition forces.
They said that the arrested men were in Iraq to hold high-level meeting with representatives of several Iraqi Shia factions.
The NY Sun:
An American intelligence official said the new material, which has been authenticated within the intelligence community, confirms "that Iran is working closely with both the Shiite militias and Sunni Jihadist groups." The source was careful to stress that the Iranian plans do not extend to cooperation with Baathist groups fighting the government in Baghdad, and said the documents rather show how the Quds Force the arm of Iran's revolutionary guard that supports Shiite Hezbollah, Sunni Hamas, and Shiite death squads is working with individuals affiliated with Al Qaeda in Iraq and Ansar al-Sunna.
Another American official who has seen the summaries of the reporting affiliated with the arrests said it comprised a "smoking gun." "We found plans for attacks, phone numbers affiliated with Sunni bad guys, a lot of things that filled in the blanks on what these guys are up to," the official said.
Someone is lying
Couldn't have said it better myself.
It's part of the build-up.
"Hmmmm...put this in the early running for the biggest "NO SH*T" statement of 2007."
At least the dummest quote of the day.
Wait that has to go after the
"For the children, For the children, For the children, FOR THE CHILDREN"
quote from Queen Nancy today. :)
"...Iranians 'up to no good' in Iraq ..."
You know, the moment I saw this, I thought about the guy posting the "Master of the Obvious" photo... and someone has already done it! *sob* You guys are great!
"We need a Troop build up in Iraq and Afghanistan so we can attack Iran."
Always part of the "big plan", but don't forget about Syria.
Like someone said a few years back "The Media plays checkers while Bush plays chess".
LOL sounds like an ant hill.
Good to know- thank you!
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