New Arms Shipments to Iraqi Militia Detected (From Iran)

ABC News ^ | January 12, 2007 | Alexis Debat

[West Coast Conservative]

US military intelligence sources tell ABC News that large shipments of weapons have been smuggled to Iraqi militia over the past five weeks, including dozens of Iranian supplied EFP's , or Explosive Form Projectiles, highly effective against armored vehicles.

The weapons were sent to Moqtada al Sadr's Shi'a militia, known as "Mahdi’s Army" who control Sadr City, a slum in northern Baghdad with a population of 2 million.

US and Iraqi intelligence units on the ground detected the shipments which are believed to be of Iranian origin. In addition, US military sources tell ABC, Al Sadr has been working on his own "surge," actively recruiting hundreds of residents of Sadr City to supplement the 8 to 10,000 militiamen already believed to make up the "Mahdi Army" in Baghdad.

Bahaa al-Araji, one of Moqtada al-Sadr's representatives in the Iraqi parliament, has told ABC News that the radical Shiite cleric has ordered his Mahdi Army not to attack US forces -- even if targeted.

But the increased arms shipments from Iran and intensified recruiting are yet another troubling sign of the difficulties facing the new Bush war plan which Ambassador Negroponte alluded to in his congressional testimony yesterday.

"One has to wonder why it is they (Iran) have increased their supply of these kinds of lethal weapons to extremists Shi'a groups in Iraq, provoking violence, attacks on coalition forces and others. And one wonders if their policy towards Iraq may not have shifted to a more aggressive posture than it has been in the past."

[Dog Gone]

Bahaa al-Araji, one of Moqtada al-Sadr's representatives in the Iraqi parliament, has told ABC News that the radical Shiite cleric has ordered his Mahdi Army not to attack US forces -- even if targeted.

What BS. Who are the IEDs going to be used against? Wandering Jews?

[Deetes]

Blast them as they come accross the border...

[AdvisorB]

"One has to wonder why it is they (Iran) have increased their supply of these kinds of lethal weapons to extremists Shi'a groups in Iraq, provoking violence, attacks on coalition forces and others. And one wonders if their policy towards Iraq may not have shifted to a more aggressive posture than it has been in the past."


With the RATs commanding majorities in the House and the US Senate, the Iranians think they have the "Great Satan" on the ropes. The Democrats are the Iranians North American Mahdi Army.

[observer5]

Sadr will be hosted by Bush soon in Camp David... and he'll look him deep in the eyes and see ....

[Ramius]

Methinks it is time for Mookie to disappear.

[bnelson44]

"One has to wonder why it is they (Iran) have increased their supply of these kinds of lethal weapons to extremists Shi'a groups in Iraq, provoking violence, attacks on coalition forces and others. And one wonders if their policy towards Iraq may not have shifted to a more aggressive posture than it has been in the past."

He's kidding, right?

[TADSLOS]

Why is Sadr City still standing?

[elhombrelibre]

We should not allow Iran to do these things with impunity. And we can turn the tables on the Iranians and supply weapons and ammunition to their insurgents. It's time to turn up the heat on Iran and Syria.

[nerdwithamachinegun]

Looks like ABC's sources should be prosecuted.
This kind of leak is damaging to intel collection efforts.

[El Gato]

US and Iraqi intelligence units on the ground detected the shipments which are believed to be of Iranian origin. In addition, US military sources tell ABC, Al Sadr has been working on his own "surge," actively recruiting hundreds of residents of Sadr City to supplement the 8 to 10,000 militiamen already believed to make up the "Mahdi Army" in Baghdad. Bahaa al-Araji, one of Moqtada al-Sadr's representatives in the Iraqi parliament, has told ABC News that the radical Shiite cleric has ordered his Mahdi Army not to attack US forces -- even if targeted.

His actions speak louder than the words of his representative.

Book 'im Danno

Or just drop a Paveway LGB through his bedroom window.

[centurion316]

Iranian supplied EFP's , or Explosive Form Projectiles, highly effective against armored vehicles.

Explosive Form Projectiles = Explosively Formed Projectiles. In other words, shaped charges. I'm sure that no one at ABC has any idea what I'm talking about, but they know every there is to know about losing this war.

[Cicero]

Yes, I was wondering about that. If you say "shaped charges" then everyone knows what you are talking about. Except maybe these damned reporters.

[etradervic]

[doc1019]

Blast them “before” the come across the border!!!!

[jwalsh07]

"One has to wonder why it is they (Iran) have increased their supply of these kinds of lethal weapons to extremists Shi'a groups in Iraq, provoking violence, attacks on coalition forces and others. And one wonders if their policy towards Iraq may not have shifted to a more aggressive posture than it has been in the past."

One has to wonder why the supply lines haven't been greeted by American gunships.

[strange1]

..actively recruiting hundreds of residents of Sadr City to supplement the 8 to 10,000

...OK, why is there even a Sadr city? That place should be the site of a future Walmart.

[TADSLOS]

One of several versions.

[mylife]

Detected after delivery? Well, thats helpful /sarc

[cripplecreek]

Looking at that picture I think I can understand why so many Iraqis die in the bombings. If that were an American street you wouldn't see civilians hanging around like that.