Iranian Guard's mission evolves

The Washington Times ^ | March 19, 2007 | Withheld

[edpc]

Iran's Revolutionary Guard has been restructuring its military capabilities and taking an increasingly prominent role in the nation's political life as the United States builds political and military pressure on the Islamic republic.

A number of former commanders have assumed political positions or become involved in shaping foreign policy, even as the military force -- known formally as the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) -- prepares itself for "asymmetrical warfare" and the possibility of internal unrest.

On Feb. 21, the overall commander of the IRGC declared that the United States was not able to make any security changes in the Middle East without the cooperation of Iran, according to IRNA, the state news agency.

Gen. Yahya Safavi was echoed by Ali Said, supreme leader Ali Khamenei's personal representative to the IRGC.

He said on Jan. 31 that "if America abandons its self-centeredness, and village headman position, Iran ... could fulfill its role in the region and help resolve regional issues."

The foray into politics demonstrates the growing power of the Revolutionary Guard -- which already controls Iran's borders and runs the country's ballistic-missile and satellite programs -- during nearly two years of government under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

"By involving the Revolutionary Guard in the political life of the country, [Ayatollah] Khamenei's direct and unwise leadership of the corps has simply exacerbated matters," wrote Mohsen Sazegara, one of the founders of the IRGC and now a Harvard-based dissident, in a recent opinion piece.

At the same time, the Revolutionary Guard has come under extreme pressure as a number of its personnel are killed, arrested or have disappeared under conditions that have prompted suspicions within its upper echelons that the United States is sponsoring a guerrilla campaign against it.

[edpc]

A behind-the-scenes battle with Iran seems to be taking place. Given the fact we have reports like this.....

Iran To Hit Back At US "Kidnaps"

.....open warfare may not be too far away.

[Cap Huff]

ping

[gotribe]

I wonder how they would wage assymetrical warfare if: 1) We kidnap every ranking iranian that leaves their country; and 2) we bomb and missile them from afar for years on end without ever setting boots on their ground, refineries first.

[edpc]

Well....unfortunately, they also have their hands in Syria, Hezbollah, Hamas, and who knows what else. We can't just worry about Iranian nationals.

[jeffers]

Thanks for the ping.