Al-Qaeda linked to operations from Iran

Financial Times via Drudge Report ^ | July 6, 2007 | Stephen Fidler in London

[RDTF]

Evidence that Iranian territory is being used as a base by al-Qaeda to help in terrorist operations in Iraq and elsewhere is growing, say western officials.

It is not clear how much the al-Qaeda operation, described by one official as a money and communications hub, is being tolerated or encouraged by the Iranian government, they said.

The group’s operatives, who link the al-Qaeda leadership in Pakistan with their disciples in Iraq, the Levant and North Africa, move with relative freedom in the country, they said.

The officials said the creation of some kind of al-Qaeda hub in Iran appears to be separate from the group of seven senior al-Qaeda figures, including Saad bin Laden, son of the group’s figurehead, that Iran is said to have detained since 2002. A senior US official said the information had produced different assessments. “The most conservative, cautious intelligence assessment is that [the Iranian authorities] are turning a blind eye. But there are a lot of doubts about that,” he said.

“They are benefiting from the mayhem that AQ is carrying out. They don’t have to deal with al-Qaeda to benefit.”

Yet while Tehran might be content with the pressure al-Qaeda is placing on the US occupation in Iraq, Iran, as a state based on Shia Islam surrounded by mainly Sunni countries, has long been wary of al-Qaeda’s fierce brand of Sunni Islam.

A former Iranian official said Iran feared al-Qaeda and did not want to distract it from Iraq, dismissing any idea that Iran was supplying it with weapons. “Our relationship with al-Qaeda, at an intelligence level, can be said to be successful as long as they are at a distance,” he said.

-snip-

[Perdogg]

I wonder how Michael Scheuer is going to explain why Al Qaeda (salafists) is operating in the country run by apostates (shias).

[Shots]

Duh so what else is new???

[ExTexasRedhead]

Carpet bomb for practice.

[Williams]

duh

[Zack Nguyen]

This is utterly impossible. What a tissue of lies! Everyone knows that Sunnis and Shiites never work together! They don't work with secularists either! Everybody says so!

[topher]

There was a post about the US going to send three carrier groups to the Persian Gulf...

Is President Bush thinking of some 4th of July fireworks happening after the 4th? Maybe blowing IED factories and Nuclear bomb factories...

Or maybe gathering INTEL when another nation launches an airstrike against Iran since they are a threat to their soveignty... (India -- of course -- that would make it an attack by the IAF)

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Flush the bombers...

[Dr. Frank fan]

Remember the "Bush Doctrine"? Remember how it would have applied in a situation such as this?

If it were actually operative, I mean....

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

What a surprise......NOT!

[Chgogal]

“Yet while Tehran might be content with the pressure al-Qaeda is placing on the US occupation in Iraq, Iran, as a state based on Shia Islam surrounded by mainly Sunni countries, has long been wary of al-Qaeda’s fierce brand of Sunni Islam.”

Yeah right, Shia Islam is so very benign and gentle. /s

[Valin]

I’m shocked..SHOCKED I say. But then I am so easily shocked.

[Marine_Uncle]

"Yeah right, Shia Islam is so very benign and gentle. /s"
Their all nuts. Throw in a crazy clause as well.