Posted on 04/29/2008 5:34:59 AM PDT by jhpigott
Beirut / Baghdad -- One of the most powerful men in Iraq isn't an Iraqi government official, a militia leader, a senior cleric or a top U.S. military commander or diplomat. He's an Iranian general, and at times he's more influential than all of them.
Brig. Gen. Qassem Suleimani (51) ( pictured) commands the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force, an elite paramilitary and espionage organization whose mission is to expand Iran's influence in the Middle East .
As Tehran's point man on Iraq , he funnels military and financial support to various Iraqi factions, frustrating U.S. attempts to build a pro-Western democracy on the rubble of Saddam Hussein's dictatorship.
According to Iraqi and American officials, Suleimani has ensured the elections of pro-Iranian politicians, met frequently with senior Iraqi leaders and backed Shiite elements in the Iraqi security forces that are accused of torturing and killing minority Sunni Muslims.
"Whether we like him (Suleimani) or not, whether Americans like him or not, whether Iraqis like him or not, he is the focal point of Iranian policy in Iraq ," said a senior Iraqi official who asked not to be identified so he could speak freely. "The Quds Force have played it all, political, military, intelligence, economic. They are Iranian foreign policy in Iraq ."
McClatchy reported on March 30 that Suleimani intervened to halt the fighting between mostly Shiite Iraqi security forces and radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr's Mahdi Army militia in the southern city of Basra. Iraqi officials now confirm that in addition to that meeting, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani personally met Suleimani at a border crossing to make a direct appeal for help.
(Excerpt) Read more at yalibnan.com ...
ping
And, he’s not dead why?
Too many layers of compromise, inciminiating commands and of double dealing ....too Byzantine
He is the LAST thing the situation needs... he epitomzies what is wrong with the ME and how Iraqis got stuck with Saddam in the first place...he may be just another Saddam in the making.... they’re thick on the ground over there!
Oh, my! What should we do?
There’s an orange jump-suit and a waterboard with that dude’s name on it. Followed shortly thereafter by a fair trial and a date with the hangman. The only trick will be to get him to come to the party: I wonder if the Israelis would help facilitate a suitable introduction?
A black bag operation to capture or kill this guy would be a priority in my opinion.
Dead Man Walkin’!...
Trump eventually got him.
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