Special forces find proof of Iran supplying Taliban with equipment to fight British

Guardian.co.uk ^ | June 22, 2008 | Mark Townsend

[forkinsocket]

British special forces operating on the border between Afghanistan and Iran have uncovered fresh evidence that Tehran is actively backing insurgents fighting UK troops.

Documented proof that Iran is supplying the Taliban with devastating roadside bomb-making equipment has been passed by British officials to Tehran, prompting fears that the war in Afghanistan may escalate into a regional armed conflict.

Days after Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that Britain would freeze the assets of Iran's largest bank to discourage Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, Whitehall sources revealed that they had forwarded 'documentation' that the Iranian authorities were supplying enemy forces in Afghanistan.

'We have given Tehran documentation of things that we are concerned about, but of course they have denied it,' a Whitehall source said.

Nato spokesman James Appathurai echoed concerns that elements in Iran are providing support to insurgents fighting British troops. He said: 'Weapons of Iranian origin have turned up in Afghanistan in significant numbers.'

The situation is so serious that the UK government is believed to have asked Russia and India to raise the issue with Tehran, and to emphasise its wider implications. Evidence found by UK special forces is understood to concern the supply of the same bomb-making equipment Iran provides to insurgents in Iraq, namely components for explosively formed projectiles, or EFPs.

Senior Whitehall sources said they were concerned about Iran's 'nefarious' influence in the supply of 'lethal aid' in the form of EFPs, which are capable of penetrating the strongest British armour and have killed at least 17 British soldiers in Iraq.

[forkinsocket]

.

[alancarp]

I think we're well past the point at which (in my position of king for a day) I would have sent a pointed message to Tehran to express the fact that we know what they're doing and are ticked off about the hundreds of extra lives our people are sacrificing to combat terrorists who might otherwise have given up the fight by now.

I'm not saying kill off Imadingynutjob... at least not yet... but punch him hard right in the nose in a meaningful way. Oil, nuclear... or something notably important to him personally.

[HardStarboard]

To kill or not to kill Taliban...that is the question!

Five postings above this article is this one...

>>>Stop killing the Taliban – they offer the best hope of beating Al-Qaeda ( Barf Alert )<<<

Riiiiight....these guys are getting weapons from Iran and killing Brit soldiers and the UK Telegraph says Britain should stop fighting back. Well, if the Brit Navy isn't fighting back, I guess the Army might want to go along to get along too.

Ever get the idea nobody in the fee world knows how to fight the WOT?

[elhombrelibre]

Left Wing Guardian reports on UK soldiers finding proof of Iran's equipping the Taliban with EFP’s.

[VeniVidiVici]

Personally I think we should supply Tehran with missles and bombs for delivery pronto.

[dixiechick2000]

"I think we're well past the point at which (in my position of king for a day) I would have sent a pointed message to Tehran to express the fact that we know what they're doing and are ticked off about the hundreds of extra lives our people are sacrificing to combat terrorists who might otherwise have given up the fight by now.

I'm not saying kill off Imadingynutjob... at least not yet... but punch him hard right in the nose in a meaningful way. Oil, nuclear... or something notably important to him personally."

God love you, Alan.

Thank you for the ping, senor. ;o)

[Dave Elias]

Strange development this one. As an essentially Deobandian/Wahabbist outfit, the Taliban are ideological enemies of Shi’ite Iran. Iran have much to gain in influence with the demise of the Taliban. So perhaps they are eager to keep the allies engaged in Iran, for fear of being attacked on both flanks?

[elhombrelibre]

I think it's much like our alliance with Stalin to defeat Hitler. Iran may fear the Taliban and al Qaeda, but they're happy to use them against the US.

[smedley64]

Too many “the enemy of my enemy is my freind” scenarios going on over there right now. We need to vacate Iraq as soon as they’re ready to go it alone so they can all get back to killing each other in peace.

[elhombrelibre]

Iran will either be dealt with soon or later when it’s much more dangerous to the world. The choices are stark and unfortunate, but their truculence is deadly for our people and many others in the world.

[dixiechick2000]

"...when it’s much more dangerous to the world."

That's what I'm afraid of.

Thank you!

[Mercia]

“Ever get the idea nobody in the fee world knows how to fight the WOT?”

Just because a newspaper says we Brits should take a certain course of action, doesn’t mean we’re honour bound to take it. Thats why they are called opinion articles or editorials.

And with the heavy casualties being taken by NATO forces in Afghanistan, all members of the ‘Free World’, suggests that they do know how to fight in this war.

You just go and tell a Royal Marine to his face that the Navy aren’t fighting. You’re liable to get short shrift from such veterans.

[RU88]

It's high time that Imafreekaziod and his minions get a little calling card. Say maybe there's a terrible accident at one of the plants supplying these weapons. He needs to be schooled as the consequences of his actions.

[Joe Boucher]

Come on, ignore it. So what if Iran is behind killing American, British, Canadian and other countries troops.
You can’t do anything, it’s Iran and they have oil.

Come on President Bush, either kick hell out of Iran or at least allow Israel to do so.
Oh you can’t do that or anything else except allow Iran to kill our boys. Iran has oil.Asses.

[arthurus]

Oh the indignity of it all! We have been at war with Iran for a long time. Of course they are supplying their tropsin Afghanistan and Iraq.

[iopscusa]

Don’t worry, we appreciate our British Allies and know your fighting men can get the job done when allowed to.
God bless

[Apparatchik]

We have been at war with Iran for a long time.

The Iranians have learned the art of the proxy war, presumably from the Soviets during the Cold War. It took President Reagan's leadership to stand strong and roll them back (Grenada, Nicaragua, SDI, etc.) and we need that kind of leadership now.

Let's see... who is more likely to stand up to the mullahs, John McCain or Barack Hussein Obama? Hmmm....

[LSUfan]

The Iranians have a long track record of cooperation and support for Sunni terrorist groups and regimes... Iranian Entanglements

There may be many reasons for this, but it has been going on for many years...

[LSUfan]

Heavy casualties being taken by NATO forces in Afghanistan?

Huh?

[ikez78]

So Iran will support Sunni Hamas, Sunni Syria and the Sunni Taliban but not Sunni al Qaeda? Grow up Dems and leftist media. Grow up and wake up.