U.S. Forces Fighting Iranians In Iraq

[bemildred]

(CBS/AP) As President Bush tries to sell his new Iraq policy, his administration is keeping an eye on another threat — Iran, reports CBS News national security correspondent David Martin.

U.S. officials tell CBS News that American forces have begun an aggressive and mostly secret ground campaign against networks of Iranians that had been operating with virtual impunity inside Iraq.

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told Congress on Friday that Iranians are now on the target list.

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According to U.S. military figures, 198 American and British soldiers have been killed, and more than 600 wounded by advanced explosive devices manufactured in Iran and smuggled in through the southern marshes and along the Tigris River. Attempts to disrupt these networks, combined with the decision to send a second aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf as a warning to Iran, significantly raises the stakes, according to former Assistant Secretary of State Martin Indyk.

CBS

[spanone]

1. Here's the problem with that story 'U.S. officials tell CBS news'. I trust NO U.S. officials.

If they work for bush* they're lying. It took me 6 years to become this cynical.

[NNN0LHI]

5. You got it. If their lips are moving they are lying n/t

[babylonsister]

6. Ditto that sentiment. The admin 'crying wolf' yet again, with total

media complicity?
And even if it's true, get the troops out, end of problem.

[pwb]

2. how many innocents have been killed by american made munitions?

all over the world??? do as i say not as i do?

[bahrbearian]

3. I thought that the large portion of foreign Isurgents were Saudi ?

[bemildred]

7. Yeah, but we don't want to start a war with Saudi Arabia (right now anyway). nt

[bahrbearian]

10. "Which way do I go,which way do I go"

"Oil over there , Oil over here,,Which way do I go?"

[StrictlyRockers]

4. I am worried about shadow government conducting illegal covert ops.

Congress needs to do its job and say no.

[bemildred]

9. My main concern is that the Iranian leadership might not know the score.

I have no doubt that incidents will continue to occur, the situation is desperate.

[rug]

8. The Condor Division is next.

[bemildred]

11. You mean the Spanish Civil War?

I don't think the Germans are stupid enough to get involved in Iraq.

[rug]

13. Yes, the proxy division. The 92,000 Gates wants will be used the same way.

[bemildred]

16. In Iran?

It could give "Iran-Contra" a new meaning. I suppose that is one way to try to get a war going. I dunno if I'm ready to buy that, but it does make more sense than the idea that an additional 20.5K troops is going to do much of anything but buy a small amount of time; and it is far more likely to provoke Iran than anything else I can think of that would not also be too obviously the US picking a fight.

[OKNancy]

12. Why would people be skeptical? I'm sure this is happening

Of course the Iranians are stirring up crap in Iraq. The US invasion was the best thing to happen to Iran. They want to assert their dreams of making Iraq a theocracy just like they are.

[bemildred]

15. That's not the question.

The have been Iranians fighting in Iraq all along, but the last thing Iran's government wants is to get us out. Our presence has been like a gift to them. Once we leave, our freedom of action will improve and they (the Iranian leadership) will have to decide what to do. The longer we stay enmeshed in Iraq the better Iran likes it. If Iran's government is supporting anyone in Iraq it is the government we put in place.

The question is why are we being told about this now? The answer is that Bush wants to get a war going with Iran, or if not a war, at least a large distraction.

[bigtree]

14. the stuff about weapons manufactured in Iran . . .

I always have to go back to what the U.S. allowed in giving the 9-11 suspects safe haven in New Jersey and elsewhere, with the knowledge of many of the agencies which were supposed to sound the alarm.

Just because they came from Iran doesn't prove government complicity as Bush would like to insist. It certainly doesn't justify any incursion into Iran. It's not credible to expect the Iranian government to account for everything in their country and take responsibility for all of it.

That said, I don't believe a word that comes out of this administration without some independent confirmation and context.