Iran alleges U.S. is behind seizure of Baghdad envoy

[Nutmegger]

Iran accused the United States on Tuesday of being behind the abduction of an Iranian diplomat in Baghdad, but U.S. officials refused even to confirm that a kidnapping had taken place as the two countries' campaign of finger-pointing was brought up another notch.

Iranian officials said Jalal Sharafi, their embassy's second secretary, had not been seen since gunmen in Iraqi military uniforms intercepted his car Sunday as he left a branch of a state-owned Iranian bank.

"They acted under U.S. supervision," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammed Ali Hosseini said in a statement released in Tehran. He described the incident as a "terrorist attack."

The Bush administration has accused Iran of fueling the sectarian warfare in Iraq by providing Shiite Muslim extremists with weapons and explosives being used against U.S. troops and Sunni Arab targets. U.S. officials have been holding five Iranians seized last month in a raid in the northern city of Irbil. The Iranian officials are accused of planning attacks on Americans.

Full article: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-kidnap7feb07,0,7387522.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[anitar1]

1. I don't doubt it. n/t

[ConsAreLiars]

2. That act was consistent

with Chimpy and the delusional PNACers past practice. Monsters who will stir up hatred and fear at every chance. Vampires who thrive on the blood of children.

[MADem]

3. I think someone is trying to light a fuse

...but not a US vs. Iran fuse...an Iran-Iraq: Round Two fuse.

We did this before. Threw money and equipment at Saddam, so he could keep Khomeini and his crew busy, for TEN long years. Remember the tape of Rummy shaking hands with Saddam?

If they're fighting each other, they've no time for other adventures.

Saddam made a bundle under that arrangement. Maliki could as well...