I wonder why the Iran/Iraq war is never brought into play when discussing todays situation?
Showing posts with label Iran. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Iran. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Friday, April 6, 2007
The US Protects...Terrorists?
According to a CNN.com article, the US military is protecting an organization that is listed as a terrorist group by the United States government. The Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, or MEK, are an Iranian dissident group that operates in a camp north of Baghdad. The US military provides security for the camp and for their convoys.
The group has been credited with exposing the Iranian governments secret nuclear plans by the US government, as well as being accused of terrorist acts by the Iranian and Iraqi governments.
Now isn't this a nice pickle the US finds itself in. Protecting a terrorist group inside a war zone that the host government wants expelled as well as the US's number one adversary in the region. What to do, what to do?
Apparently everything is kosher with this dilemma though...well according to the US it is. Even though the MEK is labeled a terrorist organization, the military can keep a safeguard over them. Because they are a terrorist organization US banks must freeze its assets; and any American giving support to its members is committing a crime. The International Committee of the Red Cross has also said that MEK is a protected group, stressing that they can not be expelled or repatriated.
This seems like something the US is setting up for future use. When the time does come for US forces to leave Iraq, the US will leave behind a very capable ally to maintain pressure on the Iranians. Even though the size of the MEK is minuscule to that of the Iranian military and Revolutionary Guard, they can still participate in clandestine operations and provide intelligence to the US.
The MEK may also become a thorn in the side to Iraqi government. The Iraqis have stated that they want the MEK out of the country, and without direct US support to help them they may be in a fight with the Iraqi government following a US withdrawal.
But as history has shown, this may comeback to bite the US in the ass.
The group has been credited with exposing the Iranian governments secret nuclear plans by the US government, as well as being accused of terrorist acts by the Iranian and Iraqi governments.
Now isn't this a nice pickle the US finds itself in. Protecting a terrorist group inside a war zone that the host government wants expelled as well as the US's number one adversary in the region. What to do, what to do?
Apparently everything is kosher with this dilemma though...well according to the US it is. Even though the MEK is labeled a terrorist organization, the military can keep a safeguard over them. Because they are a terrorist organization US banks must freeze its assets; and any American giving support to its members is committing a crime. The International Committee of the Red Cross has also said that MEK is a protected group, stressing that they can not be expelled or repatriated.
This seems like something the US is setting up for future use. When the time does come for US forces to leave Iraq, the US will leave behind a very capable ally to maintain pressure on the Iranians. Even though the size of the MEK is minuscule to that of the Iranian military and Revolutionary Guard, they can still participate in clandestine operations and provide intelligence to the US.
The MEK may also become a thorn in the side to Iraqi government. The Iraqis have stated that they want the MEK out of the country, and without direct US support to help them they may be in a fight with the Iraqi government following a US withdrawal.
But as history has shown, this may comeback to bite the US in the ass.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Iran Opens Mouth...and Needs to Insert Foot
What in the world is Iran doing? Are these guys trying to bring even more negative perceptions upon themselves on purpose? They cant be that crazy...can they?
It was one thing to tell the world that you are pursuing a nuclear program, and it is one thing for for their president to sugest that Israel be "wiped off the map," but its another thing to hold foreigners hostage, especially when they are not engaged in a conlfict with you.
Now Iran has been put on notice with their nuclear program. It drew international condemnation and just recentley the UN voted 15-0, 15-0!!!! to impose sanctions on Iran for refusing to halt their program. Now they have 15 Brits in their possession.
Iran has now put itself in a precarious posistion. They already have the international spotlight shining bright on them and now that light has been cranked up to high. There may be a possiblity that Iran may decide to try and use the Brits as leverage in trying to get their way or this may turn out to be just like 1979-80 all over again.
Iran has already used some of the Brits as tools to spread negative messages of the US and British prescence in Iraq. It seems that those who did appear on tv and those who wrote the letters did so under duress. They also "confessed" to being in Iranian waters. This power play by the Iranians will only infuriate the west even more and could lead to more problems for them down the road.
Maybe Ahmadenijad is doing this to try and divert public attention away from his poor domestic political record. He has reverted to his anti-western stance that got him elected, and he is doing this to remind people why they elected him. But when this is all said and done, Iran is going to be seen as a pariah and a rouge state that can not be trusted by the international community.
It was one thing to tell the world that you are pursuing a nuclear program, and it is one thing for for their president to sugest that Israel be "wiped off the map," but its another thing to hold foreigners hostage, especially when they are not engaged in a conlfict with you.
Now Iran has been put on notice with their nuclear program. It drew international condemnation and just recentley the UN voted 15-0, 15-0!!!! to impose sanctions on Iran for refusing to halt their program. Now they have 15 Brits in their possession.
Iran has now put itself in a precarious posistion. They already have the international spotlight shining bright on them and now that light has been cranked up to high. There may be a possiblity that Iran may decide to try and use the Brits as leverage in trying to get their way or this may turn out to be just like 1979-80 all over again.
Iran has already used some of the Brits as tools to spread negative messages of the US and British prescence in Iraq. It seems that those who did appear on tv and those who wrote the letters did so under duress. They also "confessed" to being in Iranian waters. This power play by the Iranians will only infuriate the west even more and could lead to more problems for them down the road.
Maybe Ahmadenijad is doing this to try and divert public attention away from his poor domestic political record. He has reverted to his anti-western stance that got him elected, and he is doing this to remind people why they elected him. But when this is all said and done, Iran is going to be seen as a pariah and a rouge state that can not be trusted by the international community.
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