Breaking on BBC: US accuses Iran over Iraq bombs

[5X]

US accuses Iran over Iraq bombs

<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6351257.stm>

The US military has accused the "highest levels" of Iran's government of supplying increasingly sophisticated roadside bombs to Iraq's insurgents.

Senior defence officials told reporters in Baghdad that the bombs were being used to deadly effect, killing more than 170 US troops since June 2004.

The weapons known as "explosively formed projectiles" (EFPs) are capable of destroying an Abrams tank.

US claims the bombs were smuggled from Iran cannot be independently verified.

The US officials, speaking off camera on condition of anonymity, said that EFPs had also injured more than 620 US personnel since June 2004.

[lancdem]

1. Here we go again

:mad:

[WiseButAngrySara]

8. Here we go again is right! GROAN! ....n/t

[Botany]

2. And yellowcake from Africa by the ton was going to Saddam

The ISG report said that over 80% of the attacks on U.S. troops were
coming from Sunnis ..... So the Shi Iranians are making high explosive
weapons for their blood enemy the Sunnis?



what stinks about this story?

[originalpckelly]

3. What proof do they have that the "highest levels of Iran's government" are in on it?

[zanne]

4. I am so mad I could spit.

They actually have the nerve to try this shit again. What I'm afraid of is the war spin. I wonder if America will fall for it again?

[Benhurst]

9. As H. L. Mencken pointed out,

no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people.

[LSK]

23. what you said

:grr:

[LynnTheDem]

5. The rest of the world yet again shakes their collective heads

over the bullshit and hypocrisy spewed by America.

And we drop yet further in our standing in the world.

How could one little man do so much damage to us & the world in such a short amount of time?

[Ian David]

6. Where is Valeire Plame when we need her? Oh, yeah. I forgot. n/t

[Blackhatjack]

7. Off camera news conferences make it easier to claim they never put this out....

And what is their explanation for the press knowing, but not making that information available to the public?

Does the press, and all its freedoms, not exist for the stated purpose of informing the public?

THis smells quite strongly --and comes from the same jar as the old " If you only knew what I know, but I can't tell you..." excuse.

[Strelnikov_]

15. Yep. The Government version of 'some are saying' n/t

[Toots]

10. "cannot be independently verified."

Story of the Bush* pResidency

[malaise]

11. I'm watching BBC now

More Bushco bullshit.
Someone better stop these lunatics.

[CJCRANE]

12. The BBC has been treading water today

with a non-story about a politician smoking cannabis 25-years ago: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6351331.stm

My guess is that non-story was just a placeholder waiting for the Iran announcement to kick in and receive more shock value.

[Strelnikov_]

13. Juan Cole: Blame these US deaths on Iran . . . a black psy-ops operation

Informed Comment
Sunday, February 11, 2007
http://www.juancole.com

It is far more likely that corrupt arms merchants are selling and smuggling these things than that there is direct government- to- militia transfer. It is possible that small Badr Corps stockpiles were shared or sold. That wouldn't have been Iran's fault.

Some large proportion of US troops being killed in Iraq are being killed with bullets and weapons supplied by Washington to the Iraqi army, which are then sold by desperate or greedy Iraqi soldiers on the black market. This problem of US/Iraqi government arms getting into the hands of the Sunni Arab guerrillas is far more significant and pressing than whatever arms smugglers bring in from Iran.

. . .


The attempt to blame these US deaths on Iran is in my view a black psy-ops operation. The claim is framed as though this was a matter of direct Iranian government transfer to the deadliest guerrillas. In fact, the most fractious Shiites are the ones who hate Iran the most. If 25 percent of US troops are being killed and wounded by explosively formed projectiles, then someone should look into who is giving those EFPs to Sunni Arab guerrillas. It isn't Iran.

Finally, it is obvious that if Iran did not exist, US troops would still be being blown up in large numbers. Sunni guerrillas in al-Anbar and West Baghdad are responsible for most of the deaths. The Bush administration's talent for blaming everyone but itself for its own screw-ups is on clear display here.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

14. Anonymous. Unverified.

[5X]

16. But 'senior officials', amazing isn't it?

And this is the top story on the BBC.

Did Judy Miller go to work for them?

[CJCRANE]

18. Don't trust the BBC.

In general they seem balanced but when it comes to the big neocon propaganda set-pieces they fall in line just like the other shills.

[KoKo]

19. Due to Tony Blair forcing BBC Head out after David Kelly's

"suicide." BBC got into trouble for publishing his findings. It hasn't been the same since. Bush/Blair joined at the hip.

[hippywife]

27. Wonder who drew

the short straw and got picked to leak the talking points to the press this time? :eyes:

[helderheid]

17. Yahoo has this now too:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070211/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_iran;_ylt=AmpsvN4qTXPcuYjAMofO4w6s0NUE

U.S. officer: Iran sends Iraq bomb parts

By STEVEN R. HURST, Associated Press Writer 40 minutes ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - High-tech roadside bombs that have proved particularly deadly to American soldiers are manufactured in
Iran and delivered to
Iraq on orders from the "highest levels" of the Iranian government, a senior intelligence officer said Sunday.


The officer, briefing reporters on condition he not be further identified, said that between June 2004 and last week, more than 170 Americans had been killed by the bombs, which the military calls "explosively formed projectiles."

Those weapons are capable of destroying an Abrams tank.

The officer said American intelligence analysts believe the EFPs are manufactured in Iran and smuggled into Iraq on orders from the top of the Iranian government. He did not elaborate.

U.S. officials have alleged for years that weapons were entering the country from Iran but had stopped short of alleging involvement by top Iranian leaders.

More at link above

[helderheid]

20. somebody give this a 5th rec

[Beelzebud]

21. Will our Democratic Majority put their foot down, or do we keep the powder dry?

Here it is Dems. The test of your political lifetimes.

It's time to stand up to this bastard and IMPEACH

[conscious evolution]

22. K & R

This is not good.
The phsy ops people are going to work again.(like they ever quit?)
Hopefully enough people will see thru this this time around.

[alfredo]

24. Let me get this straight, Iran is giving bombs to those who are

killing Americans. Who is the greatest threat to US soldiers? Is it the Saudi backed Sunni or the Iranian backed Shiia? Who is setting the road side bombs and shooting down US helicopters, Sunni or Shiia?

I think bush is counting on the American people not to make the distinction.

Why would Iran arm Sunnis? Sunnis are killing Shiia. It makes no sense.

[C_U_L8R]

26. Exactly - this admin believes the country is dumb

and they may be right.

No one is paying attention ... especially our own lackluster press.

(with exception to DU of course.. and a handful of others )

Yes .. who is arming the Sunnis ? It isn't Iran.

[alfredo]

30. It has to be the Sunni nations. Iraq is now a proxy war

between Sunni and Shiia.

[Gregorian]

25. How dare they defend themselves from Bush's illegal war.

Even if true.

Can't anyone see this in real terms? No imminent threat to our country. Bush started this. It's no different than tying someone's hands behind their back, and then beating them and their kids with a baseball bat. And how dare their friends come to their aid. How dare they. All while the Americans sit in the bleachers cheering their bully idiot on. Woo hoo! Way to go, phony cowboy! We have no lives, nor brains.

Just give a dummy a book of matches and see what he can do. Bravo! Burn down the house that we worked so hard to build. And take down the neighborhood too.

Every bomb dropped is a dollar made. And so war is profit. And death. As long as it's "over there", who cares.

[Downtown Hound]

28. Even if this is true, which coming from these crooks is seriously suspect

Russia gave the Vietnamese most of their weapons in Vietnam. Saudi Arabia is giving the Sunnis many of their weapons. And let's not forget that the Americans gave the Afghans many weapons in their fight against the Soviets. This is not cause for war, but Bush, in all of his mind-blowing stupidity, will use it as such.

[TroubleMan]

29. Here we go again:

[KoKo]

31. More...March to ANOTHER WAR from Blair/Bush! n/t

[Zhade]

32. "explosively formed projectiles" - uh, isn't that another way to say 'shrapnel'?

WTF is with these lying warmongers and their inane, seventh-rate propaganda naming conventions?