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Title: Why Iran Believes ISIS is a U.S. Creation
Source:
Time (yeah, it still exists in dental offices)
URL Source: http://time.com/3720081/isis-iran-us-creation/
Published: Feb 26, 2015
Author: Kay Armin Serjoie
Post Date: 2015-03-01 08:09:05 by Tooconservative
Keywords: None
Views: 17014
Comments: 91
Iran has taken a lead role in defending the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad and strengthening the Baghdad government in the war against the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS). But that doesn’t mean Iran views the United States as an ally in that war, even if they share a common enemy in ISIS. Abdullah Ganji, the managing-director of Javan newspaper, which is believed to closely reflect the views of the government and the powerful Iranian Revolutionary Guards, says that U.S. support for ISIS is in fact a way of ensuring Israel’s security and disrupting the Muslim world in the cause of advancing Western interests. “We believe that the West has been influential in the creation of ISIS for a number of reasons. First to engage Muslims against each other, to waste their energy and in this way Israel’s security would be guaranteed or at least enhanced,” says Ganji. “Secondly, an ugly, violent and homicidal face of Islam is presented to the world. And third, to create an inconvenience for Iran.” Iran’s relations with the U.S. have been strained since the 1979 Islamic Revolution ousted the U.S.-backed Shah of Iran and negotiations are currently underway between Iran and Western nations, including the U.S., to ensure the Islamic Republic does not produce nuclear weapons. Ganji went on to say that much of ISIS — its propaganda, structure and weapons — were all the work of the West. “A group that claims to be an Islamic one and has no sensitivity towards occupied Muslim lands in Palestine but is bent on killing Muslims as its first priority, it’s not a movement with roots in Islamic history. Not only many of its weapons but its methods of operation, its propaganda methods and many of its internal structures are Western, that’s why we are distrustful of the roots of ISIS,” he says. “As the Supreme Leader [Ayatollah Khamenei] also said, [the coalition forces] have on a number of times even made weapon drops for ISIS. How is it that they have laser-guided precision munitions and bombs but drop weapons for the wrong people? And not only once but at least a number of times,” he says, referring to incidents when weapons dropped from U.S. aircraft landed in ISIS-controlled areas rather than the intended Kurdish-controlled areas. “Iran cannot cooperate with the United States against ISIS because it doesn’t trust America, it doesn’t believe in their honesty in combatting ISIS. Iran can’t trust the U.S. to begin something and to continue to the end. It acts patronizingly and will change its path whenever it feels it is justified. We are also worried that the U.S. is using ISIS as a pretext to return its troops into Iraq,” Ganji says. “I believe that the U.S. prefers a weak ISIS that cannot be a major threat but will still cause inconvenience for Iran, Iraq and Syria and generally what they themselves called the Shiite crescent.” Poster Comment: I've read other reports that, across the Mideast, it is the majority view that ISIS is an American creation. Here, the Iranians make those accusations their official position.
"We believe that the West has been influential in the creation of ISIS"
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#41. To: TooConservative (#40)
I agree. Sounds like they want to do some "extra-LOAC" activities here. Which means they won't want US UAS nor manned air support there to record the event. Goes back to a past discussion we had...How the Iraqi Shia government is still seeing the Baath party boogeyman. They still believe the phantom Baath is behind all evils.
"Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." (1 Timothy 6:6-7)
It isn't irrational. Many of the commanders who left the Iraqi military suddenly in a lurch and led to the huge ISIS advance and the loss of Mosul were the remaining Ba'athist elements of the military. Baghdad was in a bad place with this situation. The Shi'a officers thought the Sunni Ba'athists were getting special treatment for promotions. But the Ba'athists were also the most professionalized and capable leaders (and also the most directly connected to Saddam's regime). This is a major element of why I constantly mention Ba'athist revanchism. I think Baghdad will be taking a Iraq-love-it-or-leave-it attitude. Being the Mideast, this will work out in practice as Iraq-love-it-or-leave-it-or-we'll-kill-throw-you-and-your-family-into-a-woodchipper. Or do the equivalent using artillery and bombs. The recruiting of the Shi'a militia to work alongside the Iraqi army is not a good sign for the ISIS rebels but especially for the Sunni towns they are occupying which mostly welcomed them in. I wouldn't be surprised if Tikrit is a flat smoking pile of rubble when they get done with it.
Quds with artillery is interesting. Quds in Iraq is not so interesting. They have been there since after the Iranian revolution.
"Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." (1 Timothy 6:6-7)
Could be. However, the Shia know that just about every one of their Shia shrines will now get special VBIED attention. If they level Tikrit, the Sunni (not ISIL) will level the Shia 'holy' places. And that is exactly what ISIL wants to happen. They want what is left of the Sunni fence sitters to willingly come over to them.
"Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." (1 Timothy 6:6-7)
Shi'a mosques, maybe. But those are already taken for the Sunni. Tikrit is apparently a Sunni area anyway so the only mosques or shrines would be Sunni. I'm not sure how many Shi'a shrines or mosques have survived in the Sunni towns, especially those in ISIS's hands. Probably none from what we see of their vandalism. Most of the shrines of any sectarian flavor are in the south and are pretty safe. And the local townsmen value any shrine for the pilgrim traffic they draw in, just like people in Rome like having their big local tourist trap to draw the pilgrims. Tikrit was a small town in the Ottoman era and apparently grew to 250K after Saddam made it prominent and prosperous. Although Saladin was born there, he didn't live there and he is buried in Syria. I can find no list of shrines there. They have (or had) a university and a museum and a stadium for 10K. The museum has been wrecked and the 8th century Assyrian church destroyed. Baghdad may be in the mood for some payback in Tikrit. On 25 September 2014, Islamist militants destroyed the Assyrian Church there that dates back to 700 AD. Notice the particular mention of the Ba'athist revanchists in Tikrit.
ISIS is claiming an American jihadi carried out a truck bomb attack on Iraqi troops at Tikrit.
What I meant was Shia shrines in Shia areas will be leveled. The Sunnis know how to infiltrate and conduct these terror attacks..Trust me.
"Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." (1 Timothy 6:6-7)
Watch and wait...I think it won't go well for the Iraqi army again in Tikrit.
"Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." (1 Timothy 6:6-7)
Samarra is another fault line city. It was the golden mosque bombing in Samarra (Shia mosque) which ignited the 2006 sectarian war.
"Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." (1 Timothy 6:6-7)
Yahoo is reporting: Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, who has helped coordinate Baghdad's counter-attacks against Islamic State since it seized much of northern Iraq in June, was overseeing at least part of the operation, witnesses told Reuters. His presence on the frontline highlights neighboring Iran's influence over the Shi'ite fighters who have been key to containing the militants in Iraq. In contrast the U.S.-led air coalition which has been attacking Islamic State across Iraq and Syria has not yet played a role in Tikrit, the Pentagon said on Monday, perhaps in part because of the high-level Iranian presence. Iraqi military officials said security forces backed by the Shi'ite militia known as Hashid Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) units were advancing gradually, their progress slowed by roadside bombs and snipers. Unfortunately, I don't see any better photos than these but that last one might interest you. Looks like a tank-sized gun but I'm not seeing very many shells at hand. I think the Iraqis only got the Shi'a militias onboard by agreeing to let the Iranian commander run most of the show, or at least the parts the Shi'a militia are involved in. Which is why they knew better than to invite us. Apparently, they are trying to encircle Tikrit and some outlying villages and seal them off so no ISIS fighters escape from there.
I'm thinking they will persevere and win. At some point, Iraq has to stand up for itself or it will lose the confidence of the populace. Which is why I mention that they might level Tikrit. Even that would be far better than losing again. And only the Ba'athists would really miss Tikrit anyway. All of the most hated regime figures came from there. And the Iranians don't? They do pretty well at it around the region.
I think the Iraqis only got the Shi'a militias onboard by agreeing to let the Iranian commander run most of the show, or at least the parts the Shi'a militia are involved in. Which is why they knew better than to invite us. Apparently, they are trying to encircle Tikrit and some outlying villages and seal them off so no ISIS fighters escape from there. Bottom pic looks to be one of the M198 155mm howitzers we sold them a few years ago. Given the flat elevation of the tube they are probably firing the howizer in the direct fire mode. Which is a waste of an effective indirect fire weapon system. Interesting use of a modified M63 rocket launcher for the 120mm rockets (as confirmed by my Intel expert sitting next to me BTW). Know those well from the receiving end. Insurgents used car jacks to launch them against our FOBs. Here's some vid:
"Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." (1 Timothy 6:6-7)
Which is why I mention that they might level Tikrit. Even that would be far better than losing again. And only the Ba'athists would really miss Tikrit anyway. All of the most hated regime figures came from there. If they persevere then they are going to have to hold the area. We have learned all too well that winning a battle and then not holding what you fought for. That is why the Petraeus principle changed things over there especially in Baghdad. With the clear, hold, secure, transition principles.
"Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." (1 Timothy 6:6-7)
Yeah, I thought those would interest you. I didn't think you'd be as impressed with the cannon as I somehow think of you more as a self-propelled howitzer guy. Or a battery of howitzers kind of guy as long as they have all the GPS and computer doo-dads. BTW, that cargo wagon sitting in front of the howitzer in direct line of fire, surely that isn't where they are keeping their stock of cannon shells, is it? You would think they could not have failed to observe the American tactics and what worked and what didn't.
Don't think so. Does not look like a good projo trailer. Probably has their field kitchen for chow:) Plus having projos in the howitzer danger area echo is not smart. Plus, I can guarantee the next round they fired produced flames in the bore evacuator. I see no bucket of water to swap the breech block after every round. Sloppy artillerymen like the Russians:)
"Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." (1 Timothy 6:6-7)
Yeah but the Russians make equipment specifically to be Russian-proof. They learned that long ago. Us? Not so much. I'm still trying to figure out what those structures are in the background.
BTW, sorry I couldn't get you a bigger pic. Damned cheap-ass Reuters!
It looks to be the type of security fencing used in the Saddam era ammunition depot sites. Came across that type of fencing when my unit was tasked to use our ammo trucks to move out regime ammo from areas it could be pilfered. We trucked them to ammo depots for demolition.
"Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." (1 Timothy 6:6-7)
Looks like crazy fencing to me but we can't see it well in the pix.
Hot damn. They added more video including some of the site we were discussing. I can see that rectangular building better but still have no idea what it is. You'll have to stop the vid or it will start playing some footage from Bibi Gone Wild.
Thought I recognized the area. Think they are near the mill close to Tikrit AB. Much better howitzer crew drill. One crew yanked the lanyard a bit too hard but at least they have the tubes elevated this time. Maybe they are lurking here:)
"Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." (1 Timothy 6:6-7)
I knew you'd like the vid.
There will be a lot of that in my Sunni-Shia Thirty Years War vision!
You are remarkably fond of your vision of a Mideast in flames. : ) I noticed on FNC today some reporting on Iran's cooperation with Iraq in the Tikrit assault. They mentioned General Soleimani as working with the Shi'a militia and artillery but FNC didn't specify if that was Iraqi or Iranian artillery or both. They mentioned the presence of Iran's Revolutionary Guards but made no mention of fighters. I got the impression that they were serving as technical advisers (instead of us) or serving as staff and field officers for the various Shi'a militia. As I noted some time back, General Soleimani is a very interesting character (beyond his strong resemblance to Sean Connery in The Hunt For Red October).
On pics? Wow. I am thinking advisors for Quds. They are the top Iranian spec ops advisors and in a pinch do direct action and assassinations. So once again FNC et. al. get it wrong.
"Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." (1 Timothy 6:6-7)
It is striking, isn't it? They could almost be identical brothers if Connery wasn't so much older. The Iranian is about 60, not too different than Connery when he made that movie, I think. The general did some weightlifting when he was young, as Connery did, and worked as a laborer until he was inspired to join the military by the preaching of a prominent protegé of the Ayatollah Khomeini. And we know this general has directed fighting and helps oversee Hezbollah in Lebanon (he was there just last month, I think) and in Syria as well as his duties in Iran and now in Iraq. Like I said, interesting fellow. He's been to all the flashpoints and has the entire Iranian military in his back pocket. Apparently he has drive and a charismatic military personality.
I found an map of the operations, courtesy of Wikipedia. Red may be familiar with the lay of the land shown.
Nice of them to put it in English:) You sure this was not some Iraq Army Vet sketching out his understanding of the fight? I was mainly in the Babil and Baghdad areas on my 3 OIF tours. But I did spend some time up at Tikrit AP.
"Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." (1 Timothy 6:6-7)
Fox News alleged Quds were involved in fighting at Tikrit again this morning in a lead-up to an interview with General Keane. As far as I could tell, this amounted to no more than the presence of the general and his staff. They did mention his role in Yemen's recent Houthi victory. And in training Shi'a fighters in Iran to fight against American troops in Iraq. And a role leading Hezbollah when they ejected Israel from Lebanon years back. They mentioned that the general is not thehighest ranking Iranian general. But he is the only general who reports only to the Ayatollah and is accountable to no other military authority. A kind of commander-in-chief apparently. And yet he operates effectively in the Iranian interest throughout the region. When they're serious, they dispatch him to the area. Interesting portfolio. No doubt, Mossad and CIA track him very closely.
Could he be the 12th Imam Mahdi!:)
"Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." (1 Timothy 6:6-7)
I found the FNC vid and interviews with Keane. They keep saying "Quds force" but apparently the general is what constitutes the entire "Quds force". So, FNC is playing Chicken Little here. FNC: Quds force leader, commanding Iraqi forces against ISIS, alarms Washington It is a James Rosen story with Hemmer apparently sprinkling on the Quds alarmism. I suppose that Hemmer would say that if the Quds commander is there, you can be sure other Quds elements are present. Still, not the same as proving that formations or even small teams of Quds operatives are present at Tikrit.
I think it was Nolu chan who posted how to resize an image smaller that was too large for posting here. Couldn't you just reverse the process to make this one larger?
“Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
I resize images larger or smaller regularly, usually smaller so they don't screw up the sidebar/comments. But using a WIDTH attribute to enlarge an image only makes it look larger on the page, it doesn't add any photographic detail at all. Blowing up a digital picture does not work the way that blowing up film images do where you actually do get a higher-resolution image as a result. Pixels are pixels and that's that. If you look further down the thread, I did post some better video in my #60 that covered these howitzers and the location so you could see them better.
As I've stated before Quds operatives in at least the 100s upwards to low thousands, have been in Iraq ca. late 80s, then increasing in presence more after the Iran-Iraq war ended. Quds funded, set up and trained the better known Shia militia groups as in Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI)) (Badr Corps is the militia arm). SCIRI is now known as Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI). What is interesting is ISCI early on in the election cycles opposed Sadr and his Mahdi Army. When mostly ISCI politicians were elected to Parliament, they found ways to keep Sadr and his cohorts in check. What is not surprising is Quds supports one or the other (Sadr or ISCI) when it pleases Iranian policy or gains. Some believe Sadr's rise was a Quds move to keep then SCIRI (now ISCI) in check. A check to the Iraqi Shia's who were thinking of actually being independent minded and policy wise from Tehran. So I am sure the Shia majority government in Baghdad understands using Quds military assistance (no matter the scale even as 'advisors') to help liberate a Sunni majority city means an extension of their "Faustian contract" with Tehran. Almost like taking out a second mortgage.
"Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." (1 Timothy 6:6-7)
Sounds like a Persian Gylippus. Sometimes one guy can make a big difference.
Well, sure, operatives. We have routinely penetrated Iran for a long time too, with CIA and even some special forces scouts. I recall reports in news media that some of our special forces were on horseback in the hills of western Iran early on in the Iraq invasion/occupation. This was after the initial reports, surprising to many Americans, that our special forces in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan were using horses extensively. I consider small groups of special forces or intel agents operating in foreign territories to be a different scale of operation than the use of actual troops wearing Iranian uniforms. One is soft military action, the other is blatant and unmistakable. So far, the most blatant and undeniable Quds presence in Iraq is this general and, no doubt, some elements of his own staff including personal security details. That is very very different than bringing in Quds forces in Iranian uniforms or IRGC units. I'm starting to think that this Quds obsession at FNC is Hemmer's pet peeve. I don't find much substance to warrant worrying over Quds in the region more now than we did before. They're still bad guys to us but they are no more on the march than before. More worrying is the control and alliance of the Iraqi Shi'a militias who apparently insisted that the general should be their commander if they helped assault Tikrit. Another developing element are some Sunni militias who reject ISIS and are willing to fight them, perhaps for money or other considerations. You read a few mentions of them but little detail.
Sounds like he is the commander-in-chief or supreme commander of Iran's intel/special forces (Revolutionary Guard, Quds), particularly regionally. Far less so for domestic defense of Iran itself. And answerable only to the top ayatollah. That is very telling.
I have a feeling Hemmer is being fed some concerns of a few retired General Officers. And this is why: "Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." (1 Timothy 6:6-7)
The assumption being that the various Iraqi rebels were too incompetent to carry off such a raid and therefore only Quds could have done it. That isn't the same as proving Quds involvement or influence. It could be one of those accidents of war where "their best-prepared beat our worst-prepared when we had an exceptionally bad day". After all, even really bad sports teams do occasionally rout vastly superior teams, shocking everyone. It's just luck. I'm not sure why that aids Hemmer's storyline though. Granting Quds was involved, then Iran helping rebels resist American occupation forces is very different politically than having an Iranian general serve openly as the commanding officer of Shi'a militias working with the Baghdad government (and even some ISIS-rejecting Sunni militias) in ejecting ISIS from Tikrit. This has to be seen as a joint Iranian-Iraqi operation with cooperation at the highest levels between Baghdad and Tehran.
Perhaps a bit of both. When analyzing the attack the conclusion was Quds involvement linked to some detainees coaltion forces had at the time. And a degree of not the best preparation for US forces that day.
"Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." (1 Timothy 6:6-7)
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Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/LatestReported on Greta's FNC show tonight. One of the old generals (or colonels) was talking about it. And how America was disinvited from participating or planning for the operation. Which is why they needed the support of Iranian artillery.
#42. To: redleghunter (#41)
How the Iraqi Shia government is still seeing the Baath party boogeyman. They still believe the phantom Baath is behind all evils.
#43. To: Pericles, TooConservative (#39)
Also, Iran is now inside Iraq as an invited armed force.
#44. To: TooConservative (#42)
I wouldn't be surprised if Tikrit is a flat smoking pile of rubble when they get done with it.
#45. To: redleghunter (#44)
Could be. However, the Shia know that just about every one of their Shia shrines will now get special VBIED attention. If they level Tikrit, the Sunni (not ISIL) will level the Shia 'holy' places.
On 11 June 2014, during the Northern Iraq offensive, the Islamic State took control of the city aided by the Army of the Men of the Naqshbandi Order. Hours later the Iraqi army made an attempt to recapture the city, which resulted in heavy fighting. On 12 June, the Islamic State executed at least 1,566 Iraqi Air Force cadets from Camp Speicher at Tikrit. At the time of the attack there were between 4,000 and 11,000 unarmed cadets in the camp. The Iraqi government blamed the massacre on both ISIS and members of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Iraq Region. By July 2014, government forces had withdrawn from Tikrit.[21][22]
#46. To: redleghunter (#44)
#47. To: TooConservative (#45)
Shi'a mosques, maybe. But those are already taken for the Sunni. Tikrit is apparently a Sunni area anyway so the only mosques or shrines would be Sunni. I'm not sure how many Shi'a shrines or mosques have survived in the Sunni towns, especially those in ISIS's hands. Probably none from what we see of their vandalism.
#48. To: TooConservative (#45)
Notice the particular mention of the Ba'athist revanchists in Tikrit.
#49. To: TooConservative (#46)
Pro-IS social media accounts said the attack was carried out Monday near Samarra, the other main city in Salaheddin province, and released a picture they said was of Abu Dawud al-Amriki
#50. To: redleghunter (#44)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Thousands of Iraqi soldiers and Shi'ite militiamen sought to seal off Islamic State fighters in Tikrit and nearby towns on Tuesday, the second day of Iraq's biggest offensive yet against a stronghold of the radical Sunni Islamist militants. 
The cannon looks like Iraqi regulars to me but the pic is just too small to be sure.
#51. To: redleghunter (#48)
(Edited)
Watch and wait...I think it won't go well for the Iraqi army again in Tikrit.
The Sunnis know how to infiltrate and conduct these terror attacks..Trust me.
#52. To: TooConservative, GarySpFc, *Military or Vets Affairs* (#50)
The cannon looks like Iraqi regulars to me but the pic is just too small to be sure.
#53. To: TooConservative, GarySpFc (#51)
I'm thinking they will persevere and win. At some point, Iraq has to stand up for itself or it will lose the confidence of the populace.
#54. To: redleghunter (#52)
(Edited)
Interesting use of a modified M63 rocket launcher for the 120mm rockets (as confirmed by my Intel expert sitting next to me BTW). Know those well from the receiving end. Insurgents used car jacks to launch them against our FOBs.
That is why the Petraeus principle changed things over there especially in Baghdad. With the clear, hold, secure, transition principles.
#55. To: TooConservative, GarySpFc (#54)
BTW, that cargo wagon sitting in front of the howitzer in direct line of fire, surely that isn't where they are keeping their stock of cannon shells, is it?
#56. To: redleghunter (#55)
(Edited)
Sloppy artillerymen like the Russians:)
#57. To: redleghunter (#55)
#58. To: TooConservative (#56)
I'm still trying to figure out what those structures are in the background.
#59. To: redleghunter (#58)
#60. To: redleghunter (#58)
#61. To: TooConservative (#60)
#62. To: redleghunter (#61)
#63. To: TooConservative (#36)
So Iran is going to have boots (or at least artillery) on the ground in assaulting Tikrit. Which leaves me wondering if the plan might be to leave Tikrit in the same shape as Vlad Putin left the Chechen capital, Grozny. IOW, a lifeless moonscape, flattened like a pancake.
#64. To: nativist nationalist, redleghunter (#63)
(Edited)
There will be a lot of that in my Sunni-Shia Thirty Years War vision!
#65. To: TooConservative (#64)
#66. To: redleghunter (#65)
On pics? Wow.
#67. To: TooConservative, redleghunter (#64)
#68. To: nativist nationalist, TooConservative (#67)
I found an map of the operations, courtesy of Wikipedia. Red may be familiar with the lay of the land shown.
#69. To: redleghunter, nativist nationalist (#68)
#70. To: TooConservative (#69)
#71. To: redleghunter (#70)
#72. To: TooConservative (#50)
The cannon looks like Iraqi regulars to me but the pic is just too small to be sure.
#73. To: CZ82 (#72)
(Edited)
I think it was Nolu chan who posted how to resize an image smaller that was too large for posting here. Couldn't you just reverse the process to make this one larger?
#74. To: TooConservative, GarySpFc, liberator, sneakypete, BobCeleste, CZ82, nolu chan (#71)
It is a James Rosen story with Hemmer apparently sprinkling on the Quds alarmism. I suppose that Hemmer would say that if the Quds commander is there, you can be sure other Quds elements are present. Still, not the same as proving that formations or even small teams of Quds operatives are present at Tikrit.
#75. To: TooConservative (#71)
I found the FNC vid and interviews with Keane. They keep saying "Quds force" but apparently the general is what constitutes the entire "Quds force".
#76. To: redleghunter (#74)
As I've stated before Quds operatives in at least the 100s upwards to low thousands, have been in Iraq ca. late 80s, then increasing in presence more after the Iran-Iraq war ended.
#77. To: nativist nationalist (#75)
Sounds like a Persian Gylippus. Sometimes one guy can make a big difference.
#78. To: TooConservative, tomder55 (#76)
I'm starting to think that this Quds obsession at FNC is Hemmer's pet peeve.
#79. To: redleghunter (#78)
The assault, which left five American soldiers dead and three wounded, has been called the "boldest and most sophisticated attack in four years of warfare" and is furthermore notable for being one of the few instances when militants have actually managed to capture U.S. soldiers.
#80. To: TooConservative (#79)
That isn't the same as proving Quds involvement or influence. It could be one of those accidents of war where "their best-prepared beat our worst-prepared when we had an exceptionally bad day".
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