In the past 24 hours, the US relations with Iran have hit a new low. This morning, the US military accused Iran of backing an Iraqi militia, the Mahdi army of Moqtada al-Sadr, to execute a deadly rocket attack on Camp Victory, the headquarters of US forces in Iraq. A 240mm rocket reportedly supplied by the Iranians hit the base near Baghdad two days ago, September 11, killing one person and injuring a dozen more. This is the most serious incident to date linking the Iranians to a direct military attack on US forces in Iraq.
Linking of Iran to the attack came hours before President Bush was to make a televised address to the American people on the situation in Iraq. The president is expected to identify Iran as a major threat to US forces in Iraq and as the main rationale to maintain significant troop level in the country for the long haul.
General David Petraeus, commander of US forces in Iraq, told reporters at the National Press Club in Washington that arms supplies from Iran, including the 240mm rockets (used in the attack on Camp Victory today), and other explosive devices contributed to a “sophistication of attacks” that would have been impossible without Iranian support. The general went on saying that “the evidence is very, very clear.” (AP).
General Petraeus was not talking about an analysis on Iran’s role in Iraq. He was taking about very clear “evidence.” This is a key phrase in building up the case against Iran.
The US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also said yesterday that improving security in Iraq now requires having American forces turn to other responsibilities including the territorial security of Iraq with regard to Iran. (NBC Today Show).
The US Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker echoed the sentiment by telling The Washington Post today that Iran is now following a “fairly aggressive strategy” on the ground in Iraq.
The number of statements made by the high ranking military and diplomatic officials against Iran in the past 24 hours combined with an expected harsh and serious statement on Iran by President Bush tonight point to a possible military conflict between the two countries in the near future.
Looks like another crisis, the people in Iran start getting excited and their hopes go to a cathartic high, but finally all hopes are extinguished when there is a complete and perfect U-turn. This type of news has been going on for the past 28 years, unfortunately now the USA is also playing ball with the regime.
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