US marines probe tensions among Iran’s ethnic minorities ("early stages"?)

[sabra]

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/ed436938-a49d-11da-897c-0000779e2340.html

US marines probe tensions among Iran’s ethnic minorities


The intelligence wing of the US marines has launched a probe into Iran’s ethnic minorities at a time of heightened tensions along the border with Iraq and friction between capitals.

Iranian activists involved in a classified research project for the marines told the FT the Pentagon was examining the depth and nature of grievances against the Islamic government, and appeared to be studying whether Iran would be prone to a violent fragmentation along the same kind of fault lines that are splitting Iraq.

The research effort comes at a critical moment between Iran and the US. Last week the Bush administration asked Congress for $75m to promote democratic change within Iran, having already mustered diplomatic support at the UN to counter Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons programme.

...

US intelligence experts suggested the marines’ effort could indicate early stages of contingency plans for a ground assault on Iran. Or it could be an attempt to evaluate the implications of the unrest in Iranian border regions for marines stationed in Iraq, as well as Iranian infiltration.

[LynnTheDem]

1. The second the USA interferes in Iran, ALL Iranians -every one of them-

will turn against the US.

Guaranteed.

Absolutely 100% guaranteed.

[Tempest]

4. That's the general consensus of M.E. experts

Juan Cole has written extensively about this at juancole.com.

[madrchsod]

2. we don`t have enough stuff for a ground assault

unlike the iraqi army the iranians will fight. russia,china,pakistan,and india will not let this happen.

[MadMaddie]

6. Not only not enough stuff...but soldiers

We don't have enough boots to put on the ground...this would mean the utter destruction of our military!!

[spindrifter]

3. Haven't we done enough bad acts in the M.E.

to last an eternity. Now Iraq sits on the eve of civil war, if that hasn't already been declared while I was doing some nonsensical tasks. We do not need t be stirring up sh*t in Iran--NO MATTER WHAT!

[genie_weenie]

5. deleted

[BR_Parkway]

7. How much longer before China takes away our allowance and sends us

to our room for misbehaving? They can pull the plug on our economy in a minute, they need the oil from that region and have been content to let us remain bogged down in Iraq while they strike oil deals with Venezuela and don't have to worry about us propping up Taiwan.

Now that they're sitting in the cat bird seat - I'm waiting for one of them to pick up the phone and call Condi. Let her know that we aren't going any further in the region because it would be disruptive to their economy. And what will Condi be able to say besides, No Sir, I understand Sir, of course we'll stop right away, Sir - because the neo cons and freetraders have sold off so much of the US or wasted so many of our resources in their oil war, we have no saber left to rattle in the face of a Chinese demand. They know it, we know it. The USA, the world's great superpower - hostage.

[cliss]

10. MY GOD what a great post.

As I was reading the dialogue from CONdaliar, I could almost imagine it.

Thanks for salvaging the rest of my day:smoke:

[5X]

8. If we can stir the pot long enuf to get it to boil over...

and Iran attacks our troops on the Iraqi border,
they will have the excuse to implement the draft.

[lovuian]

9. Give us Bribe money but sometimes people take your money

and screw you anyway!!! Bush is notorious for this...

[Tin Man]

11. Haven't you heard? Iraq is a bed of flowers. Maybe Iran needs sprucing up

just so there's no doubt... :sarcasm: