Iran - the new motivation for US war in Iraq

[maddezmom]

CRAWFORD, Texas (AFP) - The US rationale for war in Iraq has morphed from ousting strongman Saddam Hussein, to countering Al-Qaeda militants to its latest incarnation -- facing down what officials in President George W. Bush's administration call the Iranian "threat".


"Iraq is the convergence point for two of the greatest threats to America in this new century: Al-Qaeda and Iran," Bush said last week, renewing accusations that the Islamic republic is backing Iraqi militias hostile to US forces and covertly seeking nuclear weapons.

"If we succeed in Iraq after all that Al-Qaeda and Iran have invested there, it would be a historic blow to the global terrorist movement and a severe setback for Iran," he said.

With Saddam dead and Al-Qaeda weakened -- according to Bush -- Iranian-financed extremists, which top US commander in Iraq David Petraeus has called "special groups," have emerged as a key reason for maintaining US troop levels in Iraq.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080414/wl_mideast_afp/usiraniraqbushpoliticsunrest_080414090249;_ylt=AoMS5YnEoSSGtTwWB4AUj5maOrgF

[leftofcool]

1. From mushroom clouds to liberating Iraq

to it's Iran's fault. Next rationalization please

[nealmhughes]

2. Manny Goldstein is everywhere and has a finger in every pie, it would seem.

One finds it hard to keep track of all the changes in the rationale for occupying Mesopotamia these days. Which will be next causus bellum? To keep the international petromarket as tight as possible? I could buy that one.

[karlaj]

3. Petraeus is beating the drums of war with Iran

Petraeus, I don't know if you noticed, was blaming Iranians for aiding insurgent groups in Iraq. It seems to me that his intention is to start something with this nation. We will pay dearly if this is the case.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. Iran was not a problem to Iraq BEFORE * REMOVED HIM FROM POWER.