No evidence Iran active in Iraq: US general

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/14/AR2006081400362.html

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - There is no evidence the Iranian government is stirring trouble in Iraq, a U.S. general said on Monday, playing down suggestions that Tehran will retaliate for U.S. backing of Israel's war on Hizbollah.

"There is nothing that we definitively have found to say that there are any Iranians operating within the country of Iraq," Major General William Caldwell, the top U.S. military spokesman in Iraq, told a news conference.

U.S. officials have previously said the war between Israel and Iran-backed Hizbollah might encourage Tehran to make mischief in Iraq to pressure the United States, which has some 130,000 troops in the country.

"Iran has got Hizbollah in Lebanon. Iran has got some forces here. There is the possibility they might encourage those forces to create increased instability here," U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad told reporters last week.

[Blackhatjack]

1. NeoCons Just Hate It When General's Speak The Truth .....

I would expect General Caldwell to be "retired" shortly after daring to contradict the NeoCon talking point.

It's hard to whip up support for a war on Iran if your Generals keep pointing out the truth which contradicts the PR campaign on its main point.

[lebkuchen]

2. The US military has pissed off the Iraqis so badly, they don't need help

from anyone.

[Javaman]

3. Boy, that is colossal bullshit...

Oddly enough, two night ago, I had the opportunity to chat will a soldier that just got out in April. He was in Iraq for 26 months. Saw it all.

He was attached to a special forces squad. He was stationed very close to the Iran border.

I asked him if he experienced any sort of "influence" from Iran, with him being so close to it.

His exact words were, "hell, influence? they were coming across the border and fighting us."

He also stated that unbeknownst to us, that Iran had stated that this was a religious war. He got that info down from command in late 2003.

I think asked what the soldiers thought about the war. Basically in a nut shell, "they want home now, they did their job (assuming he meant defeat the Iraqi gov't) there is no other reason to be there now." He did talk about how one of his jobs was to help the Iraqi locals upgrade their water facilities and that he actually made a difference in their lives. And he went on to say, that they were amazing people, which the U.S. Gov't does not give enough credit.

It was just a short talk at a party, so I tried to ask as many quick concise questions.

He did say one last thing that I thought was interesting, he said that he has many many close calls, and it's getting alot worse over their than any of us have a clue about.
(he wasn't referring to the people that only watch faux news, he was talking about those that are in the know).

[focusfan]

4. i just hope Congress can stop

stupid George W from nuking Iran