U.S. Will Confront Iran In Iraq, Bush Says

Effort Aimed At Reducing Tehran's Growing Influence Among Shiite Militias

(CBS/AP)  President Bush has authorized U.S. forces in Iraq to take whatever actions are necessary to counter Iranian agents deemed a threat to American troops or the public at large, the White House said Friday.

The aggressive new policy came in response to intelligence that Iran is supporting terrorists inside Iraq and is providing bombs — known as improvised explosive devices — and other equipment to anti-U.S. insurgents.

"The president and his national security team over the last several months have continued to receive information that Iranians were supplying IED equipment and or training that was being used to harm American soldiers," National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.

"As a result American forces, when they receive actionable information, may take the steps necessary to protect themselves as well as the population," Johndroe said.

For more than a year, U.S. forces in Iraq have been catching Iranian agents, interviewing them and letting them go. A report in Friday's Washington Post says the administration is now convinced that was ineffective because Iran paid no penalty for its mischief.

As one senior administration official told the Post, "There were no costs for the Iranians. They are hurting our mission in Iraq, and we were bending over backwards not to fight back."

It is unknown whether U.S. forces have killed any Iranian operatives to date. Officials told the newspaper that about 150 Iranian intelligence officers, along with members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, are active inside Iraq, though there is no evidence that these Iranian operatives have directly attacked U.S. forces in Iraq, the officials said.

In a recent Senate hearing, CIA director Gen. Michael V. Hayden noted that for the past three years, Iran has offered Shiite militias weapons and intelligence training and said there was a "striking" amount of Iranian-supplied materiel used against U.S. troops.

"Iran seems to be conducting a foreign policy with a sense of dangerous triumphalism," Hayden said.

In addition to the stated goal of reducing violence in Iraq, the kill-or-capture order is aimed at reducing Iran's influence with Hamas and Hezbollah and among Shiites in western Afghanistan.

One senior official also told the Post that the Bush administration's plans contain five "theaters of interest" designed to target Iranian interests across the Middle East.

Mr. Bush referred to the new policy in his Jan. 10 address to the United States in which he announced a buildup of 21,500 troops in Iraq. He said the United States would confront Iran and Syria more vigorously.

"These two regimes are allowing terrorists and insurgents to use their territory to move in and out of Iraq," he said in that address. "Iran is providing material support for attacks on American troops. We will disrupt the attacks on our forces. We'll interrupt the flow of support from Iran and Syria. And we will seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq."

While promising tougher action, the White House said the United States does not intend to cross the Iraq-Iran border to attack Iranians.

[hasselhoff20]

Ok, this is so obvious, i could have told you this was going to happen about two years ago. The whole Middle East is going to be at war with the U.S. and Israel. I don't think there is a way to stop this unless someone gets nuked. We cannot take on another military conflict. We are fighting too many fronts. I believe Bush will try to do what he can to attack Iran. We can't stop it, he won't listen to his own people. And our own people are dumb enough to join the military and fight. I don't get it. We did this to ourselves. Bring it on! Iran is doomed.

[grazinggoat]

RandalDS,
Don't give up, my friend, don't give up. Unfortunately, you will be deceived. Walking-Liar has no other choice but to bend down to decisions made in Jerusalem. He is just a puppet. He doesn't make decisions, he just accepts them.

[randalds]

Don't like it. Tough Sh*t. You prefer future 9/11s instead...
Posted by lieberman18 at 06:04 PM : Jan 26, 2007

Yes, I prefer more 9-11's over a nuclear war. To go for the nuclear option is immoral and unforgivable. If Bush does it he will be recorded not as a hero, but as the most hated man in human history. As the largest mass murderer in the history of mankind. I hope he understands that. I mean REALLY understands that. He is already one of the most hated and despised men who ever lived. I wonder if he wants to cement that black, sick and disgusting reputation? Does he really want to write his name along side of Caligula, Nero, Hitler and Pol Pot? Is he that mentally ill? Yes. I tell you yes he really is that insane.

[randalds]

*** well about time. Any Iranian caught inside Iraq with no legitimate reason - and that should be most of them should be dosed with gasoline and set on fire.

That would be a clear-cut message to Ahmedinejedad that from now on any Americans killed will resort in any number of Iranian and Al Qaeda operatives being rendered the same.

Now, you lib crybabies and the real fascists out there, care to cry Abu Gharib or Gitmo - after today's news of murdered innocent pets and GIs tortured and killed, it might be a good idea if you shut your fascist mouths - and urged a swift victory - with nukes if necessary.

Don't like it. Tough Sh*t. You prefer future 9/11s instead...
Posted by lieberman18 at 06:04 PM : Jan 26, 2007

Got to be one of the most irrational as*sholes on the internet.

[j-whitman]

So,, Bush will start treating Iranians as he does al Queada ?? --- That means he will redeploy troops & resources away from them again.

[skyk-2009]

Processor2 PLEASE tell you that YOU don't actually BELIEVE Sir Lies-A-Lot? LOL What in the WORLD would make anyone with a BRAIN believe Sir Lies-A-Lot? Bush wouldn't know the truth if it jumped up and bit him in the butt and YOU believe him? LOL Man have I got some land to sell you!! ROFLMAO Cheap too.... Oh Okay it's a little wet but anyone as easy as you won't mind!! ROFLMAO

[skyk-2009]

Shouldn't it be the right and responsibility of the PEOPLE of Iraq to confront citizens of Iran in Iraq? I do believe we have a Dictator who has completely lost his mind. He wants another war so bad he can't stand it.... has to have someway to cover up for the Incompetence in Iraq and the FACT that he's getting the living Hell stomped out of him, so he does what EVERY Southern Fascist does, finds someone else to blame for the failure!! The mear FACT that Roadside Bombs are being planted and are killing our Kids who are trying to "Give" freedom to these folks should tell us more than anything this Klan Man says. IF the people of IRAQ wanted to live in PEACE and Freedom they would be out there pointing out those bombs to us, THEY would not be PLANTING them. It should be obvious to anyone with a brain that SIGNIFICANT Groups and NUMBERS of the folks we set free are trying to KILL us.... That in itself makes Bush and Cheney LIARS. Now we're supposed to believe them about Iran? Man if any of you fascist swallow that one you really are MORE stupid than you appear.

[dallison7]

A tyrant (Latin tyrannus, from Greek %u03C4%u03CD%u03C1%u03B1%u03BD%u03BD%u03BF%u03C2 t}rannos) possesses absolute power through the people in a state or in an organization: one refers to this mode of rule as a tyranny.

[bluestardad]

OK here is your chance, don%u2019t just set in front of your computer and complain spouting meaningless rants of sludge, do something about it! This is the contact address for your Senator! Send them a message of your opinion. All Class Two Senators are up for Reelection in 2008. Be respectful even if they do not deserve it because their office does! http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

[bluestardad]

It is common knowledge that these Iraqi units are infiltrated by all types of Insurgents, Terrorist, and Execution Death Squads members of Both Religions. Those people who support this Surge of Troops in Iraq are forcing American Soldiers to sleep with the enemy in small units exposing them to undue kidnap threat. Americans soldiers who are captured by these enemies are without mercy, tortured and mutilated beyond recognition by their captors. Still our political leadership are planning to send these Brave Men and Women in to this environment. If American proceeds with this deployment and breaks down small American Units to live and work with these Iraqi Death Squad Units our troops will be kidnapped and handed over to such beheadings, torture and captivity as has never been seen before on Cable, Internet, and National Television. If you support this surge in troops and the tactics it brings you are responsible for every one of these deaths.

[jabberwock11]

"So who will begin the bombing of Iran, the US or Israel?"

There is the minor issue of a declaration of war as specified by the constitution. At least the Iraq ware was rubber stamped by congress. I doubt this is possible at this stage of the game, so that leaves us with an undeclared war as in Vietnam. It will be interesting to see if it gets that far. If it does I%u2019m sure we can expect another disaster. However my thoughts are its more likely going to be Israel if it happens.

[karlimhof]

There are no more great leaders in America; but there once were. Here some one-liners in the days of Jefferson &Co. ;

...to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any form of Government becomes Destructive of these Ends, IT IS THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO ALTER OR TO ABOLISH IT...

Then Jefferson goes on to list the grievances against "King George" some of them applicable and relevant today;

But here's one line we all have to read again from our Delaration of Independence;

"A Prince, whose Character is thus marked by every act which may define a TYRANT, is unfit to be the Ruler of a FREE PEOPLE.

Congress! Awake! Impeach Bush & Cheney now.

[book54552134]

"US Will Confront Iran in Iraq, Bush Says"
Is that also the reason for all the recent deployment of US carrier groups in the Persian Gulf & Arabian Sea, George?
So who will begin the bombing of Iran, the US or Israel?
And how can that possibly improve the overall quagmire the US finds itself in over there?

[exusmcsgt]

Too little, too late. The Neocons left the door swinging wide open for Iran when they took out Hussein.

Picking off an agent here and there will not stop Iran's expansion into SE Iraq now that the man that kept them at bay for decades is gone.

[jms_cheung]

The so-called tough stance towards iranian terrorists in Iraq is unfortunately TOO LATE since the US had lost above 3000 precious soldiers/marines!! Search & Destroy all Iranian and Shiites/Mehdi militants should be done few years ago! when Saddam Hussein fell (now is too late!)
Better Late than Never...get the work done !...
wipe out all militants....and have a balanced
Iraqi Army equally comprised of Sunnis/Kurds and Shiites (not just Shiites like now)...who will keep the nation peaceful. Iran and Syria must not be spared the US BOMBINGS if they insist to continue EXPORTING terrorists & weapons to support the terrorists in Iraq !!

[processor2]

GOOD

If Iran's agents' can kill American troops, then those same troops should, by all means, have the right to defend themselves and shoot back.

When I was in combat in the 1990's during Clinton's war (Bosnia), believe me, I shot back at anything that was shooting at me.

..........

[Syndicate]

About Dam time.

[dargay]

great, now bush picks a fight with iran. what a fool.

[feelfree1]

notblue,

Re: "Please, all you left wing genious's who think Bush is the idiot, tell us the new plan for success. We have heard the lets leave today plan, then what would the next few steps be?"

Thanks for asking.

Here is a four-point plan for resolving the Bush regime's nightmares and debacles in Iraq/Afghanistan/U.S./elsewhere: (Part 1 of 2)

1) Jail the Bush-puppet, while he awaits war-crimes proceedings, along with Cheney, Rumsfeld, Feith, Wurmser, Gonzales, Baker, Perle, Ashcroft, Frum, Armitage, Rice, Kristol, Tenet, Libby, Abizaid, Murdock, Khalilzad, Myers, Poindexter, Kagan, Negroponte, Wolfowitz, and all of the other people, who have so badly disgraced our country, by waging fraud-based illegal war of aggression.

These people have also conspired to aggressively undermine our own Constitution, primarily at the behest of Corporate greed and religious delusion, resulting in several crippling moral, military, and economic defeats for the U.S. These people represent the greatest terrorist threat to the globe at the moment, by far.

2) Compel any politician who cooperated with the criminal Bush League, to step down in disgrace (by way of torch-bearing angry mob, if necessary).

[feelfree1]

(Part 2 of 2)

3) Apologize to the world for our country%u2019s many grave mistakes, and beg the world community to provide security forces and observers in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the U.S., while we immediately withdraw all U.S. troops and agents from foreign positions, and hold fresh and legitimate elections in all three countries.

4) Seize and liquidate the assets of war profiteering corporations like Halliburton, Bechtel, Exxon-Mobile, Blackwater, Chevron-Texaco, Wackenhut, the Lincoln Group, the Carlysle Group, FOX, General Electric, and Lockheed-Martin, and use the proceeds to create a reparations fund for the many surviving victims of the %u2018Project for a New American Century%u2019 plan for global fascism. The potential recipients would include victims in Iraq, Afghanistan, the U.S., and elsewhere.