Captors of Britons in Iraq linked to Iran - Petraeus

Source: Reuters

BAGHDAD, June 21 (Reuters) - The top U.S. commander in Iraq said in an interview published on Thursday that kidnappers who seized five Britons in Baghdad last month had links to Iran, adding he believed the captives were still alive.

General David Petraeus told the Times of London the kidnappers were part of the Mehdi Army militia of fiercely anti-American Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

"They are not rank and file Jaish al-Mahdi (Mehdi Army). They are trained in Iran, equipped with Iranian (weapons), and advised by Iran," Petraeus told The Times. A transcript of the interview was posted on the British daily's Web site.

Iran denies any role in stirring up violence in Iraq. There was no immediate response from Tehran to Petraeus' comments.

His remarks may add to tensions between Washington and Tehran. The two foes are already pitted in a dispute over Iran's nuclear programme.

U.S. troops arrested five Iranians in northern Iraq for aiding militants earlier this year, while Iran is holding three Iranian-U.S. citizens on security-related charges.

Read more: http://wap.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L21536110.htm?=amp&_lite_=1

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U.S. Opts Not to Release Iranians Detained in Iraq Raid

The United States will not release five Iranians detained in a U.S. military raid in northern Iraq until at least October, despite entreaties from the Iraqi government and growing behind-the-scenes pressure from Iran, according to U.S. officials. The delay is as much due to miscommunication within the U.S. government as a policy decision, they said.

During his Washington visit Monday and Tuesday, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari appealed to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates to free the five Iranians, who were arrested in the Kurdish city of Irbil in January, U.S. and Arab officials said.

Zebari told U.S. officials that the release would promote progress in the new U.S.-Iran dialogue on Iraq, which brought diplomats from the two nations together last month in Baghdad at their first public meeting in almost three decades. Iran has become pivotal to U.S. efforts to stabilize Iraq, since Tehran now has greater influence in Iraq with a wider cross section of parties than any other country. It has also armed, funded and trained many of the militant groups.

Zebari warned that Tehran either might not attend a second session or not be cooperative unless the five Iranians are released, according to the sources.

more:http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2887869&mesg_id=2887869

Source: London Times


Read more: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article1964088.ece

I refuse to believe that this claim has any basis in fact. I refuse to believe that any of the Bushbot claims have any basis in fact. Except that nobody in the State Dept will go to Iraq.

but between all the lies, cover-ups, spinning and general f***ups I have a real hard time believing anything coming from the mouths of anyone connected to the bushies and of the MSM

if Nixon shook the people's faith in the presidency - bush has destroyed it

run away train in the middle east has nothing to do with iran's or any one elses hostility?

entrenched u.s. officials -- in the pentagon or the government -- had better start asking themselves some hard questions about the maze of events that have gotten where we are.

they are doing everything they can to point all arrows at Iran.

Oh man scary thought, imagine if you will another UN moment, were moron* and his room full of dopes prop up yet another stooge to go to the UN and "present" evidence that Iran is funding the "terrorists" and the insurgents".

All these little useless bullshit stories regarding Iran is going to add up to something for these fucking idiots*.

September report not deadline for policy change: US General 1 hour, 1 minute ago



LONDON (AFP) - The top coalition commander said in an interview published Thursday that a crucial report he will give to Congress in September should not be seen as a deadline for a change in US policy towards Iraq.

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Speaking to The Times newspaper in Baghdad, US General David Petraeus said that September was a "deadline for a report, not a deadline for a change in policy."

Petraeus said that he and US Ambassador to Baghdad Ryan Crocker "intend to go back (to Washington) and provide a snapshot at that time ... and begin to describe what has been achieved and also to provide some sense of implications of courses of action."

"Neither of us is under any illusion."

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070621/pl_afp/iraqusmilitary_070621142920

The old ass is Tonkin, but is anybody listenin'?