Sunday, October 01, 2006
U.S. intelligence - Iran trying to control Iraq
Security, Politics, Region
The deputy chief of staff of intelligence for multinational forces in Iraq (MNFI) says the coalition continues its effort to block foreign influence - including that of neighboring Iran. Army Major General Richard Zahner told reporters in Baghdad on Wednesday that, as part of the coalition's strategy for success in Iraq, "we're having to block Shiite extremists from linking with Iran." Zahner also outlined his understanding of Iran's strategy regarding Iraq. He said Iran is promoting a stable Iraq, but one in which Iran is a dominant force and there is no western counterbalance to Tehran's influence. Zahner said this is why Iran is so keen to hire, rent or control surrogates-such as the Shiite Jaish al-Mahdi (JAM) militia and its affiliates. The JAM members started out as loyalists to religious cleric Muqtada as-Sadr but, as he has placed restraints on their actions, many have broken off and are operating as freelance militants.
"And, thus," Zahner said of Iran, "you see them enabling all comers, not just rogue JAM; they'll take anybody."
Iran is tactically smart, the official said, because it would not send Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps across the border to carry out military operations, but those forces will work with any number of useful surrogates.
"And, thus," Zahner said of Iran, "you see them enabling all comers, not just rogue JAM; they'll take anybody."
Iran is tactically smart, the official said, because it would not send Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps across the border to carry out military operations, but those forces will work with any number of useful surrogates.
He pointed to the southern Iraqi city of Basra as an example of a place where some of the violence "has been basically enhanced by Iran." But even while Iran is exerting its influence, Zahner said, the Iranians do not want violence to spiral out of control, "because it's not in their best interest to have a destabilized Iraq" since an Arab challenge to Iran from the south and a Kurdish challenge from the north "pose significant challenges to Iranian internal stability."
Since the Iranians are not sure which ethnic or sectarian faction will emerge as the most powerful political force in Iraq, Zahner said, "basically they fund everybody." Asked to estimate how much money Iran has given to JAM in 2006, he said it ranges "in the millions of dollars."
Since the Iranians are not sure which ethnic or sectarian faction will emerge as the most powerful political force in Iraq, Zahner said, "basically they fund everybody." Asked to estimate how much money Iran has given to JAM in 2006, he said it ranges "in the millions of dollars."
