You missed the point about that shipload of weapons... What really annoys the US about it is its provenance: Iran. Remember that I warned you a coupla months ago: you can't have it both ways --crusading in Afghanistan AND unleashing your Israeli pitbull against Palestinians... (that post has been censored and deleted from SI) Now, what's interesting about Iran is that it's got a toehold in both theaters: Iran can put the squeeze on Western Afghanistan AND whip up its militia in Lebanon, Gaza, etc.
Bush Warns Iran Not to Hide Qaida
Eric Schmitt New York Times Service
Friday, January 11, 2002
Tehran Faces 'Consequences' if It Undermines Afghanistan
WASHINGTON President George W. Bush warned Iran on Thursday that it must not try to undermine the new interim government of Afghanistan, or it will face consequences.
"Iran must be a contributor in the war against terror," Mr. Bush said at the White House. "Our nation, in our fight against terrorism, will uphold the doctrine of either you're with us or against us."
The president's comments were in response to reports that Pentagon and intelligence officials are concerned that Iran is seeking to exert political and military influence in border regions in western Afghanistan in ways that challenge the authority of the interim government in Kabul and threaten Washington's long-term goals in the country.
The officials say Iran, which denied the accusations on Thursday, has grown increasingly concerned about the pro-Western tilt of Afghanistan's government and is moving to flex its muscle in a part of Afghanistan where it has long held sway.
"Iran is trying to make sure that Afghanistan remains an Islamic state and does not become more secular, like Turkey," one military official said.
Mr. Bush noted that Iran had given the United States "positive signals" of cooperation early in the American-led military campaign in Afghanistan. Then he said Iran must not "allow al Qaida murderers to hide in their country" and must surrender any who have slipped across the Afghan border into Iran.
Mr. Bush said of the Iranians, "If they in any way, shape or form try to destabilize the government, the coalition will deal with them, you know, in diplomatic ways, initially."
[snip]
iht.com |
