Iran working with Afghan rebels

[Random Variable]

<< U.S. intelligence agencies have spotted scores of Iranian intelligence and military personnel deep inside Afghanistan working to destabilize the interim government.

The Iranians include agents from the Ministry of Intelligence and Security, the Iranian spy service, and Iranian special forces troops from the Revolutionary Guards Corps, said officials familiar with intelligence reports.

According to the officials, the Iranians are working with several hundred Afghan fighters operating near the strategic city of Mazar-e-Sharif in an effort to undermine the pro-U.S. government now in place in Kabul.

The Iranian Islamic fundamentalists also are working to prevent the return of Afghanistan's former king, Mohammed Zahir Shah, from exile in Italy. He could return as soon as next month.

"They are armed to the teeth, and they have lots of money to buy people off" ? a common Afghan political tactic, one U.S. official said of the pro-Iranian fighters.

U.S. officials have said Iranians are operating near the Afghan border with Iran. But the new intelligence indicates an extensive covert action program in other parts of the country as well, the officials said. >>


http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20020219-11153881.htm

 

[d1abolic]

Anyone else not surprised to hear this?

 

[compuwiz1]

Hmmm, now the pecking order may change. Iran, then Iraq. :Q

 

[b0mbrman]

<< Anyone else not surprised to hear this? >>


Not me...though I'd be surprised if China, Russia, the UK, France...every big and small power tries to stick their influence in there

 

[Ronstang]

That's fine, we still have a 20 year old score to settle with them anyway.

 

[Scouzer]

I duno. I'm starting to wonder if some of this news is made up...

I'm probably just watching too many movies...

 

[shurato]

The US is gonna start having their hands full of countries to take care of. I have a question why do Iranians call themselves Persians and not Iranian...well ok that is just with the people that I know of who are from IRAN. One co-worker insisted he was Persian and not Iranian when his parents are from Iranian descent.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Officials, many times, release information based on hersay to support a position that they are pushing.

Bush just recently took a jab at Iran, and now this info is released to show Iran in a bad light.

Iran itself is a country torn apart by different factions. The more anti-US factions would be concerned about a pro-US government next door. Look at why the Soviet Union had setup the Warsaw pact.

 

[d1abolic]

<< I have a question why do Iranians call themselves Persians and not Iranian >>

Iran used to be part of the Persian Empire. A great country, as opposed to the sh1thole Iran is today. That's why.