Iranian weapons siezed crossing Afghan Border

[irishScott]

http://www.todayonline.com/Breaking...s-believed-to-be-heading-for-insurgent-forces

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) - Police has intercepted a shipping container full of grenades and gunpowder, presumably destined for insurgent forces.

According to Mohammad Musa Rasouli, the deputy provincial police chief, the 40-foot-long container 1,339 boxes filled with grenades, and 250 kilograms (550 pounds) of gunpowder, along with fuses and electrical cords was intercepted in southwestern Nimroz province .

He said the weapons appeared to have been made in China and were scheduled to ship to a private company in Afghanistan, though he declined to give the name of the receiving company.

He said one suspect has been arrested and others from the company are being investigated.

- AP

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/10/06/afghanistan.iran.weapons/index.html?hpt=T2

Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Authorities in southwestern Afghanistan have seized 19 tons of explosive devices that had been transferred across the border from Iran, police said.

Nimruz Police Chief Abdul Jabar Purdel said a suspect was detained. Nimruz province, in Afghanistan's southwestern corner, borders Iran and Pakistan

The devices had been placed in 337 boxes inside a 40-foot shipping container transferred from Iran over a bridge linking Afghanistan and Iran, he said.

Earlier this year, a senior U.S. Defense Department official said that new U.S. military intelligence suggests Iran planned to smuggle new shipments of weapons into Afghanistan as part of an increased effort to interfere with coalition operations.

The information came from an "Iranian source" whose tips on past shipments have been verified by the United States, the official said in April.

The official also noted that Iran -- a majority Shiite country -- and the Sunni Taliban almost went to war with one another in the late 1990s, so it's not really in their interest to be a major source of top-shelf arms to the Taliban.

Tehran has consistently denied supporting groups opposed to the Afghan government. U.S. and coalition troops have found evidence of some Iranian weapons inside Afghanistan in seized caches or in the aftermath of attacks.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/10/06/afghan-police-seize-tons-explosives-iran/

Afghan police said Wednesday they had seized 22 tons of explosives stashed in boxes marked "food, toys and kitchenware" that were reportedly imported from neighboring Iran.

The discovery was made Tuesday in a customs office in the western province of Nimroz on the Iranian border, deputy provincial police chief Mohammad Musa Rasouli told the AFP.

"We found these materials hidden in a 40 foot shipping container that had come from Iran. The explosives were disguised as merchandise like food, toys and kitchenware," he said.

Bombs made from old ammunitions and explosives are the main weapon used by the Taliban and other insurgents fighting against the Western-backed Afghan government and Western troops, and cause the bulk of military casualties.

Foreign military commanders and some Afghan officials have accused Iran of providing weapons to the Taliban, the chief group leading the insurgency since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion ousted its regime from power.

Tehran, a long-running U.S. foe, denies the charges and senior Afghan administration officials say they have no evidence against Iran.

The U.S. and NATO have more than 150,000 troops in Afghanistan to fight the Taliban and keep President Hamid Karzai's administration in power.

Yeah, for those of you who have any doubt of Iran's interests...

 

[dammitgibs]

whaaaaaat?

 

[Moonbeam]

Sounds like an act of war.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Sounds like an act of war.

It is, but many things are. Practically it's more of a confirmation of what we were fairly sure of.

Maybe some faux outrage and it will be swept into a quiet corner.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Iran can always state that it is a rogue element to is doing the support.

Unless one can show a paper trail from the government; they have plausible denialability(sp).

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Iran can always state that it is a rogue element to is doing the support.

Unless one can show a paper trail from the government; they have plausible denialability(sp).

Strangely enough it's likely that ten years ago that was true, however the rogue elements are more entrenched in governing. Still, the denial is there.

 

[dammitgibs]

We should just find a group of people inside Iran that hate the regime and just handover all the weapons we find to them, Iran will come back and blame us and we'll just say hey they say "made in Iran" right there clear as purple crayon.

 

[Lemon law]

As if the USA has never ever engaged in Proxy wars in its history. The Russians do it, the USA does it, major powers have been engaging in proxy wars ever since the time of dirt, but when it becomes Iranian governmental policy which is not clearly established, it suddenly becomes the outrage of the millennium.

In a larger context, the USA is somewhat lucky Iran has declined to engage in proxy war in Iraq, because if Iran really wanted to arm insurgents in Iraq, Gaza, or the West Bank, the US position in the mid-east would become instantly untenable five or more years ago.

Meanwhile please resume your panic that there is an Achmadinejad under every bed, and tonight, or at least by Halloween, he will emerge at our darkest hour and say BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
Scare us all to death and evil will finally rule the entire world.

 

[woolfe9999]

In a larger context, the USA is somewhat lucky Iran has declined to engage in proxy war in Iraq, because if Iran really wanted to arm insurgents in Iraq, Gaza, or the West Bank, the US position in the mid-east would become instantly untenable five or more years ago.

Er, they've been doing all those things you listed, for years now...

- wolf

 

[EagleKeeper]

As if the USA has never ever engaged in Proxy wars in its history. The Russians do it, the USA does it, major powers have been engaging in proxy wars ever since the time of dirt, but when it becomes Iranian governmental policy which is not clearly established, it suddenly becomes the outrage of the millennium.

In a larger context, the USA is somewhat lucky Iran has declined to engage in proxy war in Iraq, because if Iran really wanted to arm insurgents in Iraq, Gaza, or the West Bank, the US position in the mid-east would become instantly untenable five or more years ago.

I will agree with respect to Iraq.

The other examples that you use are BS - they are altready doing so.

 

[Sinsear]

I was waiting for the Iranian Information Minister to show up and find a way to justify this. LemonLaw never fails to disappoint.

 

[irishScott]

Er, they've been doing all those things you listed, for years now...

- wolf

Remember this is the guy who thinks Iran can completely seal the Persian gulf with shoulder-fired rockets; and the guy who hypocritically accuses others of spreading fear and panic when he's the only one who thinks Iran has such fearsome power in the first place.

 

[Schadenfroh]

the USA is somewhat lucky Iran has declined to engage in proxy war in Iraq, because if Iran really wanted to arm insurgents in Iraq, Gaza, or the West Bank

I believe my head is about to explode.

 

[irishScott]

As if the USA has never ever engaged in Proxy wars in its history. The Russians do it, the USA does it, major powers have been engaging in proxy wars ever since the time of dirt, but when it becomes Iranian governmental policy which is not clearly established, it suddenly becomes the outrage of the millennium.

And here we have proof positive that LL is not an American, regardless of his citizenship. If he were I imagine he'd be more pissed about the government actively trying to kill our servicemen and women as opposed to apologizing for the killers.

Of course, there's always the "well we're technically the ones killing them, because if we didn't send them over there in the first place Iran wouldn't be "forced" to kill them via proxy." and other such bs rationalizations. Which are ironically in line with some of the "reasonings" of the Westboro Baptist Church among other groups I could name.

Clandestine operations are like guns, just a tool. Granted the US hasn't always used said tool for the right reasons, but that doesn't excuse Iran's use of it in this manner. (ie: supporting radical Islamist groups and warlords who believe you go to heaven for blowing yourselves up around "infidels", where "infidel" is defined by the local cleric)

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

I believe my head is about to explode.

I am aware of much which has been done by the US which I can in no way justify. It is good that we are using better judgment in dealing with other nations, gaffes by the prior administration notwithstanding. What I won't do is justify a second wrong to make right, and we know that's just what he means. He'd deny it of course, but he's always glad to get his digs in.

While I do not support the action ll I would suggest that whoever authorized this delivery be glad that we are civilized enough not to slag his country, an act that no power on earth could prevent.

 

[SamurAchzar]

Candies for poor Gaza children

 

[Nebor]

Iran can always state that it is a rogue element to is doing the support.

Unless one can show a paper trail from the government; they have plausible denialability(sp).

Uh, the Taliban also had a rogue element operating within their country. How'd that turn out for them?

We have Iran surrounded. Hundreds of US M1 Abrams sit idle in Iraq, ready to roll West.

Their time will come. Both national military training sites are switching HIC (High intensity combat) training as of October 1st. No more LIC (Low intensity combat) as has been employed in post-invasion Iraq and Afghanistan.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Uh, the Taliban also had a rogue element operating within their country. How'd that turn out for them?

We have Iran surrounded. Hundreds of US M1 Abrams sit idle in Iraq, ready to roll West.

Their time will come. Both national military training sites are switching HIC (High intensity combat) training as of October 1st. No more LIC (Low intensity combat) as has been employed in post-invasion Iraq and Afghanistan.

So we have it surrounded. So what? Only an idiot would order an invasion of Iran but since idiots about it's always a possibility.

 

[Lemon law]

I believe my head is about to explode.

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Sorry Scradenfrof, and with all due respects, as far as I am concerned its one of those if your brains were dynamite questions, you would not have enough to blow your nose. Making your head explosion no danger to yourself and others.

As far as the Irish Scott Contention that I am not a patriotic American, you are wrong wrong and triple wrong.

Its not my duty as a patriotic American to be the good German who says my country right or wrong no matter how stupid our foreign and domestic policy is.

America is in a damn fine mess now due to our own stupidity, and just jumping on an Achmadinejad may be a popular feel good, but it addresses no real problems.

GWB&co has really damaged American credibility around the world and sadly Obama is little better. But still, its not just about GWB and Obama, America has been stuck on stupid for a very long time, and please don't ask me not to oppose American stupidity.

 

[Jhhnn]

There is, of course, no actual evidence of Iranian govt involvement at all, something point out by the Afghan govt, but the usual ravers believe what they want to believe...

The truth is unknowable at this point, and it's not like scarce and highly classified stinger missiles showing up in the hands of the mujahedin during the Reagan years, either...

The method of counting is the usual sensationalism, as well. "19 tons of explosive devices" hidden in various items means what, exactly? The actual amount of explosives, or the weight of the container? If I put a firecracker in a horse's ass, would that be a 2000lb explosive device?

If the Iranians are meddling , giving support to the Taliban, it's obviously at a low level, or things would be a lot worse than they are.

 

[irishScott]

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Sorry Scradenfrof, and with all due respects, as far as I am concerned its one of those if your brains were dynamite questions, you would not have enough to blow your nose. Making your head explosion no danger to yourself and others.

As far as the Irish Scott Contention that I am not a patriotic American, you are wrong wrong and triple wrong.

Its not my duty as a patriotic American to be the good German who says my country right or wrong no matter how stupid our foreign and domestic policy is.

America is in a damn fine mess now due to our own stupidity, and just jumping on an Achmadinejad may be a popular feel good, but it addresses no real problems.

GWB&co has really damaged American credibility around the world and sadly Obama is little better. But still, its not just about GWB and Obama, America has been stuck on stupid for a very long time, and please don't ask me not to oppose American stupidity.

I never said it was. I'm just lumping you in with the same people who call 'Nam vets "baby killers". In short, I'm saying you're an apologist for those who support brutal radical Islam at the expense of innocent lives, American and otherwise. I find that a tad on the disgusting side.

 

[irishScott]

There is, of course, no actual evidence of Iranian govt involvement at all, something point out by the Afghan govt, but the usual ravers believe what they want to believe...

The truth is unknowable at this point, and it's not like scarce and highly classified stinger missiles showing up in the hands of the mujahedin during the Reagan years, either...

The method of counting is the usual sensationalism, as well. "19 tons of explosive devices" hidden in various items means what, exactly? The actual amount of explosives, or the weight of the container? If I put a firecracker in a horse's ass, would that be a 2000lb explosive device?

If the Iranians are meddling , giving support to the Taliban, it's obviously at a low level, or things would be a lot worse than they are.

I would imagine it means what it grammatically means.

Authorities in southwestern Afghanistan have seized 19 tons of explosive devices that...

The article says "19 tons of explosive devices" quite explicitly. There is no room for interpretation of the meaning of that phrase, and I have a feeling they wrote it that way for this very reason. Stop trying to rewrite it.

 

[Lemon law]

I never said it was. I'm just lumping you in with the same people who call 'Nam vets "baby killers". In short, I said you're an apologist for those who support brutal radical Islam at the expense of innocent lives, American and otherwise. I find that a tad on the disgusting side.

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Well you are correct that I opposed the Vietnam war, but I never called American soldiers baby Killers. Some of my high school buddies have their name carved in that black granite wall, 58,000 thousand American lives and 2 million Vietnamese lives peed away as a monument to American stupidity, and we have not learned a damn thing since.

Irish Scott maybe you think American stupidity is a good thing, pardon me I am so proud I can puke. And you have a lot of damn gall to call me me disgusting when I try to prevent the stupidity and you advocate it.

Please have your head a examined and hopefully learn to think.

 

[irishScott]

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Well you are correct that I opposed the Vietnam war, but I never called American soldiers baby Killers. Some of my high school buddies have their name carved in that black granite wall, 58,000 thousand American lives and 2 million Vietnamese lives peed away as a monument to American stupidity, and we have not learned a damn thing since.

Irish Scott maybe you think American stupidity is a good thing, pardon me I am so proud I can puke. And you have a lot of damn gall to call me me disgusting when I try to prevent the stupidity and you advocate it.

Please have your head a examined and hopefully learn to think.

Funny thing is, I'm not advocating anything. I'm just pointing out that as of these reports (let alone the classified ones we don't see) Iran's intentions and actions are all the clearer.

And another funny thing, you're saying the exact same rationalization over and over again, blaming American stupidity for the Iranian government's quite independent actions, as if we're responsible for them in some twisted way.

I'm just lambasting you for being an apologist for murderous Islamic radicals and those who support them. You've actively sought to justify the actions of those who (objective fact) enslave women and (objective fact) kill innocents.

Last I checked I never in this thread tried to justify America's foreign policy, stupid or not. You're the one who put those words in my mouth.

 

[woolfe9999]

I will agree with respect to Iraq.

The other examples that you use are BS - they are altready doing so.

This is what I found in one google search, without bothering to go past page 1 of the results:

http://articles.cnn.com/2007-04-11/...guard-quds-force-sunni-insurgents?_s=PM:WORLD

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...surgents-using-Austrian-rifles-from-Iran.html

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,251082,00.html

http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2007/02/evidence_of_iran_sup.php

You give lemonhead too much credit for ever getting a single fact right.

- wolf