To Counter Iran’s Role in Iraq, Bush Moves Beyond Diplomacy

[RedEarth]

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 — In promising to stop Iran from meddling in Iraq, President Bush returned Wednesday night to a strategy of confrontation in dealing with Tehran, casting aside what had been a limited flirtation with a more diplomatic approach toward it.

Mr. Bush accused Iran of providing material support for attacks on American troops and vowed to respond. “We will disrupt the attacks on our forces,” he said in his speech. “We will seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq.”

Mr. Bush said the United States would send another aircraft carrier and its supporting ships to the Persian Gulf. Administration officials said the battle group would be stationed within quick sailing distance of Iran, a response to the growing concern that Iran is building up its own missile capacity and naval power, with the goal of military dominance in the gulf.

Mr. Bush also announced the deployment of Patriot missiles to protect America’s gulf allies. A battery of such missiles is already in Qatar, having been moved there several months ago.

The more combative talk reflects increased frustration in the administration with Iran, which American officials blame for part of the rising death toll in Iraq.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/11/world/middleeast/11diplo.html?pagewanted=print

[ixion]

1. "limited flirtation" = LIP SERVICE

c'mon NYTimes, keep it real.

[Laha]

2. Do you think this is related?

Just found it through Fark.com, caused my eyebrows to raise a little..


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6251167.stm

[leftchick]

3. "increased frustration"? how quaint!

I wish someone would report what it is. It is a deliberate provocation to draw Iran into an expanded mideast war. aka; the neocon plan.

:puke:

[LynnTheDem]

4. Iran HAS NOT and IS NOT "meddling" in Iraq.

But ya gotta love how the US "media" just blithely assumes the lie as fact.

It's exactly how 3/4ths of Americans -the only people on earth who did so- thought Iraq did 911.

[Duer 157099]

8. I'm inclined to agree, just based on common sense

the Iranians (the government, at least) has much more to gain by just sitting back and not getting involved in Iraq, until the US leaves -- for them, the sooner the better, so getting involved would only delay that.

wouldn't make sense, and they aren't stupid (just insane because of viral religionitis)

[John Q. Citizen]

5. I see Qatar is getting a missile defense. Did the Pentagon get one yet? n/t

[Tempest]

6. China tells Bush, Hands off Iran

China warned the United States on Thursday not to meddle in its trade relations with Iran after Washington expressed concern about a planned investment by a Chinese oil company in an Iranian gas field.

"We think this kind of cooperation and relationship is legitimate. Normal cooperation should not be interfered (with)," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao. Asked whether that meant Beijing believed the United States was interfering in its dealings with Iran, Liu said: "This is our position."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-01-11-china-iran_x.htm

[donkeyotay]

7. Iran is "meddling"

Let's see, Iran has been politically and militarily involved cross those borders for I don't know how long. We travel halfway around the world for regime change next door to them, but THEY'RE the ones "meddling."

Mr. Bush said the United States would send another aircraft carrier and its supporting ships to the Persian Gulf.

I think that makes 3. Bush's face-saving world war is getting closer. We can forget impeaching, investigating war profiteering, and balancing the budget. Let's go kill lots of people so we don't have to stop and think about what we've done. Blame others.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

9. Impeach, Impeach, Impeach

eom