Taliban fighters training in Iran, U.S. officials say

[sabra]

Source: CNN

Washington (CNN) -- Iran is helping train Taliban fighters within its borders, according to U.S. military and intelligence officials.

The United States has already said that the Taliban may be receiving limited training from the Iranians in Afghanistan, but the officials told CNN that training in the use of small arms was occurring within Iran.

"We've known for some time that Iran has been a source for both materiel and trained fighters for Taliban elements in Afghanistan," Army Lt. Col. Edward Sholtis said Monday. But, he said, it is unknown whether that training is occurring with the support of Tehran, or it is "simply something that is happening beyond the government's control."

"For some years, Iran has supplied arms and munitions to the Afghan Taliban," said a U.S. intelligence official. "It has also helped conduct at least small-scale weapons training for the Taliban. There's reason to believe that some of this training has occurred in Iran."

The officials who spoke with CNN did not say how many Taliban fighters have been trained in Iran, or whether the training was sanctioned at the highest levels of the Iranian government.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/03/23/iran.taliban/index.html?hpt=T2

[951-Riverside]

1. and what about the training and support they receive from Saudi Arabia?

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. and what about all the Al-Quada arms,money that Saudi Arabia provided.

Looks like the WH is itching for a reason to move Iran out of the way of all that Middle East oil.

The "terrorists" are such a good excuse to invade/attack other countries.
Goodness knows there is no reason to actually want to destroy the handy little buggers,
Just move them around to each soon to be targeted country.
Yemen...Libya..Somalia..Pakistan.
so convenient.

[jody]

4. Agree, why did God put arabs with their islamic religion on top of OUR OIL!

:sarcasm: with more than a grain of truth describing US foreign policy in the middle east whether Democratic or Republican president. :mad:

[crikkett]

3. war drums pounding

I'm not listening.
:thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown:

[Gwoppi]

13. Me neither

Ditto on the war drums. I've had enough of it. I'd like to see America quiet, peaceful, taking care of her own, and staying out of other people's countries and resources for, oh I don't know, maybe the next three centuries.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

5. We're going to continue to play "Whack-a-Terrorist" until we've

destroyed errr I mean "liberated" all of the countries with something that we want or need.

I'm an Atheist but the only phrase that comes to mind is God help us all.

The madness continues (and I don't mean March Madness). The US MIC is without a doubt the best recruiting tool that any of our enemies could have ever dreamed up.

[saigon68]

10. Looks like Obama Spoiling for another War

Has to get a few Military Industrial votes in 2012

[Altoid_Cyclist]

12. I agree with what Robb said earlier. It is unlikely, but..............

this country got so used to the insanity that was the reign of error by * and Darth that I find myself preparing for the worst case scenario now just as a matter of habit.

We can't always count on G20 summits to field test new weapons. :sarcasm:

What we need is



although it doesn't pay as well as constant war.

[Mari333]

20. yep. fucking warmongering assholes in both parties

[Robb]

6. This seems unlikely.

People tend to forget http://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/03/world/as-the-taliban-finish-off-foes-iran-is-looming.html?pagewanted=1">which side Iran has historically been on here.

[Flaneur]

7. But not impossible.

Iran is faced with 100,000 or so US troops in Iraq on its western border.

Iran is faced with 100,000 or so US and NATO troops in Afghanistan on its eastern border.

The US has sponsored anti-government armed movements as part of its policy of "regime change" in Iran.

The US has been fairly bellicose toward Iran, though slightly less so under Obama.


Iran may be willing to ignore ideological/religious divisions between it and the Taliban if it means it can poke a stick in the Americans' eyes and make their occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan all the messier.

[Robb]

9. No, not impossible.

But on a very basic level, in this part of the world, Shia and Sunni is one hell of a gap to bridge.

[The Wizard]

14. The Taliban is Suni

or so I thought. Iran is Shiite.

[Robb]

16. Correct

Iran's mostly Shia, anyhow. A collaboration between them would stretch the imagination a bit.

[Igel]

22. Yet Iran supports Hamas, which is Sunni.

It's best to look at group allegiance/boundaries as hierarchical.

You side with your family against the clan, the clan against the tribe, and the tribe against others. If the tribe is threatened, you put aside a lot of clan differences to respond to the threat against the bigger unit, unless the threat really doesn't bother your clan. Then maybe you let it slide--probably not, but maybe.

Then there's the same on religious grounds. You may fight with those in another sect of your religion, but if it's against people outside your religion then the differences between sects becomes less. It doesn't matter if it's Xian or Muslim, if the larger group is threatened and that threat may devolve to your group, it's a no brainer. You don't have to be especially radical in your beliefs.

Muslims vs. Jews/Zionists? It's in the interests of the Shi'ites and the Sunnis to repel the invader/threat; then afterwards they can fight among themselves. It makes for a kind of anarchical appearance from outside, but sums things up nicely enough. Even in Iraq, where the infighting between Muslims involved especially a takfiri group so that non-Salafists were seen as outsiders. (After all, it's not my or your perceptions of group boundaries that matters, it's theirs.)

[dixiegrrrrl]

11. It is no longer possible to take these "reports" at face value.

As if the Gulf of Tonkin and the USS Cole exposes' were not enough, even those of short memory
can recall Powell at the UN lying thru his teeth.
The US Intelligence community has lost all credibility for thinking people.

But, I guess war drums do not beat for thinking people.

[dipsydoodle]

8. Is Army Lt. Col. Edward Sholtis

otherwise known as Curly , Moe or Larry ?

[pjt7]

15. Then why does Karzi meet with Armadinnerjacket

for two day's?

[pjt7]

17. I have noticed CNN is trying to

paint Iran in the worst possible light, probably for a Israeil attack. They have been doing this consistently for the past month or so. "Wolf Blitzer" is the worst. I wonder what his REAL name is?

[Eg-ptiangirl]

18. doubt it

They both hate each other

[chrisa]

19. Why would Iran want to help the Taliban?

Wouldn't that be a huge strategic blunder? Sure, it would hurt the US, but once the US is out of Afghanistan, they're surrounded by Taliban.

Stupid move.

[pjt7]

21. All of our major networks are influenced heavily

by the Industrial Military Complex, but CNN is really getting pushed hard by someone to pain Iran in the worst light possible. They need to tone it down, because it's getting too obvious & unbelievable.