U.S. official says intel suggests Iran plans to ship arms to Taliban

[The abyss]

Source: CNN

Washington (CNN) -- New U.S. military intelligence suggests Iran plans to smuggle new shipments of weapons into Afghanistan in the coming weeks as part of an increased effort to interfere with coalition operations, a senior U.S. Defense Department official said Friday.

The information came from an "Iranian source" whose tips on past shipments have been verified by the United States, the official said.
The official declined to be identified because of the sensitive nature of the information. He also declined to offer more details on the identity of the Iranian source. Intelligence gained by talking to people, sometimes referred to as "human intelligence," is always considered sensitive for fear of compromising sources.
"There are indications the Iranians have stepped it up," the official said.
But another U.S. official said Iran is only providing "limited supplies of weapons to the Taliban ... not enough to cause major problems for coalition forces."
The official also noted that Iran -- a majority Shiite country -- and the Sunni Taliban almost went to war with one another in the late 90s, so it's not really in their interest to be a major source of top-shelf arms to the Taliban.
Earlier this week, however, Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters in Afghanistan he was 'taken aback" when he learned of a "significant shipment" of weapons from Iran into Kandahar in southeastern Afghanistan. Mullen and his aides declined to offer any other details.


Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/04/02/iran.taliban.weapons/index.html

---

More fun and games.

[Arctic Dave]

1. So we aren't the sole exporter of military hardware to the world.

That will piss off the MIC.

[Newsjock]

2. Identify the goddamned "senior official," CNN

If someone wants this nation in a third war, they damned well better be willing to stand behind their claims.

[Psephos]

3. It's important that we censor this kind of report.

Ignorance is bliss.

:sarcasm:

[LakeSamish706]

4. Why do I call BS on this story? Not for one minute do I trust the hierarchy

in our military to give us truth, and especially when it comes to Iran.

[demosincebirth]

5. Really? You could've knocked me over with a feather.

[L0oniX]

6. hmmm ...compared to how much we sell (give away) to Israel? ...if it's even true...

which I seriously doubt. I'll never trust any info from our military. Oh yea ...uhm ...we used to sell weapons to the Taliban too ...DUH!

:wtf:

[Ian David]

7. Suggests... plans to... sounds like a slam-dunk to me.

:sarcasm:

[MUAD_DIB]

8. The Great Game continues.

The West were the suppliers of weaponry to the Mujah Hadeen during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. Now it is the Persians who are doing it.

So it goes, so it goes...

[WhiteTara]

9. and WMDs are just outside Baghdad slightly to the north,

east, south or west. We've been here before. Anyone who believes this, raise your hand.
:hide: