Struggling to explain the rising violence across Iraq, complete with the highest death toll in years among US troops, the Obama Administration is using the tried and true strategy of blaming Iran.
According to unnamed US officials, they believe the Improvised Rocket-Assisted Munitions (IRAMs) a common weapon among Shi’ite militias, are being made with “Iranian materials” and that therefore there is evidence Iran is backing the militias.
The Shi’ite militias have become increasingly interested in attacking US troops in recent months, as US officials have made it clear they intend to stay beyond their promised December 2011 deadline to leave the nation.
Claims of Iranian support have been common for years among US officials, and are never substantiated beyond vague suspicions based on unseen evidence. Though it is clear that Shi’ite militias would have ties with groups in Iran, owing to the number that were in exile there during the Saddam Hussein regime, the Iranian government is on good terms with Iraq’s Shi’ite government and would not seem to benefit from backing militias directly.
