Major General Jeffrey S. Buchanan, the top US military spokesman in Iraq, today declared that the Iranian government’s Quds force is “providing direct support” to Iraqi Shi’ite militias, and that those militias are working to undermine the Maliki government.
US officials have repeatedly claimed Iran is backing the militias, though the State Department conceded last month that they don’t actually have any evidence to back up these accusations, and Maj. Gen. Buchanan didn’t provide any today either.
Some officials, including Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, have even threatened non-specific “measures” against Iran over the allegations. Buchanan insisted that Iran’s militias are the “biggest threat” in Iraq today.
The claims don’t stand up to even casual scrutiny, however, as the Iraqi government is by and large on extremely good terms with the Iranian government, and it wouldn’t make any sense for the Iranians to try to undermine the only other major Shi’ite dominated government in the region.
Que XTC's "Generals and Majors"
"… the State Department conceded last month that they don’t actually have any evidence to back up these accusations, and Maj. Gen. Buchanan didn’t provide any today either."
Oh MajGen Buchanan? STFU!!!
Please, even in World of Warcraft the rule is "screenshot or it didn't happen" when making accusations. Buchanan's got less evidence than a 12-year old gamer who's been wronged.
When you have some evidence, bring it. If you got nothing, sit your @ down and keep your mouth shut. In America we call it libel and/or slander, and both are punishable by law.
Law? In the empire? What's that?… Your WoW reference is apt and makes the point that our overlords continuously accuse nations of EVIL with no basis in fact or any proof. It's always some super secret "trust me" that cannot be examined for the straw man that it is. Like the Monty Python sketch of the illusionist who built a complex of flats… if you began to doubt he actually did it, it would collapse.
there are all kinds of direct support, e.g. direct moral support, direct prayer support (i.e. direct support by prayers), therefore the general could never be wrong.
On another note, I seem to remember reading a story about a year or so ago of a man who had been apprehended for vandalizing a church, and before his arrest the congregation had prayed together for God to strike him down as justice. Well, while in jail the criminal suffered a heart attack- no prior history, no symptoms no health issues- and he was suing the church for damages for inciting God to do violence upon him. As I recall, the church itself was put in a HUGE delicate position of either having to take responsibility for their actions or deny that prayers could actually affect anything. The court, taking the easy way out, threw out the case- but I see where 'providing material support through prayer' might be used as a legal charge one of these days.
News Flash, Buchanan!! The “biggest threat” in Iraq today is the USG/US military. I'm fairly sure that if the US were to leave, as agreed to in the SOFA, after the Maliki regime finishes their ethnic cleansing of the Sunnis (mainly but no one is exempt) there will be relative peace – especially with Iran…oh, is that the problem? All that money spent and lives lost only to have the Iraqi government turn to Iran for support? Oh, the indignity!!!
don't need evidence i'm a general
Well, at least Iran didn't attack and invade Iraq in an illegal war of aggression based on bogus trumped up charges. They are not occupying the country. They didn't kill thousands (millions?) of innocent civilians. Uncle sam can taken credit for all of this.
Over 1.4 million and counting.
Here's an idea for that idiot Buchanan whore of the neocons on how to solve the "threat" of Iran- get the hell out of Iraq!
The only thing to say is they are lieing just like they did for support for the illegal Iraq war plain and simple.
And who does the US "support" in Iraq?
The Iraqis – really?
Crying? Uncle Sam, are you crying? There's no crying in The Empire Game.
Goddamn, Uncle Sam, ya got some real balls to complain about somethin' like this; my TV has been re-running "Charlie Wilson's War" over and over and over.
Produce a listing of each & every "militia", insurgency, etc, Uncle Sam has supported, created, funded, armed, and so forth since 1942 – and then question why turnabout is not fairplay.
Why shouldn't Iran send weapons and support to their next door neighbor? Is anyone simple minded enough to think that if Iran were to invade and occupy Mexico, that the US would simply stand politely by and allow them rape the country of its assets? The complete lack of basic common sense, accompanied by amazing doses of pure gall is enough to boggle the human mind. Have the American people always been this stupid and gullible, or this the result of 60 plus years of pure propaganda?
No, it is not the result of 60 plus years of pure propaganda. It is the result of 60 plus years of government schools.
This is off topic but what would the soldiers do if congress desided not to fund the illegal wars and cut the military industrial complex by 1 third or more.Then are Orderd by the comanding officers and the President to stop any peole obeying the law.Would they help the citizens and congress or have they been brinwashed to do what they are orderd right or wrong.Some would do write but I wonder how many.Contiual war and brainwashing can turn people into animals that the military can treat like slaves.Its late so I will bring this up again.
According to the US and Israel narratives, the ME is like a Seinfeld episode where all the subplots come together and lead to Iran.
Lies as a pretext for war are SOP for the warmongers at the pentagon. Nothing new to see here. Move along. Move along,
Another general carrying water for Israel.