Iranian General Who Brokered Iraq Cease-Fire Named On US Terror Watch List

McClatchy:

The Iranian general who helped broker an end to nearly a week of fighting between Iraqi government forces and Shiite Muslim militiamen in southern Iraq is an unlikely peacemaker.

Brig. Gen. Qassem Suleimani, who helped U.S.-backed Iraqi leaders negotiate a deal with radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr to stop the fighting in Iraq's largely Shiite south, is named on U.S. Treasury Department and U.N. Security Council watch lists for alleged involvement in terrorism and the proliferation of nuclear and missile technology.

His role as peacemaker, which McClatchy first reported Sunday, underscores Iran's entrenched political power and its alliances in Iraq, according to analysts.

"The Iranians are into a lot of things, and have a lot of influence," said Judith Yaphe, a former CIA analyst who's now at the National Defense University in Washington.

Suleimani, about whom little is known publicly, commands the elite Quds (Jerusalem) force of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. U.S. officials allege that the force is responsible for sending sophisticated roadside bombs, known as explosively formed projectiles, and other weaponry that Iran's Shiite allies in Iraq sometimes have used to kill U.S. troops.

Suleimani's name appears on a U.S. Treasury Department list of individuals and organizations with whom Americans are barred from doing business.

Read the whole story: McClatchy

Comments

[tumblewind]

The US government's terror list has thousands of error's on it. It isn't updated regularly to correct those error's either. They are hardly a bunch with any creditability. I really think that's why so many American's have grown cynical about terrorism! This Administration has milked it for all it's worth. They have lied and distorted facts to where most American's don't have a clue what to believe anymore. So I am hardly going to get upset over some Iranian General being on their terror list. That bunch couldn't find their way out of a wet open paper bag! They probably have every other middle eastern on that list too!

[chavee]

The surge had nothing to do with the cease fire. Iran showed that it can effectively express it's power to control events on the ground. 140.000 US troops were of no consequence to an "enemy" that has no interest in an unstable Iraq. What's the opposite of proxy war? Proxy peace.....­.is such a thing possible?

[kfdan]

"... U.S. officials allege that the force is responsible for sending sophisticated roadside bombs, known as explosively formed projectiles, and other weaponry that Iran's Shiite allies in Iraq sometimes have used to kill U.S. troops."
U.S. officials allege this and that and then make sure a name goes on a terrorist list. Maybe, Bush, Cheney and the Tooth Fairy should make that list ... X the Tooth Fairy ... she's innocent !!!

[semorg]

Iran has pissed of Israel and as a result we are not going to be able to use them to create stability in Iraq and to get our soldiers home.

[evilzed]

As history has shown, never ever bother to help Bushco, they will shit on you in a heartbeat. Eg Taliban, Osama Bin Ladin, Iran helping capture terrorists for the US.
All people who helped the US then got shat on.

[cognate]

As they say, one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.

Our political leadership needs to face up to the idea that maybe, just maybe the misguided American policy of intervention, invasion and occupation is not on the side of freedom and justice.

[Macready]

well said cognate . . . well said . . .

[Irons]

W's search for WMD in Iraq enters it's 5th year.

[peterg76]

I imagine the oil monopolies are 'terrified' at the prospect of peace breaking out in Iraq.

[HumeSkeptic]

The U.S. terror watch list is a joke.

[Superbus]

No more wars unless there is a total commitment to destroy the enemy.

[bayviking]

The NeoCon dictatorship did the same thing to Cat Stevens, going so far to use military aircraft to force is commercial plane to the ground. That's what you get for writing peace train.

[bigdaddyvike]

Of course he is. It's "terror-able" that an Iranian caused peace. Go figure!

[Troubledwawa]

After thinking about this for a while, I think al Sadr just played into Bush's hands by showing him where his militia and/or influences are. (Basra, Baghdad, and a few in Maliki's Army).

Today, I heard on NPR radio that the Marines were headed south to Basra to join up with the British.

I'm starting to think that there maybe another offense before this summer.

Man, I hope I'm wrong.

[lovethesinner]

You mean, Iran, of course. Of course, that's something to worry about. But then, with Cheney and Bush there's always something to worry about. So, let's make sure congress has him locked out of prescedence on the AUMF from 2003. Either they restate it as a one time deal, or he's going to use it to claim authority for another pre-emtive blunder. With Bush, one always wonders "will blunders ever cease?"

[WmC]

Oh, this is SO confusing. Our arch-enemy helping to mediate a cease fire which will make our surge look like it's suceeding. Does that mean he's helping us? Or does that mean we should repudiate the cease fire? It's so confusing. Can someone knowledgeable in foreign affairs please explain it to us? Someone like John McBombiran, perhaps?

[winoohno]

Here is what I think about this story -- didn't Bush and McCain say that if we leave Iraq then Iran will fill the power void left over? Well, we are still in Iraq and it seems like Iran is the power broker where a General who is on our "top terrorist list" is calling the shots. A lot of people are confused -- chief among them are the aforementioned Bush & McCain. It's almost as if we should believe the exact opposite of what they say.

[SamEllison]

In order to reach the title of Ayatollah, Muqtada al-Sadr must finish his religious training in Qom, Iran.
Fill in the blanks....­..