Petraeus And Iran: Establishing a Casus Belli?

The most troubling part about General Petraeus' report to Congress this week had little to do with Iraq. His bald statements about Iran should give us all pause. Here's the New Jesus speaking from high atop the Hill, passing down as fact what is in many cases contested intelligence about Iran's involvement in Iraq.

Accepted unconditionally as intelligence gospel, Petraeus' testimony could clearly lay the groundwork for a casus belli for a strike against Tehran.
A sampler from his testimony:

* We have also disrupted Shia militia extremists, capturing the head and numerous other leaders of the Iranian-supported Special Groups, along with a senior Lebanese Hezbollah operative supporting Iran's activities in Iraq.

* Malign actions by Syria and, especially, by Iran fuel that violence.

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Comments

[CriminallySane]

Well, the pawns are being positioned, anyway:

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article2953462.ece

Here's some relevant pullquotes:

"British forces have been sent from Basra to the volatile border with Iran amid warnings from the senior US commander in Iraq that Tehran is fomenting a "proxy war".

In signs of a fast-developing confrontation, the Iranians have threatened military action in response to attacks launched from Iraqi territory while the Pentagon has announced the building of a US base and fortified checkpoints at the frontier."

...and:

"The move came as General David Petraeus, the US commander in Iraq, and Ryan Crocker, the US ambassador to Iraq, made some of the strongest accusations yet by US officials about Iranian activity. General Petraeus spoke on Monday of a "proxy war" in Iraq, while Mr Crocker accused the Iranian government of "providing lethal capabilities to the enemies of the Iraqi state".

In an interview after his appearance before a congressional panel on Monday, General Petraeus strongly implied that it would soon be necessary to obtain authorisation to take action against Iran within its own borders, rather than just inside Iraq. "There is a pretty hard look ongoing at that particular situation" he said."

Lest anyone forget, Basra is very close to resupply lines for US troops in the field almost anywhere in the interior of Iraq. It's not difficult to see a very ugly campaign along that route if this heats up.

[OldKnute]

OMG NO!

CriminallySane

So you are saying they send troops close to the border, they get fired on, we retaliate kill even more Iranians, they hit back even harder and WWIII is on?

These troops are being used for bait?

OMG!!!!!! NOOOOO!

And 20 years later and 2 billion dead, all the mistakes of the last 7 years are forgotten???????

Oh man, I have some serious praying to do.

CS,

Please, this can"t be so.

All the best

Knute

[OldKnute]

Well, I for one was humiliated to see my Party members, Republicans, press over and over again for actions to be taken directly against Iran. Grandstanding and fear mongering they used their bully pulpits to ask question after question about Iran, border bases near Iran, plans for pursuing Iran.

General Petraeus, I think did a fair job of deflecting some of these FRAR mongers scenarios and deferring Iran frenzy urges to others of TRUE policy making authority.

Get it people we are at war.

We have threatened Iran Syria, and insulted about half the Muslim world, and violated Islamic lands.

Is there anyone that would disbelieve that insurgent"s would not reach out to the international arms dealers and BUY anything they could get their hands on? Iranian equipment and weapons included?

Iran, Iran, Iran, Bomb bomb bomb,,,,, bomb bomb IRAN!

IF what my Party says is correct, the United Nations is the place for this debate. Stand UP for what you think is true, assemble irrefutable and collaborate your intelligence, take it to the UN General Assembly, make your case. On worldwide television, witnessed by our people and return with international authorization, go to Congress and ask that a state of war be declared against IRAN!

DO IT THE RIGHT WAY!

By the BOOK!

If not, you look weaker than the shocker moms, chicken hawks, and fearful, trembling Armageddon Crusaders that voted for you.

DO IT BY THE BOOK!

Nuff said.

All the best

Knute

[fact finder]

YES.