Iranians in Iraq, Mahdi Army Connection Denied

Is the Mahdi Army connected to Iran, being trained by Iran and/or working for Iran against Americans?

Iraqi Hezbollah: the Mahdi Army, from No More Spin:

In his latest post, Michael Totten referred to the Mahdi Army as the Iraqi branch of Hezbollah. Well, he may be onto something. An article in the British newspaper The Independent talks about Mahdi Army fighters who say they were trained in Lebanon by Hezbollah.

The connection is being denied. Direct from the source in Iraq via email:

SUBJECT: Iranian Forces Operating Within Iraqi Borders

19 August 2007

My message of 26 June 2007, addressed to the National Security Adviser to the Vice President of the United States, message were also sent that date to the other relevant branches of the United States Government.

In my message I state: “Elements of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran are now openly operating in Southern Iraq.”

I go on to state: “JAM stands ready to confront the Iranians head-on, including incursions into Iranian territory, (hot posse) where we expect to link-up with Arab Shiia faithful in Baluchistan.”

Further, I advise of JAM’s preparedness to help correct the situation.

At this hour, 19 August 2007, AP is reporting that “American forces are tracking about 50 members of an elite Iranian force who have crossed the border into southern Iraq to train Shiite militia fighters, a top U.S. general said Sunday.”

AP goes on to state: “Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, whose command includes the volatile southern rim of Baghdad and districts to the south, said his troops are tracking about 50 members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps in their area — the first detailed allegation that Iranians have been training fighters within Iraq's borders.”

I would like to point out that AP’s assertion that this is “the first detailed allegation that Iranians have been training fighters WITHIN (!!) Iraq’s borders is factually FALSE. JAM prefers to maintain full deniability!

As stated, JAM stands ready to continue to assist the United States Army in ongoing measures directed against forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, operating within the borders of Iraq. (Let’s get those bastards!) --Albrecht Gero Muth , a/k/a Shaikh Ali Al-Muthaba

That doesn't exactly sound like the Mahdi Army is cooperating with Iran, but ...

Members of Muqtada al-Sadr's powerful militia said they had received instruction from fellow Shias from Hizbollah, the movement that fought Israel's vaunted military machine to a bloody standstill in last year's July War.

One Iraqi militiaman, who asked to be named only as Abu Muhannad, said he had spent a month in Southern Lebanon, Hizbollah's stronghold. "I was one of the experienced fighters from the Mehdi army to go for training there," he said. "We learned how to take advantage of an armoured vehicle's weakness, and how to wait and kill the soldiers who try to escape." The 39-year-old from Suwayrah, a city 40 km south of Baghdad was one of several fighters to confirm the links between the two groups. ( By Nizar Latif and Phil Sands, The Independent)

Are these present members of the Mahdi Army, former members of the Mahdi Army, or does it really matter? Either way Iran is causing major problems in Iraq for our military, and they need to be stopped. But there is Good news from Iraq this week. (from Infidels Are Cool)

It’s great to hear more articles like this. the “Surge” is working and liberals are steaming about being wrong…again.

We are winning, and it’s wonderful to hear more updates like this.

via BillRoggio

Iraq Report: Phantom Strike Continues

Iraqi Security Forces and Multinational Forces Iraq are pressing hard with Operation Phantom Strike, targeting al Qaeda in Iraq, the Shia terror cells of the Special Groups, and “rogue” elements of the Mahdi Army throughout Iraq. Over the past 24 hours, U.S. and Iraq security forces conducted multiple major raids, with scores of al Qaeda, Mahdi Army, and Special Groups operatives killed or captured.

And then there's this: New York Islamist Day Parade:

On September 9, 2007, a pre-9/11 celebration of sorts will be taking place in New York City, as Islamists from across the Tri-State area will congregate there for the 22nd Annual Muslim Day Parade. If past parades are any indication, law enforcement will need to be on high alert, as the participants have been amongst the most radical in the nation. Will the city allow this denigration of a very somber day to take place, or will it remember its many victims of terrorism and shut it down? (From Americans Against Hate , and FrontPageMag, via Miss Beth's Victory Dance

Comments

[Ortho]

To the chagrin of many bloggers and political pundits a U.S.-Iran war will not occur in the near future. Iran, unfortunately, occupies an important place in the global economy. The country exports close to 3 billion barrels of oil a day and 3.56 billion cubic meters of natural gas. In addition, Iran is a significant economic trading partner with Japan, China, Turkey, Italy, Germany, France, and South Korea. Iran is not yet a worldwide pariah. Today's Iran does not occupy the same position on the world's stage as Saddam's Iraq did in the late 90s and early 2000s.

[Phil]

Hi Debbie,

I disagree with Rastaman, he evidently hasn't heard what Liberal Democrats have said recently, Dick Turbin has said that the Surge is working and the only General I am interested in hearing from is General David Petraeus and not the Liberal Arm Chair Generals.

[Debbie]

Rastaman, I agree that the war in Iraq was screwed up from the beginning, however ... it does seem that there is good progress over the last month. Military progress, that is. Not political. Maliki needs to go and someone capable put in his place. I agree with you on Rumsfeld.

[Rastaman]

If we're winning the war in Iraq, then why do we appear to be losing so badly? Everyone involved, from the generals to the troops on the ground to the politicians in Washington, agrees that the surge is not working. The Iraqi government is a failure. The country is having a civil war.

There's no end to the depths of this morass. It was totally fouled up by Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld from the very beginning and it's far too late now to fix it.

We are LOSING the war in Iraq. Michael is partly right. We should be wiping out Iranian interference and doing it inside Iran, not by trying to pick off the people they keep sending in. Even that would not give us a victory in Iraq though. Our chance for that was thoroughly lost to us by that arrogant idiot Rumsfeld.

Rastaman

[David M]

Trackbacked by The Thunder Run - Web Reconnaissance for 08/21/2007
A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day...so check back often.

[michael]

So it seems that the US can make real progress in Iraq, but it needs to confront the real enemy: Iran.