For whom the wake-up call rings
In his most recent post on Iran, the invaluable Michael Ledeen points out the December 25 New York Times story on the American seizuure of Iranians suspected of condcuting attacks on Iraqi security forces. Michael plucks this quote from the December 25 Times story:
One senior administration official said, “This is going to be a tense but clarifying moment.”Michael comments:
The heart jumps for a moment, wondering if, at long last, this “clarifying moment” will catalyze some sort of American effort to directly challenge the clerical fascist regime in Tehran. But then the heart sinks, as the senior official explains: it’s not about us at all. It’s all about the Iraqis.Michael then quotes this devastating statement from the senior adminstration official, providing "boldface for the visually challenged":
“It’s our position that the Iraqis have to seize this opportunity to sort out with the Iranians just what kind of behavior they are going to tolerate,” the official said...“They are going to have to confront the evidence that the Iranians are deeply involved in some of the acts of violence.”The bloody outrage that these quotes should prompt is enhanced by today's New York Times story updating the story Ledeen quotes: "U.S. says captured Iranians can be linked to attacks." This time, the attacks to which the headline refers include attacks on American forces. Today's Times story frames the questions that should be posed to that senior administration official (and others): Why is the question of Iranian attacks on American forces one for Iraqi officials? Why aren't you confronting the evidence that Iranian officials are deeply involved in some of the acts of violence?
UPDATE: At NRO's Corner, Michael Ledeen comments briefly here.
To comment on this post, go here.
