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Armed men crossed into Afghanistan from Iran: Police
PAK TRIBUNE ^ | 20 Jun 07 | Unknown

Posted on 06/25/2007 6:38:27 PM PDT by elhombrelibre

HERAT: More than 20 armed men crossed the border from Iran into Afghanistan and entered a town, a police commander said in the first such blunt claim by a high-ranking Afghan official.

Colonel Rahmatullah Safi - police commander in the three western provinces of Farah, Badghis and Herat - said according to intelligence information, the group of armed militants crossed the border Monday in Farah's Anardara district.

"Two pickup trucks with over 20 armed people riding in them crossed the border from Iran to Afghanistan," Safi said in his Border Police headquarters, 15 km outside Herat city.

He said according to intelligence information, the men were heading towards Zirkoh area in Farah province, which has been the site of escalating militant activity in recent months.

Safi said the police did not have the opportunity to track down the vehicles but said he had informed President Hamid Karzai and international forces in the country.

"I can say with certainty that the vehicles came from Iranian soil, and if they came from Iran with ammunitions and explosives, of course, they are supported by the Iranian government."

"If the Iranian border forces really want to stop them, they can," he added. "They have one outpost every five to 10 km."

Safi's report of the infiltration comes at a time when US officials have linked Iran's government to large shipments of weaponry to militants in Afghanistan, but Karzai and other Afghan officials have ruled out Iran's involvement and Tehran has also strongly denied funnelling weapons to Afghan militants.

Safi also revealed that during fighting Saturday night between Afghan police and insurgents in the Shindand district of Herat province, which left nine suspected Taliban and two police officers dead, police found the remains of Iranian-made bullets.

He also showed DPA five anti-tank mines that had Iranian markings, which he said were seized at the Afghan-Iran border about two weeks ago.

Safi said his police forces had information that former mujahideen fighters, who forced Soviet forces from Afghanistan and later plunged the country into a bloody civil war, were receiving training in Iranian territory and were sent back to Afghanistan to carry out attacks against the government and international forces.

In April, US officials said Iranian-made weapons had showed up in the hands of the Taliban. The Pentagon's top general, Peter Pace, said NATO forces in Afghanistan had seized Iranian-made mortars and explosives destined for the Taliban.

Last week, a top US State Department official charged in a CNN interview that the US has "irrefutable evidence" that Iran is arming Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.

Although not mimicking the strong nature of Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns' remarks, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said a day later that large weapons' shipments were crossing from Iran into Afghanistan and it was unlikely Tehran did not know about them.

"Given the quantities that we're seeing, it is difficult to believe that it is associated with smuggling or the drug business or that it's taking place without the knowledge of the Iranian government," Gates said.

Afghan Defence Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak, however, rejected Iran's involvement in supplying militants in a media interview, arguing that Kabul and Tehran have good relations and a stable Afghanistan is in Iran's interest. He said there was evidence weapons were coming from Iran but suggested they were from the Al Qaeda terrorist network or drug traffickers.

Gates also mentioned the good relations between the Afghan and Iranian government. "Whether Iran is trying to play both sides of the street, hedge their bets, what their motives are, other than causing trouble for us, I don't know," the US defence chief said.


TOPICS: Breaking News; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; bombirannow; flypaperstrategy; geopolitics; globaljihad; iran; iraniantroops; wot
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To: elhombrelibre
All you say is accurate. They are in for a real let down once we start dropping all their jets coming up to protect them once the proverbial *hit hits the fan. And we taint spending big bucks for the Airforce to perfect those new generation super deep nuclear tipped buster bombs just to drop a few in the desert.
GWB is around for another year and a half. A lot can happen in that time frame.
21 posted on 06/25/2007 7:06:40 PM PDT by Marine_Uncle
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To: Dog
Its going to be a long summer..

It's going to be a long WWIII.
22 posted on 06/25/2007 7:06:57 PM PDT by Man50D (Fair Tax , you earn it , you keep it!)
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To: elhombrelibre

It’s not a question of if the U.S. goes into Iran but when.


23 posted on 06/25/2007 7:09:00 PM PDT by Man50D (Fair Tax , you earn it , you keep it!)
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To: Keflavik76
I do believe he feels weakened, as well he should. The opposition at its highest levels have questioned his motives, said they were duped into the war by a dope, claimed he lied to them, claimed he went to war only for oil, claimed he only went to war to avenge his dad, spread hysteria and defeatism, and done all they can to encourage our enemies. Pelosi pranced over to see one of the greatest threats to Middle East peace, like some latter-day Neville Chamberlain, and tried to defund the troops in the field. No doubt the public too has wearied of the war, and many on our side would rather fight borders isse and the Mexican illegals than those who are regularly killing Americans. So Bush probably does feel weakened.
24 posted on 06/25/2007 7:14:15 PM PDT by elhombrelibre
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To: Man50D
Keep in mind that certain Democrats tried to pass a law essentially making it impossible for the president to attack Iraq. In other words, they’re more concerned with making the world safe for the mad mullahs than for our service members in Iraq.
25 posted on 06/25/2007 7:17:09 PM PDT by elhombrelibre
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To: elhombrelibre; All
Take a look at this.

Terrorists Keep Blogs, Too

26 posted on 06/25/2007 7:19:55 PM PDT by sageb1 (This is the Final Crusade. There are only 2 sides. Pick one.)
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To: elhombrelibre

Your right. President Bush probably feels that any new front he opens up in the War on Terror will result in impeachment proceeding by the surrender and run crowd in Congress. But he should do it anyway.


27 posted on 06/25/2007 7:21:34 PM PDT by Keflavik76
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To: elhombrelibre
Gates also mentioned the good relations between the Afghan and Iranian government. "Whether Iran is trying to play both sides of the street, hedge their bets, what their motives are, other than causing trouble for us, I don't know," the US defence chief said.

Hey Gates .. it's a pretty sure bet they are playing games with ya

28 posted on 06/25/2007 7:23:56 PM PDT by Mo1 ( http://www.gohunter08.com)
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To: Keflavik76
I don’t think he’s been good at making the case. He seems to think if it’s obvious to him then everyone else will agree. He doesn’t seem to realize the opposition doesn’t care if we lose. In fact, they want that so they can say it’s another Vietnam.
29 posted on 06/25/2007 7:24:01 PM PDT by elhombrelibre
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To: sageb1

Interesting.


30 posted on 06/25/2007 7:24:19 PM PDT by elhombrelibre
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To: elhombrelibre
In other words, they’re more concerned with making the world safe for the mad mullahs than for our service members in Iraq.

One thing the socialist dhimmicrats and the terrorists have in common is their hatred for a democratic republic.
31 posted on 06/25/2007 7:24:29 PM PDT by Man50D (Fair Tax , you earn it , you keep it!)
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To: Keflavik76; Mo1; sageb1; All
Check this out.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1856256/posts

32 posted on 06/25/2007 7:26:05 PM PDT by elhombrelibre
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To: Man50D
They’re in a de facto alliance. It’s a tacit one that’s symbiotic, like the MSM and the terrorists.
33 posted on 06/25/2007 7:27:07 PM PDT by elhombrelibre
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To: elhombrelibre
IED warfare is not rocket science....And there are plenty within the Mujahideen/ Taliban / Uzbek / Chechens that know more then enough for such type of warfare - Reality is Stan doesn't lend itself to such warfare as well as urban areas like Iraq - (but it is still a concern....just not on the same level at all).

As for MANPADs, again the Taliban / Chechens don't need any training whatsoever from Iranians....They'd teach them a thing or two in all reality.

No, the notion of Iranians teaching the Mujahideen or Taliban about fighting in Stan....is just foolishness. It is not needed.

But as I said earlier...They will always use weaponry...

34 posted on 06/25/2007 7:29:34 PM PDT by SevenMinusOne
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To: elhombrelibre
Image hosted by Photobucket.com guess Iraq could use a fence tooo...
35 posted on 06/25/2007 7:31:00 PM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist)
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To: Chode
Image hosted by Photobucket.com er... make that Afghanistan.
36 posted on 06/25/2007 7:31:52 PM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist)
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To: glock rocks

But....are they wearing sombreros?


37 posted on 06/25/2007 7:34:00 PM PDT by Recovering Ex-hippie (We need a troop surge in New Orleans and Philly!)
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To: glock rocks
They're just doing the job the local terrorists won't do...

Maybe Ole Shrubie and the Dhimmicrats will give them Z-Visas.

38 posted on 06/25/2007 7:36:17 PM PDT by etradervic (Join the RINO Hunt)
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To: Keflavik76

Don’t worry, I’m sure that as we speak President Bush is on the phone with Mexico asking for permission to deal with the situation.


39 posted on 06/25/2007 7:39:00 PM PDT by TBall
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To: elhombrelibre

None of this bodes well at all.


40 posted on 06/25/2007 7:42:47 PM PDT by sageb1 (This is the Final Crusade. There are only 2 sides. Pick one.)
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