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US Considering Terrorist Label for Iran's Revolutionary Guards
VOA News ^ | 08-15-07

Posted on 08/15/2007 6:39:09 AM PDT by pgkdan

US Considering Terrorist Label for Iran's Revolutionary Guards
By VOA News
15 August 2007

The Bush administration is reported to be ready to declare Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps a "specially designated global terrorist" organization.

If the move goes forward, it would be the first time the United States has added an armed forces unit of any sovereign government to its list of terrorist groups. The designation allows the U.S. to freeze any assets the group, its members, or subsidiaries may have in the U.S.

According to the reports published late Tuesday on the web sites of the Washington Post and the New York Times, the move reflects escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran over Iran's nuclear activities and U.S. allegations of Iranian support for insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Tehran denies all U.S. allegations and says its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, senior administration officials say a final decision has not yet been made, and that there still is an internal debate whether to target the entire Iranian corps or only its al-Quds force wing.

In recent weeks, U.S. officials have complained of growing involvement of the al-Quds force in providing support for insurgents.

Iran has been on the U.S. State department's list of state sponsors of terrorism since May 1984.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: djibouti; eritrea; hassannasrallah; hezbollah; iran; irgc; lebanon; revolutionaryguard; sudan; terrorism; yemen

1 posted on 08/15/2007 6:39:10 AM PDT by pgkdan
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To: pgkdan

Why “consider” it. Just do it. Stop playing nice with the effing thugs, Mr. President.


2 posted on 08/15/2007 6:42:35 AM PDT by theDentist (Qwerty ergo typo : I type, therefore I misspelll.)
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To: pgkdan

Why’s it taken so long ?


3 posted on 08/15/2007 6:43:26 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (BTUs are my Beat.)
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To: pgkdan

Well, Duh!


4 posted on 08/15/2007 6:55:20 AM PDT by fatnotlazy
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To: pgkdan
Sticks and stones...............

Iran has been on the U.S. State department's list of state sponsors of terrorism since May 1984.

Yet it never stopped anyone from doing business with Iran, especially certain politically privileged "so called" American based corporations.

5 posted on 08/15/2007 6:57:00 AM PDT by Realism (Some believe that the facts-of-life are open to debate.....)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
Why’s it taken so long ?


6 posted on 08/15/2007 6:57:58 AM PDT by Dahoser (America's great untapped alternative energy source: The Founding Fathers spinning in their graves.)
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To: theDentist
Why “consider” it. Just do it. Stop playing nice with the effing thugs, Mr. President.

The Bush Doctrine calls for military action against any country which knowingly habours a terrorist organization who is actively attacking U.S. citizens and/or its military and/or its interests.
Declaring Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization would mean that we would be obligated to attack Iran. I'm O.K. with that, but is suspect that our "leaders" may be having a few second thoughts.
I'm sure they'll be running a few worst case scenarios in the war planning this time before they flush the crapper..

7 posted on 08/15/2007 6:59:44 AM PDT by Riodacat (Ignorance is bliss. Knowledge, truth and reality sucks....)
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To: Riodacat
"The Bush Doctrine calls for military action against any country which knowingly habours a terrorist organization who is actively attacking U.S. citizens and/or its military and/or its interests.

Declaring Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization would mean that we would be obligated to attack Iran. I'm O.K. with that, but is suspect that our "leaders" may be having a few second thoughts."

I think the administration is rather deliberately working its way towards airstrikes on Iran. Keep an eye on the MOP schedule. ;-)

8 posted on 08/15/2007 7:14:15 AM PDT by PreciousLiberty
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To: theDentist

America is way late in this game.

Its nice to be able to afford the luxury to be reactive vs proactive


9 posted on 08/15/2007 7:23:39 AM PDT by himno hero
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To: PreciousLiberty
Declaring Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization would mean that we would be obligated to attack Iran. I'm O.K. with that, but is suspect that our "leaders" may be having a few second thoughts."

It would be almost tantamount to a declaration of war, IMHO. If the Bussh Doctrine is still in effect, that is.

10 posted on 08/15/2007 7:37:00 AM PDT by pgkdan (Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions - G.K. Chesterton)
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To: PreciousLiberty

Keep an eye on the MOP schedule. ;-)

You may be right. I have no doubt we will invade Iran before W leaves office. W & the VP both mentioned they would not trust the new administration coming in to do anything about Iran.

Recently, to complicate the hit, both Afganistan and Iraq have told W they appreciate what Iran is doing to help them in the region. Did not make W happy. Of course, W was not seeking nor does he need their approval.

Back to your MOP. Hitting some of their underground facilities would be a real test for the MOP’s.

Our friends the Saudi’s have more fighters fighting us in Iraq than any other country in the region. Why not hit them first instead of selling them 20 plus billion in military equipment?


11 posted on 08/15/2007 7:40:37 AM PDT by rineaux (the powers that be are laughing at us)
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To: pgkdan

Whats next? The “Comfy Chair?” \SARC


12 posted on 08/15/2007 8:21:20 AM PDT by wingsof liberty
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To: pgkdan

I wonder if this could be considered a casus belli. If so, Iran can engage in open warfare against the U.S. with the U.N.’s tacit approval.


13 posted on 08/15/2007 8:32:26 AM PDT by Kevmo (We should withdraw from Iraq — via Tehran. And Duncan Hunter is just the man to get that job done.)
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To: Kevmo

I hope it’s not just talk. I think a confrontation with Iran is unavoidable...I’d rather see it on our terms and schedule.


14 posted on 08/15/2007 8:54:35 AM PDT by pgkdan (Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions - G.K. Chesterton)
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To: rineaux

“Back to your MOP. Hitting some of their underground facilities would be a real test for the MOP’s.”

Perhaps. One interesting thing about the MOP is that since it’s precision guided, if the first set didn’t penetrate you can just drop more down the same hole.

It’s also worth mentioning that they can be nuclear tipped.


15 posted on 08/15/2007 9:37:49 AM PDT by PreciousLiberty
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