ID :
205815
Wed, 09/07/2011 - 14:25
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/205815
The shortlink copeid
US Eying Covert Plan to Counter Iran's Influence in Iraq
TEHRAN (FNA)- Pentagon and intelligence officials are pushing for greater authority to conduct covert operations to thwart Iran's influence in neighboring Iraq, according to US officials.
The move comes amid growing concern in the Obama administration about Iran's ever growing influence in Iraq and the broader Middle East specially in recent months.
Compounding the urgency is the planned reduction in the US military presence in Iraq by the end of the year, a development that many in Washington fear will open up the country to more influence from Iran, which also has a majority Shiite population.
If the request is approved by the White House, the authorization for the covert activity in Iraq likely would take the form of a classified presidential "finding". But unlike the secret order that authorized the Central Intelligence Agency's campaign against the al-Qaeda in 2001, the current proposal is limited in scope, officials said.
Still, such a step would reflect the US's effort to contain Iranian activities in the region. Ending the US's involvement in the Iraqi conflict was a central promise of President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign, and the administration wants to ensure it doesn't withdraw troops only to see its main regional nemesis, Iran, raise its influence there.
Officials declined to provide details about the kinds of covert operations under consideration.
The US has conducted secret operations against Iran in Iraq before. In recent years the US military has kidnapped many Iranian nationals, even diplomats, in Iraq. The US troops raided Iran's Consulate office in the Northern Iraqi city of Erbil early 2007, abducted five Iranian diplomats and confiscated all documents and computers in clear violation of all diplomatic rights, norms and conventions.
The Iranian diplomats were kept in custody in a secret place for almost two years. The US did not allow access to the diplomats and kept them away from everyone, including their families for over 20 months.
The US government conducts covert operations when it wants to maintain the ability to deny a secret mission took place for security or diplomatic reasons.
The White House has become more worried about Iran's influence in Iraq, Syria and Bahrain specially after the start of uprisings and Islamic awakening movements in different regional countries in recent months and has pushed the military and intelligence communities to develop proposals to counter Tehran.
Washington accuses Iran of arms shipment to Iraq. Iranian officials have repeatedly denied that they have played any role in arming militants in Iraq or worked to destabilize other Arab nations. Tehran says that the US has leveled charges of arms smuggling to justify a continued American military presence.
Anthony Cordesman, a defense analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the US and Iranian competition for influence in Iraq was part of an attempt by both countries to preserve their interests in the Middle East amid a reordering of interests under the Arab Spring revolutions.
"From a US viewpoint, containing Iran is critical and our strategic relationship with Iraq is critical," Dr. Cordesman said. "This is one set of moves in a much more complicated chess game."
In part, the proposal for new covert operations reflects a more hawkish attitude toward Iran within the Obama administration's reshuffled national security team. Leon Panetta, the former CIA director now leading the Pentagon, has pressed Iraq to downgrade ties with Iran.
Many members of the national security team, such as recently retired Gen. David Petraeus, who assumes the role of CIA director on Tuesday, have served in the US Central Command, where military leaders have long viewed Iran as a threat to America and its Arab allies.
The move comes amid growing concern in the Obama administration about Iran's ever growing influence in Iraq and the broader Middle East specially in recent months.
Compounding the urgency is the planned reduction in the US military presence in Iraq by the end of the year, a development that many in Washington fear will open up the country to more influence from Iran, which also has a majority Shiite population.
If the request is approved by the White House, the authorization for the covert activity in Iraq likely would take the form of a classified presidential "finding". But unlike the secret order that authorized the Central Intelligence Agency's campaign against the al-Qaeda in 2001, the current proposal is limited in scope, officials said.
Still, such a step would reflect the US's effort to contain Iranian activities in the region. Ending the US's involvement in the Iraqi conflict was a central promise of President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign, and the administration wants to ensure it doesn't withdraw troops only to see its main regional nemesis, Iran, raise its influence there.
Officials declined to provide details about the kinds of covert operations under consideration.
The US has conducted secret operations against Iran in Iraq before. In recent years the US military has kidnapped many Iranian nationals, even diplomats, in Iraq. The US troops raided Iran's Consulate office in the Northern Iraqi city of Erbil early 2007, abducted five Iranian diplomats and confiscated all documents and computers in clear violation of all diplomatic rights, norms and conventions.
The Iranian diplomats were kept in custody in a secret place for almost two years. The US did not allow access to the diplomats and kept them away from everyone, including their families for over 20 months.
The US government conducts covert operations when it wants to maintain the ability to deny a secret mission took place for security or diplomatic reasons.
The White House has become more worried about Iran's influence in Iraq, Syria and Bahrain specially after the start of uprisings and Islamic awakening movements in different regional countries in recent months and has pushed the military and intelligence communities to develop proposals to counter Tehran.
Washington accuses Iran of arms shipment to Iraq. Iranian officials have repeatedly denied that they have played any role in arming militants in Iraq or worked to destabilize other Arab nations. Tehran says that the US has leveled charges of arms smuggling to justify a continued American military presence.
Anthony Cordesman, a defense analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the US and Iranian competition for influence in Iraq was part of an attempt by both countries to preserve their interests in the Middle East amid a reordering of interests under the Arab Spring revolutions.
"From a US viewpoint, containing Iran is critical and our strategic relationship with Iraq is critical," Dr. Cordesman said. "This is one set of moves in a much more complicated chess game."
In part, the proposal for new covert operations reflects a more hawkish attitude toward Iran within the Obama administration's reshuffled national security team. Leon Panetta, the former CIA director now leading the Pentagon, has pressed Iraq to downgrade ties with Iran.
Many members of the national security team, such as recently retired Gen. David Petraeus, who assumes the role of CIA director on Tuesday, have served in the US Central Command, where military leaders have long viewed Iran as a threat to America and its Arab allies.
