Profiles in Ignorance
By streiff Posted in War — Comments (6) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
One of the most fatuous notions flogged about by various stripes of ignoramuses is the idea that somehow the sectarian divisions within islam are so severe that it prevents muslims of different sects from cooperating.
For a while it was the lefties making this claim. Now it is various paleocons and John Birchers on the right who are actively beclowning themselves by making this claim.
Read on.
Iran and the Taliban had been fierce enemies when the Taliban was in power in Afghanistan, and their apparent collaboration came as a surprise to some in the intelligence community.
The coalition analysis says munitions recovered in two Iranian convoys, on April 11 and May 3, had "clear indications that they originated in Iran. Some were identical to Iranian supplied goods previously discovered in Iraq."
The April convoy was tracked from Iran into Helmand province and led a fierce firefight that destroyed one vehicle, according to the official analysis. A second vehicle was reportedly found to contain small arms ammunition, mortar rounds and more than 650 pounds of C4 demolition charges.
A second convoy of two vehicles was spotted on May 3 and led to the capture of five occupants and the seizure of RPG-7mm rockets and more than 1,000 pounds of C4, the analysis says.
Also among the munitions are components for the lethal EFPs, or explosive formed projectiles, the roadside bombs that U.S. officials say Iran has provided to Iraqi insurgents with deadly results.
Just to be real clear here to the braintrust that seems intent on making this claim of non-cooperation:
1. Iran supplied warlords opposed to the Taliban before the US invasion.
2. Iran is Shi'a and the Taliban are Sunni.
3. The Taliban think the Shi'a aren't very good muslims to the point of killing them.
The same pattern holds true in Iraq:
The spokesman, Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, said that detainees in American custody had indicated that Iranian intelligence operatives had given support to Sunni insurgents and that surrogates for the Iranian intelligence service were training Shiite extremists in Iran. He gave no further description of the detainees and did not say why they would have that information.
“We have in fact found some cases recently where Iranian intelligence sources have provided to Sunni insurgent groups some support,” said General Caldwell, who sat near a table crowded with weapons that he said the military contended were largely of Iranian manufacture.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend. It is a law of human behavior that is constant across time and culture. To deny it marks oneself as a goof.
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Profiles in Ignorance 6 Comments (0 topical, 6 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
...giving Enemy X the weapons that he needs to engage Enemy Y (but not ones that he'd need to engage you) is an old trick. You generally come out ahead, if you're careful.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
nothing to get excited about.
The same kind of mind numbing stupidity that after close to six years still arrogantly asserts there is no unified terrorist movement, as if they can't unite for common goals and shared beliefs [just impossible isn't it?], that offers the brilliant point that Iraq was not behind 9/11 as if there isn't a worldwide islamic inspired war, will dismiss this with less than a snap of the fingers.
You can do that sort of thing when you're connected to Reality and so very sure of yourself. A shame we're not all as smart as they are.
"a man's admiration for absolute government is proportinate to the contempt he feels for those around him". Tocqueville
Why start wasting time on facts and intellectual observations now? For example, does it matter that almost 30% of the marriages in Iraq are between Sunni's and Shia? How about that many Muslims reject inter faith violence because it violates the Quran? Think that principle comes up often when facing a common enemy?
Gee would could further talk about such innocuous cooperation as Iran providing electricity to Afghanistan via power lines (yes, I realize Khorasan has a large Sunni population, but that's not the point).
True that Iran supplied the UF against the Taliban. However, that the proverbial intelligence community was surprised this was happening seems at best specious (BTW, I love when they group an entire "community" together to support their story).
What inference are they trying to make? This is all new?
Really, they would be wise to perform some better research.
"Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori"
Contributor to The Minority Report
One of the most fatuous notions flogged about by various stripes of ignoramuses is the idea that somehow the sectarian divisions within islam are so severe that it prevents muslims of different sects from cooperating.
The religious right in this country is made up of many Evangelicals of all stripes, many Catholics, some Jews, and Mormons. Some of these groups are a lot farther apart theologically than Sunnis and Shias are. And yet, somehow . . .
____
CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.
It's not possible! And you and I can't speak any more, either, because I was raised Baptist and I'm pretty sure you weren't.
Jeez.