While foreign policy experts run out of their bad excuses for why Iran might not be developing nukes, the whole “they’re building up their non-nuclear assets and deepening their international terrorist network” thing is barely even being discussed:
As the West anxiously scrutinizes every development in Iran’s nuclear program, it seems the land of the ayatollahs has another frightening weapon in its arsenal that some experts believe may be equally dangerous – the Al-Quds Force (QF). Operating out of the Iranian parliament’s – and even the president’s – reach, the clandestine QF answers directly only to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah ‘Ali Khamanai… the QF’s annual budget… is estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars… The QF is one of IRGC’s five arms, alongside IRGC’s Navy, Ground Force, Air Force and the Basij (a 12-million volunteer force), which are all operating separately from the Iranian Army. It is the external operations force of the IRGC, operating most extensively in Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon, but also – it is reported – in other Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Syria, Qatar and more. It is also said to have been operating outside the Middle East, in Argentina and Austria, for example.
As for the other parts of the IRGC – hey, what’s their Navy been up to?
Iran has inaugurated a new naval base on the eastern part of the strategic waterway at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, state radio said. Tuesday’s report quoted Iran’s naval chief, Adm. Habibollah Sayyari. He said the base on the Strait of Hormuz creates a new line of defense. Sayyari said if necessary, the base could allow Iran to block entry of any “enemy” into the Persian Gulf. The base is in the port town of Jask, about 1,050 miles (1,700 kilometers) south of Teheran.
Mid-level State Department personnel have nonetheless hit upon a solution to Iranian expansionism: have the UN enforce anti-Iranian sanctions. Brilliant. ideal. Let’s do that.
References:
* New Iranian Reactor Online Within Months (Plus: This Week’s List Of Useless Sanctions And Talks) [MR]
* Iran’s al-Quds octopus spreads its arms [JPost]
* Iran opens naval base at Straight of Hormuz [JPost]
* ‘UN must monitor sanctions compliance’ [JPost]
Previously:
* Iran Takes Over Hezbollah After Hezbollah Takes Over Lebanon (Plus: State Department Naturally Urging Israel To Cede More Land… To Hezbollah)
* Media Slightly Exaggerating Ahmadinejad’s Acceptance Of Israel, Willingness To Give Up Nukes
* Fear Of Iran Triggers Biggest Middle East Arms Race Ever
