statism watch

While emotional dismissal of the report of British and/or American involvement in the destabilization of Iran is almost understandable given how little opportunity we have to hear alternate viewpoints, the facts are more than likely on the side of the Iranians here. No less a journalist than Seymour Hersh has come out with reports that assassination operations are run out of the White House (albeit under the previous administration), and that the US is funding Sunni Islamic insurgency (groups we lump together under the meaningless label ‘Al-Qaeda’) in Sistan-Baluchistan. This has also been confirmed by the Telegraph, in an article entitled simply ‘Bush sanctions ‘black-ops’ against Iran:

“However, the CIA is giving arms-length support, supplying money and weapons, to an Iranian militant group, Jundullah, which has conducted raids into Iran from bases in Pakistan.

Iranian officials say they captured 10 members of Jundullah last weekend, carrying $500,000 in cash along with “maps of sensitive areas” and “modern spy equipment”.”

So there you go. It’s simply a matter of pitting Sunni against Shi’ite.. but that’s another nuance that escapes the notice of most reporting on the region.

Update (2009/10/19): The Guardian has published more details of the attack, including the name of the bomber and the content of a Jundallah press release here.

Flashback: US military could strike Iran, but at what cost? | Israel ‘will attack Iran this year’ if West does not cripple Tehran with sanctions | Dick Cheney ‘hid plans to kill al-Qaida operatives abroad’ | Panetta Admits CIA Misled Congress on “Significant Actions” | Western Governments Funding Taliban & Al-Qaeda To Kill U.S. Troops, Destabilize Countries | Brookings Publication mentions possibility of ‘Horrific Provocation’ to Trigger Iran Invasion | Blast at Iranian mosque raises tensions in run-up to presidential election | Netanyahu: We may be forced to attack Iran | Investigative reporter Seymour Hersh describes ‘executive assassination ring’ that reported to Cheney | Neo-cons still preparing for Iran attack | Cheney Considered False Flag Operation to Justify War with Iran | US scales up covert destabilization efforts in Iran, continues funding ‘al-Qaeda’ | Cheney Orders Media To Sell Attack On Iran | Investigative Reporter Seymour Hersh: US Indirectly Funding Al-Qaeda Linked Sunni Groups in Move to Counter Iran

BBC News
October 18, 2009

Several top commanders in Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards have been killed in a suicide bombing in the volatile south-east of the country.

Gen Shooshtari was deputy commander of the ground force

Iranian state television said 31 people died in the attack, in the Pishin region of Sistan-Baluchistan, and more than 25 were injured.

Shia and Sunni tribal leaders were also killed. A Sunni resistance group, Jundullah, said they carried it out.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the criminals would be punished.

“The criminals will soon get the response for their anti-human crimes,” Irna quoted him as saying.

A top Guards officer has also vowed to deliver a “crushing” response to those behind the attack, according to Agence France Presse.

Sistan-Baluchistan is mainly made up of the Baluchi ethnic group, who belong to the Sunni Muslim minority of Shia-ruled Iran.

Jundallah has previously been accused by Iran of terrorist activities in the province.

Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said “US action” contributed to the attack – an accusation dismissed by the US.

According to state media, one or more suicide bombers targeted the group of Revolutionary Guards leaders who had arranged to meet with tribal leaders.

One report said there were two bombs – one inside the meeting and one aimed at a convoy of guards just arriving.

‘Terrorist’ attack

The deputy commander of the Guards’ ground force, General Noor Ali Shooshtari, and the Guards’ chief provincial commander, Rajab Ali Mohammadzadeh, were among at least six officers killed, state news agency reported.

Mr Larijani, speaking at an open session of parliament which was broadcast live on state radio, said: “We express our condolences for their martyrdom.

“The intention of the terrorists was definitely to disrupt security in Sistan-Baluchistan Province.”

“We consider the recent terrorist attack to be the result of US action. This is a sign of America’s animosity against our country,” Mr Larijani said, quoted by AFP.

“Mr Obama has said he will extend his hand towards Iran, but with this terrorist action he has burned his hand,” he said, referring to US President Barack Obama.

The US condemned the attack, with a state department spokesman adding: “Reports of alleged US involvement are completely false.”

Earlier reports on Iranian TV quoted what it called “informed sources” as saying that Britain was directly involved.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “The British government condemns the terrorist attack… and the sad loss of life which it caused.”

The Iranian government has previously accused both countries of supporting the militants.

Sistan-Baluchistan province, which borders both Pakistan and Afghanistan, has long been affected by smuggling, drug trafficking, banditry and kidnapping.

Jundallah, also known as the Popular Resistance Movement of Iran, says it is fighting against the political and religious oppression of the country’s Sunni minority.

In May, three men were executed for their role in a bombing of a mosque during evening prayers which killed at least 19 people in the south-east city of Zahedan in Sistan-Baluchistan.

The hangings came two days after the attack and the men were in custody on other charges at the time of the bombing.

Revolutionary Guards were among 11 people killed in an attack in 2007 in Zahedan.

Sistan-Baluchistan Attacks

May 2009: A bomb explodes at a mosque in the provincial capital Zahedan, killing 19 and injuring 60.
February 2007: Suspected militants killed 11, including Iranian Revolutionary Guards, in a bomb attack in the provincial capital Zahedan.
March 2006: Gunmen posing as police kill 22 people, many government employees, after closing the Zabol-Zahedan road.

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