Iran massing troops on Iraq's border

[MacDawg]

Given the past history between these two countries this probably is not a welcome sight to the Iraqis. If the US troops were to leave and Iranian troops enter... what then? :(

http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040615-055649-4707r.htm

[virividox]

this is gonna get ugly very fast. but i doubt iran is stupid to do this

[Counterfit]

but i doubt iran is stupid to do this Every time someone invents something foolproof, somebody invents a better fool.
-paraphrased, originally from some guy.

[MongoTheGeek]

Given the past history between these two countries this probably is not a welcome sight to the Iraqis. If the US troops were to leave and Iranian troops enter... what then? :(

http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040615-055649-4707r.htm

Come early December the Ayatollahs would be bunking in Gitmo.

IF Iran invades before Thanksgiving, W would have the heads of Iran either dead or in custody.

It would happen before he left office. If he were reelected they would have an extra couple of months of freedom.

[zamyatin]

More evidence of the amazing stupidity of GWB and his military advisors! This possibility should have been obvious to any professional strategist or soldier. The two countries have been blood-enemies for twenty-five years!

And from the perspective of Iran, this is absolutely the perfect opportunity to destroy their old enemy. When US troops are gone, I don't see how Iraq could stand a chance against Iran. Iran's population is three times as large, their military is intact, and they wouldn't hesitate to use tactics that the USA or other Western democracies would blanche at. (Well, maybe not Rumsfeld, but he's an aberration and a disgrace.)

World War Three, courtesy of Gasoline George and his Junkyard Gang.

[Sayhey]

The Saudi daily Al-Sharq al-Awsat, monitored in Beirut, reports Iran has massed four battalions at the border.

Last I knew a battalion is about 1,000 men. So according to this report Iran is going to invade Iraq with 4,000 men if the US troops leave? Now, their battalion size could be a little different, but it sounds like this isn't anything approaching the numbers the Iranians would need to control Iraq. Of course, this is the Washington Times reporting second hand, so perhaps a little hyperbolic language is being used in the story.

[numediaman]

Last I knew a battalion is about 1,000 men. So according to this report Iran is going to invade Iraq with 4,000 men if the US troops leave? Now, their battalion size could be a little different, but it sounds like this isn't anything approaching the numbers the Iranians would need to control Iraq. Of course, this is the Washington Times reporting second hand, so perhaps a little hyperbolic language is being used in the story.

Don't worry Sayhey, Sly will soon post a story verifying this story. The new story will quote, of course, the Washington Times. Glad to see the right-wing think the Rev. Moon is such a credible source. Since he recently named himself Messiah, I'm sure the Pledge of Alligience will soon be updated to reflect the news.

[Desertrat]

Yeah, Sayhey, it's sorta hard to envision four battalions as "massing".

I'm just guessing, but given the Intl. Atomic Energy folks' fussing, it could be that Iran is setting up a patrolling of the border to show they're good guys, stopping the use of Iran as a travel-way into Iraq by "insurgents". Politics of some sort, anyhow, not any sort of invasion stuff.

'Rat

[takao]

Yeah, Sayhey, it's sorta hard to envision four battalions as "massing".

I'm just guessing, but given the Intl. Atomic Energy folks' fussing, it could be that Iran is setting up a patrolling of the border to show they're good guys, stopping the use of Iran as a travel-way into Iraq by "insurgents". Politics of some sort, anyhow, not any sort of invasion stuff.

'Rat

he Rat i can agree with you on an issue :)

4 battalions aren't really much (if 1 battalion equals 1000 soldiers) ... austria has 1.200 men (or even more) on it's border to hungary and slovakia helping the border guards (this will change in the next year after hungary,slovakia joined the EU)
with the relativly large (to austria) border between iraq,iran with it's hills and mountains in mind it seems understandable to increase efforts to prevent ilegal crossing,smuggeling (sp?) ... you know on the iraqy side they will have problems securing the borders for the next time ...

[skunk]

Yeah, Sayhey, it's sorta hard to envision four battalions as "massing".'Rat
More like "messing" than "massing"... :)