I have to give this story a big WTF!!!!!!? (via the Washington Post)
The Bush administration has authorized the U.S. military to kill or capture Iranian operatives inside Iraq as part of an aggressive new strategy to weaken Tehran's influence across the Middle East and compel it to give up its nuclear program, according to government and counterterrorism officials with direct knowledge of the effort.
For more than a year, U.S. forces in Iraq have secretly detained dozens of suspected Iranian agents, holding them for three to four days at a time. The "catch and release" policy was designed to avoid escalating tensions with Iran and yet intimidate its emissaries. U.S. forces collected DNA samples from some of the Iranians without their knowledge, subjected others to retina scans, and fingerprinted and photographed all of them before letting them go.
Last summer, however, senior administration officials decided that a more confrontational approach was necessary, as Iran's regional influence grew and U.S. efforts to isolate Tehran appeared to be failing. The country's nuclear work was advancing, U.S. allies were resisting robust sanctions against the Tehran government, and Iran was aggravating sectarian violence in Iraq.
Now, I am not saying WTF! to the Wash Post or the reporter, but from the simple fact that Coalition troops have not been allowed to capture or kill Iranian's in Iraq till recently with impunity. They were letting them go.
There is no telling how much influence Iran has had on the "insurgency" in Iraq. The article gives it a shot, as do our intelligence agencies. But, to hell with worrying about escalation with Iran. If they have been meddling, then they have to pay the cost.
If they (Iran) have been meddling?
Your tongue seems to have poked right out of your cheek!