NEXT
TARGET IN NEVER-ENDING WAR
White
House plots
aggression against Iran
If his own regime isn't changed in November,
George Dubya plans to make regime change in Iran the next priority
of his administration. Using whatever pretext he can cook up, whether
it be "weapons of mass destruction"—like those the
U.S. and Israel already possess in abundance—a mysterious link
to al-Qaeda, or simply an uncontrollable desire to bring "democracy"
to the Iranian people, His Imperial Highness will be going after the
next target on the list supplied to him by his neo-con henchmen. Never
mind that Iraq has turned into a bloody mess. Forget about affordable
housing and health care, decent jobs, fiscal responsibility, the environment—and
your own personal rights and liberties. It's the Big Business of never-ending
war that counts!
Regime
Change in Iran Now in Bush's Sights
Sunday Herald, London Sunday, July 18,
2004
By JENIFER JOHNSTON
WASHINGTON—President
George Bush has promised that if re-elected in November he will make
regime change in Iran his new target.
Bush named Iran as part of the Axis of Evil along with North Korea
and Iraq almost three years ago. A U.S. government official, speaking
on condition of anonymity, said that military action would not be
overt in changing Iran, but rather that the U.S. would work to stir
revolts in the country and hope to topple the current conservative
religious leadership.
The official said: "If George Bush is re-elected there will be
much more intervention in the internal affairs of Iran."
The Iranian government announced this weekend that it had successfully
eradicated all al-Qaeda cells operating in the country, but the statement
comes as leaked reports from the U.S. September 11 Commission show
definite links between Iran and the September 11 terrorists.
The final report from the cross-party inquiry, which is examining
the origins of the September 11 attacks, is believed to contain concrete
evidence of contacts between al-Qaeda and Iran.
Time magazine reports that at least eight of the hijackers, who lived
in the U.S. for months before the attacks, passed through Iran between
October 2000 and February 2001, apparently with help from the Iranian
authorities.
Known al-Qaeda members also seem to have been allowed to cross in
and out of Iran freely across the Afghan border, with Iranian border
guards being told not to stamp the passports of al-Qaeda operatives,
harass them or hinder their ability to travel freely.
The report is thought to hint that Iranian officials were ordered
to assist al-Qaeda operatives with any travel needs.
The September 11 Commission report will, however, stop short of stating
that Iran was aware of the plans for the September 11 attacks.
Tehran has always officially denied helping members of al-Qaeda escape
from Afghanistan in 2001 when the Taliban regime fell.
State television in Iran yesterday showed the country's intelligence
minister announcing the capture of a number of al-Qaeda supporters.
Ali Yunesi said: "Iran's intelligence apparatus has identified
and arrested small Iranian deviate branches of the al-Qaeda group."
There was no clarification on how many people had been arrested or
charged.
Yunesi warned that Iran would take a tough line against militants
using Iran as a base. "Those who seek to misuse the safe situation
in Iran will face serious consequences," he said.
The Iranian government says it has arrested and repatriated hundreds
of al-Qaeda suspects in the past two years in a display of willingness
to bring terrorism in the Middle East under control.
A suspected Saudi al-Qaeda militant, Khaled al-Harbi, who appeared
in a videotape with Osama bin Laden, gave himself up in Iran last
week, and was flown back to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
On Friday U.S. officials said the next stage of the September 11 Commission's
report would be available this week.
