Iran massing troops on Iraqi border

[Nizark]

Iran massing troops on Iraq border

Beirut, Lebanon, Jun. 15 (UPI) -- Iran reportedly is readying troops to move into Iraq if U.S. troops pull out, leaving a security vacuum.

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

Al-Sharq al-Awsat quoted "reliable Iraqi sources" as saying, "Iran moved part of its regular military forces towards the Iraqi border in the southern sector at a time its military intelligence agents were operating inside Iraqi territory."

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

[Vance]

What the?

[7385564]

stirring the pot.....

[CannibalSquirel]

To be honest, four battalions don´t represent nothing.

[Maverick77]

Yeah four Battalions is nothing but this could be the start of something.

[n4292936]

Im just waiting for Bush to say something like "bring'em on!"

[AOCBravo2004]

Who knows, maybe Ahmed Chalabi struck a deal with the Iranians during the time he was a double agent. Besides, can you imagine the firestorm in Iraq if Iran does decide to send in those four battalions??? The Iran-Iraq war ended what, 15years ago? A lot of people who were alive during that war are still around, and I would predict that the internal violence would cease immediately and the people of Iraq would rise up and fight off the Iranians. But then that is just my 2 cents.

George

[Pooga]

Hmm, and we would kick their anuses to the ionosphere and beyond if they made a mad dash to wherever.

[-=P=-]

Oh yeah 4 battalions...

This Saudi Arabian newspaper is really talking to much BS in the recent times...

They clearly don’t even know what 4 battalions are... Iran has permanently a few Brigades at the border, the largest AD has its HQ in a border town... that’s routine.

Ah and Iran denied the report, as if America would pull out because of this small sh*t which is going on…

[crazyman]

does anyone really think Iran is that dumb? i mean hell its common sense...they know the U.S. military is powerfull, AND our troops have been at war for the last year in iraq. taking on combat vets who are better armed and suppplied...yea

[Fintin]

if they move....they will get creamed....they are probly just setting up a defencive postion for some odd reason....maybe they just found out there is a war going on and decided to protect themselves against it....all in all....i wouldnt worry about it....it wouldnt make sence for them to attack....it would just unite the iraqies against them and get us againts them too

[One?]

Who knows, maybe Ahmed Chalabi struck a deal with the Iranians during the time he was a double agent. Besides, can you imagine the firestorm in Iraq if Iran does decide to send in those four battalions??? The Iran-Iraq war ended what, 15years ago? A lot of people who were alive during that war are still around, and I would predict that the internal violence would cease immediately and the people of Iraq would rise up and fight off the Iranians. But then that is just my 2 cents.

George


The iran/iraq war started because saddam felt like it, and the US pushed him. The people never wanted the war. So that will never happen. And the religious leadership has ties to iran too.

[ßå$tĮТHÏ¿ð]

Im just waiting for Bush to say something like "bring'em on!"

*waiting for usa320 to say "bring it on"*

[sla8485]

does anyone really think Iran is that dumb? i mean hell its common sense...they know the U.S. military is powerfull, AND our troops have been at war for the last year in iraq. taking on combat vets who are better armed and suppplied...yea

I think an even more prominent note would be that the Iraq/Iran war lasted something like 8 years, with no side gaining any mentionable territory, and the US went into Iraq twice now, and beat the pants off them.. In days.

Iran would be commiting suicide if it sent it's troops across the border. And now especially, with the controversy over Iran's nuclear program. It doesn't seem like it would take mch more than a cross-border excursion to doom their country.. However, I've found it impossible to understand the arab/muslim mind, so this might also be like a bugle call for all the holy warriors of the world to rise up and kill the great satan..

Somehow, I doubt it though.

[Kitsune]

Well, unless they call a battalion what we here call a division, there is really not much to worry about. :roll:
If their battalions are about as big as ours, thats a force of 2.000 to 3.000 men. That can hardly be called "massing troops at the border"...
So don't panic.

[5jumpchump]

LOL they could mass ALL of thier troops and it still wouldn't matter :)

[Operation Ivy]

Timeline of Iran Invasion

June 17 4:00AM Iran ivades
June 17 4:15AM Irans forces get pounded to **** by non stop air attacks
June 17 4:20AM United States Army/Marnies show up kill anything left over
June 17 4:25AM United States Army/Marines head back to the cities they patrol.

[usa320]

Iran is ****ing dumb, but i dont think they are that ****ing dumb.

They have thousands of US troops on either side of em, we own the air above em and the ocean around em. For them to make a move towards Iraq would be their complete and utter destruction.

At least they have the balls to face us straight up with armies instead of killing civilians to disrupt peace.

[Secret Squirrel]

Iran is f*** dumb, but i dont think they are that f*** dumb.

They have thousands of US troops on either side of em, we own the air above em and the ocean around em. For them to make a move towards Iraq would be their complete and utter destruction.

At least they have the balls to face us straight up with armies instead of killing civilians to disrupt peace.

Whats "****ing dumb" is that people are reading too much into this. rofl

[el borracho]

It almost sounds like they anticipate a pre-emptive measure by the US. But like everyone said before, four battalions will only be a speed bump for coalition forces. Maybe they just want to tie 'em down for a few hours so they can muster the rest of their troops (should there be an attack). Seriously though, I don't think a force that size should set off any alarms or raise red flags...probably that's just for an excercise or another routine activity.

[One?]

..maybe the coalition is going to let Iran do the peacekeeping. They know none of the iraqis (shias at least) would fight iran. So that way they could preserve peace. And none of the arab countries agreed to join the coalition.




just a thought..

[Vance]

Timeline of Iran Invasion

June 17 4:00AM Iran ivades
June 17 4:15AM Irans forces get pounded to **** by non stop air attacks
June 17 4:20AM United States Army/Marnies show up kill anything left over
June 17 4:25AM United States Army/Marines head back to the cities they patrol.
:lol:

[Spleen]

Am I the ONLY one who noticed that it clearly said they had done this in case the US pulls out? So it's pretty clear they don't have any intentions of fighting the Americans. And if it's true, it's not an unreasonable response. If the US pulled out, iraq would pretty much plunge into chaos at this point I think. So Iran is getting ready to protect it's borders and possibly go in to enforce order if it comes to it. What would the US do if Mexico or Canada suddenly plunged into anarchy, I think ( and hope ) they'd help out, or at the very least reinforce their borders with us.

And it's not completely unreasonable for a Middle Easterner to think that the US might pull out suddenly either. They did it last time after promising some arab groups that they would stay and help finish off Saddam, so I'd be a little edgy if I was them too.

[Burncycle]

Indeed. This can be construed as Irans way of getting at the US.

This adds pressure to keep troops IN Iraq. In harms way. The idea is that if we stay, dissatisfaction will increase and more US soldiers will die in the meantime. If we leave, stability isn't garunteed.

I think we should stay until the job is done.

I know what's going on with the Iraqi police, but what's going on with the new Iraqi Army? What types of equipment will they be getting (I'm assuming we're going to be providing some new stuff? Or will they be using old tanks and such)

[Mark Sman]

Since the fall of Saddam, calling the Iraqi border "porous" is a kind way of saying "smugglers paradise." Iran may just want more active patrols along this border to nail anyone smuggling BS in or out.

Iran taking Iraq by force from the coalition? The only ones laughing harder at a that than us are the Iranian generals. What a MOAB enema that would be.

No, just moving around in their western desert. Recon and drill. Hunt some border jumpers, that sort of thing. Maybe insert some operatives, do some of their own smuggling. Usual Middle East stuff.

[Ratamacue]

Even if Iran decides it wants to annex some new territory after we pull out entirely (however long in the future that may be), the US is still going to bring troops back in there to fight off the invasion, if not go farther than that. Common sense, folks. Iran's leadership may not be the most stable in the world, but I think they have enough sense to avoid an invasion of a US-backed country.

[sla8485]

but I think they have enough sense to avoid an invasion of a US-backed country.

But they don't appear to have enough sense to not build nuclear reactors when everyone in the region knows that Israel is no fan of any arab countries with nuclear technology.. I wonder what Saddam would say to Khatami about his past experiences building reactors in Iraq.

[Flagg]

As already mentioned, Iran is likely just trying to secure it's border....for a number of reasons.

Why would they risk a standup fight when they can accomplish more with less?

Sending sneeky MI/SF peeps across the border to stir the Iraqi bucket o' ****e comes at little cost...and keeps the spotlight away from Iran's nuke issue.

[gbos]

but I think they have enough sense to avoid an invasion of a US-backed country.

But they don't appear to have enough sense to not build nuclear reactors when everyone in the region knows that Israel is no fan of any arab countries with nuclear technology.. I wonder what Saddam would say to Khatami about his past experiences building reactors in Iraq.

Iranians are not Arabs. I don’t know how people got this idea :) . Secondly I think Iranians are quite smart to avoid any confrontation for the time. However it seems that the prospect for them to build nukes is not far away and I think judging by their determination that it is inevitable.

[-=P=-]

Ah that’s actually the same Saudi newspaper which did get Iran’s new secret plan of training 10000's of suicide bombers to attack targets in the west and Iraq.

[SeanAshi]

The Iranian navy certainly didn't fare to welll against US Naval forces in 1988.

[kris777]

How large are the Iranian armed forces?

[n4292936]

ask and you shall receive:

Military branches:
Islamic Republic of Iran regular forces (includes Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force and Air Defense Command), Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) (includes Ground Forces, Air Force, Navy, Qods [special operations], and Basij [Popular Mobilization Army] forces), Law Enforcement Forces
Military manpower - military age:
21 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 20,343,063 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 12,094,551 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 870,711 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$9.7 billion (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
3.1% (FY00)

This is taken from the CIA World Fact Book http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/

[Uncle Chô]

Im just waiting for Bush to say something like "bring'em on!"
*waiting for usa320 to say "bring it on"*

:D Almost! rofl rofl


Iran is f*** dumb, but i dont think they are that f*** dumb.

They have thousands of US troops on either side of em, we own the air above em and the ocean around em. For them to make a move towards Iraq would be their complete and utter destruction.

[n4292936]

Im just waiting for Bush to say something like "bring'em on!"
*waiting for usa320 to say "bring it on"*

:D Almost! rofl rofl

I was expecting some dip**** to say that :cantbeli:

[martinexsquaddie]

well i for one would'nt try crossing the iran iraq border especially around Basra, UXB city not a place to go souviner hunting especially with saddams use of chemical weapons :(

[talib_killa34]

It'll go down as "The Shortest War In History" if they come. :lol:

Seriously, Iran would best keep their mouths shut and their "martyr's" at home checking on vice and virtue with the people of Iran.

They all have their hands full staying in power, let alone "project"!


:bash: <WAP!

[Pandy]

It's all a game of "Arabs and Cowboys." (Me new logo). Bring them on! :D

Iran wouldn't **** with us anyways... we would beat the hell out of their POWs... don't they watch TV.

Bad Joke, dear lord, I am sorry for everything I just said and please do not strike me down with a bolt of lighting. Aman. :bash:

http://www.ofp-icm.com/Pandy.jpg *I am not allowed to have a logo I think.*