Thursday, October 05, 2006

Reasons for War 2.0, Iran Version, Page A21

British Find No Evidence Of Arms Traffic From Iran: Troops in Southeast Iraq Test U.S. Claim of Aid for Militias

"I have not myself seen any evidence -- and I don't think any evidence exists -- of government-supported or instigated" armed support on Iran's part in Iraq, British Defense Secretary Des Browne said in an interview in Baghdad in late August.

"It's a question of intelligence versus evidence," Labouchere's commander, Brig. James Everard of Britain's 20th Armored Brigade, said last month at his base in the southern region's capital, Basra. "One hears word of mouth, but one has to see it with one's own eyes. These are serious consequences, aren't they?"...

Ultimately, however, the British can do little more than demonstrate that the borders are closed, Labouchere said. Save for that, he said, they find themselves trying "to prove a negative."

Okay. It's a pretty weak story that meanders about looking for a story. Perhaps this condition is brought on by paranoia that the US will invite itself to another war (oh, you know you wanted us to).

Actually, the interesting part of this story is that these British troops, previously occupying the town of Abu Naji, decided to give up the post after withstanding daily mortaring and become military nomads. Now they travel a "desert carpeted with shrapnel" trying "to prove a negative." War is hell.

In related news, "Pope Benedict XVI, after deliberation by Vatican theologians, is abolishing the concept of Limbo that put the souls of unbaptized infants at risk."

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