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Bush's tough tactics are a 'declaration of war' on Iran

By Anne Penketh, Diplomatic Editor

Published: 12 January 2007

American forces stormed Iranian government offices in northern Iraq,

hours after President George Bush issued a warning to Tehran that was

described as a " declaration of war " .

 

The soldiers detained six people, including diplomats, according to the

Iranians, and seized documents and computers in the pre-dawn raid which

was condemned by Iran. A leading UK-based Iran specialist, Ali Ansari,

said the incident was an " extreme provocation " . Dr Ansari said that Mr

Bush's speech on future Iraq strategy amounted to " a declaration of

war " on Iran.

 

" The risk is a wider war. Because of the underlying tensions, we are

transferring from a 'cold war' into a 'hot war', " he said.

 

In his speech, the President accused Iran and Syria of providing

material support for attacks on US troops, and vowed to stop the " flow

of support " from across the border. " We will seek out and destroy the

networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in

Iraq, " he said.

 

Dr Ansari argued that the Bush administration had decided to confront

Iran at a time when public opinion has been focused on the conflicts in

Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia. " There's been a shift of emphasis

without anyone noticing, " he said.

 

" Moderate " Sunni Arab states who feel threatened by the rise of Shia

Iran, thanks to its influence in Iraq and its refusal to curb its

nuclear programme, could be expected to back the Bush approach, he

said. The US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, is due to visit

Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia this week.

 

Until now, the Bush administration had been content to deal with the

perceived Iranian threat diplomatically. The United Nations adopted

sanctions against Tehran on 23 December. However, the economic measures

adopted by the UN have failed to convince Iran to halt its

uranium-enrichment programme which could lead to production of a

nuclear weapon. The US is calling on allied states to adopt tougher

unilateral sanctions.

 

President Bush appointed Admiral William Fallon to replace General John

Abizaid as head of Central Command for Iraq and Afghanistan last week

in a sign that change could be afoot. This week, Mr Bush ordered a

second aircraft carrier to the Gulf, along with its support ships,

which could be used to contain Iran.

 

The US Treasury named Iran's Bank Sepah as a proliferator of weapons of

mass destruction on Tuesday, banned US companies or citizens from doing

business with it and blocked any of its assets that come under American

jurisdiction.

 

But if the US is preparing to confront Iran militarily - which some top

military officials in Israel are reportedly recommending - the Bush

administration will find itself involved in conflicts on four fronts.

 

In Somalia, US special forces have been pounding suspected al-Qa'ida

suspects since early on Monday, in a continuing operation that risks

pulling the Americans back into a conflict in a failed state. US forces

are also active in southern Afghanistan in the hunt for the al-Qa'ida

leader, Osama bin Laden, and his top associates. Al-Qa'ida has

reactivated its Taliban allies who have become bolder in their attacks

on coalition forces.

 

In Iraq, US troops are losing soldiers on an almost daily basis to the

bombs of Sunni and Shia insurgents. The Shia-led government of Prime

Minister Nouri al-Maliki was warned by Ms Rice yesterday that his days

were numbered unless he was able to take on Shia militias who are his

allies in government.

 

Ms Rice followed up President Bush's tough words on Iran by saying:

" The President made very clear last night that we know Iran is engaged

in activities endangering our troops... and that we're going to pursue

those who may be involved in those activities. "

 

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Mohammad Ali Hosseini, protested

against the raid by US forces in Arbil, saying on Iranian state-run

radio that it targeted a " diplomatic mission " since the " presence

of

Iranian staffers in Irbil was legal " .

 

Ironically, Iran had been contained by Saddam Hussein, until his

overthrow by the Americans in 2003. Obsessed by a threat from " Persian

hordes " , Saddam maintained ambiguity about his weapons of mass

destruction so Iran would believe that it had reason to fear its

western neighbour. So have the Americans made a strategic mistake by

refusing to engage with Iran? " There's no doubt that nothing good will

come of this, " said Dr Ansari.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

" Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England,

nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the

leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter

to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship,

or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. ... Voice or no voice, the people

can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have

to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for

lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any

country. "

- General Herman Goering, President of German Reichstag & Nazi Party, Commander

of Luftwaffe