What if Iraq's effort to disarm Muqtada is both a proxy battle to gauge regional feedback and a head fake to Iran? Taking on a huge Shi'ite group in Iraq could gauge any backlash from attacking Shia Iran. Most of the Sunni Arab leaders didn't pack their suitcase for the trip to Damascus and the annual meeting of the Arab League. If those Middle East hot spots stay quiet for the al-Sadr engagement, that bodes well for a green light on Iran.
And where in Iraq are the Sadrists? In the south, close to Iran. The movement of large numbers of American troops and equipment could occur under the cover of controlling outlaw militias. They would be in place for whatever mischief V.P. Cheney and Israeli P.M. Ehud Olmert planned, just after the recent military dress rehearsal between their two countries.
Balderdash? What have you been smoking? Well, the Russians took in the same foul air.
Russian military intelligence services are reporting a flurry of activity by U.S. Armed Forces near Iran's borders, a high-ranking security source said Tuesday.
The latest military intelligence data point to heightened U.S. military preparations for both an air and ground operation against Iran," the official said, adding that the Pentagon has probably not yet made a final decision as to when an attack will be launched.
He said the Pentagon is looking for a way to deliver a strike against Iran "that would enable the Americans to bring the country to its knees at minimal cost."
Now that sounds familiar. Cakewalk, anyone?
