USA kill or capture strategy in Iraq
Encyclopedia
USA kill or capture strategy in Iraq refers to a strategy adopted in 2007
by the United States
in Iraq to confront "suspected Iran
ian operatives in Iraq
".
administration authorized the U.S. military to kill or capture Iranian military and intelligence operatives inside Iraq as part of a strategy to weaken Iran's influence in Iraq and compel the government to end its nuclear program.
This new policy replaced the previous "catch and release" policy which had been in place for more than a year, whereby U.S. forces would secretly detain suspected Iranian agents, and hold them for a few days. That policy was intended to intimidate Iranian emissaries without escalating tensions with Iran. U.S. forces would take DNA samples or retina scans from the Iranians, fingerprint and photograph them before letting them go.
Senior administration officials said the new policy is based on the theory that Iran will back down from its nuclear ambitions if the United States hits it hard in Iraq and elsewhere, creating a sense of vulnerability among Iranian leaders. The policy does not extend to Iranian civilians or diplomats. However, on December 21, 2006, the US military detained two Iranian diplomats in Baghdad
for alleged weapons smuggling and released them on December 29, 2006.
The head of the Iranian parliament's foreign policy and security commission said he hoped the report is "wrong as such an order is a clear terrorist act and against all internationally acknowledged norms." The Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki blamed United States President George W. Bush
for the order, saying in a press conference, "As far as Iraq is concerned, Iran is not a problem but part of solving it. The U.S. should not blame others for the failure of its policies and always look for scapegoats."
's Foreign Minister Walid Muallem
stated that Iran and Syria's shared borders with Iraq is an undeniable geographical fact, and stressed that the constructive role of these two countries in assisting Iraq to restore security and stability is undeniable. He described those who have come to Iraq from remote continents as intruders of Iraq's domestic affairs, and viewed Bush's new Iraq strategy as wrong.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is defending the U.S.-backed Iraqi government and warns against attempts to undermine it. Trying to weaken the Iraqi government is tantamount to "treason for the Iraqi people and Islamic nation," Ahmadinejad said in a telephone conversation with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani
in January 2007.
On January 20, 2007, Mohammad Jaafari, a member of the Iran's Supreme National Security Council, declared: "The United States seeks to justify its failure in Iraq and blame the situation on Iran."
On the other hand, in June of 2007 U.S. Director of National Intelligence Michael McConnell stated there is “overwhelming evidence” that Iran supports terrorists in Iraq and “compelling” evidence that it does the same in Afghanistan.
Iraq
i President Jalal Talabani
has said that Iran
ian-born Ayatollah Ali Sistani has played an important role in helping to establish security in Iraq.
President Talabani also mentioned that Iran and Syria have begun to help the Iraqi government in a good manner. "we do not want the Iranian-US relations to develop into a conflict in Iraq. On the contrary, we have exerted efforts to bring about a US-Iranian agreement or understanding for a joint action for the security and stability in Iraq." he said in an interview with Al-Hayat in January 2007.
Following two US raids in January 2007 and December 2006 in which Iranians were arrested, one of Iraq's most powerful Shia politicians Abdel Aziz al-Hakim, has condemned the arrest of Iranians by US forces in Iraq as an attack on the country's sovereignty.
In an interview in January 2007, German
deputy foreign minister, Gernot Erler said there will be no solution to the Iraqi conflict unless Iran and Syria are also involved in international efforts to restore peace to the war-stricken country. Berlin has repeatedly stressed Iran's important regional role for peace and security in the Mideast.
2007 in Iraq
-Incumbents:* President - Jalal Talabani* Prime Minister - Nouri al-Maliki* Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government ** President - Massoud Barzani** Prime Minister - Nechervan Idris Barzani-January:...
by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in Iraq to confront "suspected Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian operatives in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
".
Policy
In January 2007 the BushGeorge W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
administration authorized the U.S. military to kill or capture Iranian military and intelligence operatives inside Iraq as part of a strategy to weaken Iran's influence in Iraq and compel the government to end its nuclear program.
This new policy replaced the previous "catch and release" policy which had been in place for more than a year, whereby U.S. forces would secretly detain suspected Iranian agents, and hold them for a few days. That policy was intended to intimidate Iranian emissaries without escalating tensions with Iran. U.S. forces would take DNA samples or retina scans from the Iranians, fingerprint and photograph them before letting them go.
Senior administration officials said the new policy is based on the theory that Iran will back down from its nuclear ambitions if the United States hits it hard in Iraq and elsewhere, creating a sense of vulnerability among Iranian leaders. The policy does not extend to Iranian civilians or diplomats. However, on December 21, 2006, the US military detained two Iranian diplomats in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
for alleged weapons smuggling and released them on December 29, 2006.
The head of the Iranian parliament's foreign policy and security commission said he hoped the report is "wrong as such an order is a clear terrorist act and against all internationally acknowledged norms." The Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki blamed United States President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
for the order, saying in a press conference, "As far as Iraq is concerned, Iran is not a problem but part of solving it. The U.S. should not blame others for the failure of its policies and always look for scapegoats."
Constructive or destructive
There are differences of opinion as to whether the successful toppling of the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein was constructive or destructive. In a press conference in 2007 in Iran, SyriaSyria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
's Foreign Minister Walid Muallem
Walid Muallem
Walid al Muallem is the current Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates for Syria, and a long-time diplomat for that country.-Early life, education and career:...
stated that Iran and Syria's shared borders with Iraq is an undeniable geographical fact, and stressed that the constructive role of these two countries in assisting Iraq to restore security and stability is undeniable. He described those who have come to Iraq from remote continents as intruders of Iraq's domestic affairs, and viewed Bush's new Iraq strategy as wrong.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is defending the U.S.-backed Iraqi government and warns against attempts to undermine it. Trying to weaken the Iraqi government is tantamount to "treason for the Iraqi people and Islamic nation," Ahmadinejad said in a telephone conversation with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani
Jalal Talabani
Jalal Talabani is the sixth and current President of Iraq, a leading Kurdish politician. He is the first non-Arab president of Iraq, although Abdul Kareem Qasim was half Kurdish....
in January 2007.
On January 20, 2007, Mohammad Jaafari, a member of the Iran's Supreme National Security Council, declared: "The United States seeks to justify its failure in Iraq and blame the situation on Iran."
On the other hand, in June of 2007 U.S. Director of National Intelligence Michael McConnell stated there is “overwhelming evidence” that Iran supports terrorists in Iraq and “compelling” evidence that it does the same in Afghanistan.
Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i President Jalal Talabani
Jalal Talabani
Jalal Talabani is the sixth and current President of Iraq, a leading Kurdish politician. He is the first non-Arab president of Iraq, although Abdul Kareem Qasim was half Kurdish....
has said that Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian-born Ayatollah Ali Sistani has played an important role in helping to establish security in Iraq.
President Talabani also mentioned that Iran and Syria have begun to help the Iraqi government in a good manner. "we do not want the Iranian-US relations to develop into a conflict in Iraq. On the contrary, we have exerted efforts to bring about a US-Iranian agreement or understanding for a joint action for the security and stability in Iraq." he said in an interview with Al-Hayat in January 2007.
Following two US raids in January 2007 and December 2006 in which Iranians were arrested, one of Iraq's most powerful Shia politicians Abdel Aziz al-Hakim, has condemned the arrest of Iranians by US forces in Iraq as an attack on the country's sovereignty.
In an interview in January 2007, German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
deputy foreign minister, Gernot Erler said there will be no solution to the Iraqi conflict unless Iran and Syria are also involved in international efforts to restore peace to the war-stricken country. Berlin has repeatedly stressed Iran's important regional role for peace and security in the Mideast.
Possible consequences
Officials counseled the president and his advisers to consider a list of potential consequences, including the possibility that the Iranians might seek to retaliate by kidnapping or killing U.S. personnel in Iraq even though they were already seeking to kidnap and kill U.S. personnel.See also
- Iraq War troop surge of 2007Iraq War troop surge of 2007In the context of the Iraq War, the surge refers to United States President George W. Bush's 2007 increase in the number of American troops in order to provide security to Baghdad and Al Anbar Province....
- Iran's nuclear program
- US attack on Iranian consular office in Arbil
- 2007 Iranian seizure of Royal Navy personnel2007 Iranian seizure of Royal Navy personnelIranian military personnel seized 15 Royal Navy personnel during 2007 and held them for 13 days. On 23 March 2007, 15 British Royal Navy personnel, from HMS Cornwall, searching a merchant vessel were surrounded by the Navy of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and subsequently detained off the...
- Nacht und NebelNacht und NebelNacht und Nebel was a directive of Adolf Hitler on 7 December 1941 signed and implemented by Armed Forces High Command Chief Wilhelm Keitel, resulting in the kidnapping and forced disappearance of many political activists and resistance 'helpers' throughout Nazi Germany's occupied...