A rchive Date
[ 28-03-2003 ]
Category
[ International Relations ]
sub-Categoy
[ U.S ]
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[http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2003/03/28/53124-ap.html
Rumsfeld accuses Syria and Iran
By ROBERT BURNS - Associated Press
Fri, March 28, 2003
WASHINGTON (AP) - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld accused Syria and Iran of meddling in the Iraq war and warned Friday that both Iraqi neighbors would be held accountable if it continued.
He alleged that military equipment had crossed into Iraq from Syria, and Iranian-sponsored fighting forces were inside Iraq and presenting a potential threat to U.S. and allied troops.
The only specific military items Rumsfeld mentioned as coming from Syria were night vision goggles. The ability to fight effectively at night is a major U.S. military advantage over Iraq, and Iraqi acquisition of such goggles could negate that advantage to some degree.
At a Pentagon news conference a week after the air segment of the U.S.-led war began, Rumsfeld warned that any members of the Badr Corps, an Iranian-sponsored anti-Saddam Hussein force, who are found in Iraq would be subject to U.S. military power.
He said hundreds of Badr Corps members are inside Iraq now, with more inside Iran, near the Iraq border.
"The entrance into Iraq by military forces, intelligence personnel or proxies not under the direct operational control of General Franks will be taken as a potential threat to coalition forces," he said, referring to Gen. Tommy Franks, the overall commander of allied forces.
He said that includes the Badr Corps, which he said is trained, equipped and directed by Iran's Revolutionary Guard.
"We will hold the Iranian government responsible for their actions and will view Badr Corps activity inside Iraq as unhelpful," Rumsfeld said. "Armed Badr Corps members found in Iraq will have to be treated as combatants."
Asked whether there had been any contact between U.S. and Badr Corps fighters, Rumsfeld replied, "No, not yet."
Rumsfeld said the Syrian shipments of military supplies, equipment and materials "vastly complicates" the U.S. position on the battlefield. He demanded they be halted.
Iraq's information minister denied the accusation and said Rumsfeld was lying.
"These accusations against brotherly Syria are of course baseless," Iraq's Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf said in an interview in Beirut with a Lebanese satellite television channel.
Rumsfeld said his information was based upon sensitive intelligence, but he offered few details.
"We have information that shipments of military supplies have been crossing the border from Syria into Iraq, including night vision goggles," he said. "These deliveries pose a direct threat to the lives of coalition forces. We consider such trafficking as hostile acts and will hold the Syrian government accountable for such shipments."
Asked if the United States was threatening military action against Syria, Rumsfeld said: "I'm saying exactly what I'm saying. It was carefully phrased."
Syrian President Bashar Assad has described the military action as "clear occupation and a flagrant aggression against a United Nations member state." Syria is the only Arab country currently on the U.N. Security Council.
When asked if the shipments from Syria were "state sponsored," Rumsfeld said he wouldn't answer because "it's an intelligence issue."
"They control their border," he added. "We're hoping that kind of thing doesn't happen."
While Rumsfeld did not identify the source of the technology, a senior U.S. official told The Associated Press that Syria does not manufacture night vision goggles and gets most of its supplies from Russia.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he could not confirm that Russia passed on the equipment to Iraq but said Syria has long been a major conduit for Iraq-bound shipments.
 World Fact Book (CIA)]
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