by Mehrnaz Shahabi(CASMII Columns)
Thursday, July 26, 2007

The article in the Guardian by Simon Tisdall, “A Surge in Accusations”, July 24 (1), appears on the same day the second round of Iran-US talks begins, and is the second article in just over two months by Simon Tisdall using unsubstantiated allegations ascribed to anonymous sources accusing Iranian government of complicity in the violence in Iraq.




The increasingly fantastical nature of the Neo-Cons’ propaganda claims regarding the Iranian involvement with such irreconcilable forces from the Shiia militias to the Sunni extremists, to Al Qaeda, does not deter Simon Tisdall, nor does it prompt him to question the sheer implausibility of these accusations, a situation identical to his 22nd May article (2) (3) in the Guardian.




Whilst quoting from the FT’s recent story (4) alleging Al-Qaeda’s use of the Iranian territory with the knowledge of the Iranian authorities to launch attacks in Iraq, and

war against US and British forces”, the recent 6th July confession by David Miliband, the British Foreign Minister, to the FT (5) that there was no evidence of Iranian complicity in the violence and instability in Iraq, seemingly is not thought relevant!




Likewise, Simon Tisdall quotes Frederick Kegan, a noted US Neo-Conservative, alleging “a growing body of evidence” that the pattern of Iranian arms and assistance to Shiia militias (6) are being repeated now to Sunni Jihadis of all descriptions, including individual AlQaeda cell, and stating his pessimism that “increased diplomatic contact would bring a change of policy – on either side”. Yet, Mr Tisdall does not find the recent alleged ultimatum by the leader of an AlQaeda umbrella group in Iraq that Iran’s continued support for the Shiia government in Iraq would be responded to by war, of any relevance.




This alleged announcement by AlQaeda confirms the congruence of interests of the US and AlQaeda over their hostility towards Iran and refutes the myth that Iran is a beneficiary of the continuing mayhem in Iraq. This type of reporting can only serve to benefit those elements in the US who are doing all they can to sabotage the long awaited and extremely sensitive dialogue between the US and Iran which has the potential of securing peace in Iraq and averting a war with Iran with regional and global catastrophic consequences.




1.  http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/simon_tisdall/2007/07/a_surge_in_accusations.html

2.  http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2085192,00.html

3.  http://www.campaigniran.org/casmii/index.php?q=node/2229

4.  http://www.campaigniran.org/casmii/index.php?q=node/2615

5.  http://www.campaigniran.org/casmii/index.php?q=node/2609

6.  http://www.campaigniran.org/casmii/index.php?q=node/2543