Iraq and Afghanistan

Pollock's account of the repeated problems in the tortuous relations of the United States and Iran is softened somewhat by reference to the cooperation of Iran with the United States during its recent Middle Eastern adventures. Tehran both hated and feared the Taliban and were glad to see it brought down. They hated with an even greater intensity Saddam Hussein for the disastrous war he had waged against them. Even before our attack in Afghanistan, Iran had urged more help for the Northern Alliance, a group of warlords that they themselves helped considerably before and during the conflict. They provided logistical support for our efforts, even basing for our planes early on. In Iraq they have made a major effort to control their friends in Iraq to prevent their fighting the Americans. What they apparently want in Iraq is a state free of Hussein and under Shi'ah control. They do not expect a theocracy such as they have, but do expect a much more friendly and less threatening state, a state that will once again allow the easy movement of Shi'a in and out of the country.

Given this general picture, Pollock also points to some problems. The main problem stems from the fact that Iran evidently has a large and effective clandestine service operating in both countries. During the Afghan campaign, their units began to take an active role in many parts of the country. The United States had to sit down with the Iranians and make an agreement that they would stay in their own sphere of interest in the western part of Afghanistan. They then pretty much lived up to that. This service has also been very active in Iraq. Their activity has been mostly one of organization rather than direct action. One exception was an attack on an Iraqi police unit in Falluja that had captured some of their agents. The Iranians attacked from four sides with fifty men, making a diversionary attack at the same time. American officers were astounded, rating this the best organized attack they had witnessed. Pollock uses this as an example of what the Iranian could be doing in the country but have opted not to. (Makes one think.) Pollock also recounts the history of Iran and al-Qaida and Afghanistan. First they intercepted and imprisoned several al-Qaida escaping across the border. (They hate al-Qaida as much as we do, but for their anti-Shiism.) Later, however, they allowed some al-Qaida to remain in the country and even to mount actions in Saudi Arabia. The game being played here is unclear to Pollock.