One step closer to another war

Various news outlets have reported today on administration plans to declare the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, the main core of the Iranian army, to be a terrorist organization. Combined with the reports last week of "Cheney and the Warmongers" pushing for military strikes in Iran, this is a huge concern.

The stories mention the idea of declaring a large part of the Iranian army to be terrorists is supported by Condoleezza Rice as a means of putting additional pressure on the Iranian government vis-a-vis negotiations over Iran's nuclear program. The primary goal seems to be increased sanctions against Iran from the UN security council.

I actually support that goal, and I am more supportive of Rice's approach towards Iran then the Chene-gang's bomb 'em now approach. I am afraid, however, this declaration will open some potential doors to the latter group as well.

First, such a declaration ties in nicely with the recent propaganda wave declaring all the evidence of Iranian support for Iraqi insurgents. I mentioned yesterday some of the logical inconsistencies these claims bring up. Outside of that, however, the primary "evidence" cited for Iranian ties to the insurgents has been the increased use of explosively formed penetrators (EPFs) against US troops.

These devices are particularly dangerous as they are specially designed to penetrate armor, up to and including tank armor. Administration and military officials have been claiming the sophistication of these devices indicates they must have been built elsewhere (i.e. Iran) ... despite the fact a factory for making them was discovered in Iraq six months ago, thus proving insurgents have the capability of making them internally.

In addition to simply adding another line to the bomb-Iran chorus, however, there is a more insidious concern. If the Iranian army is declared to be terrorists, then under the terms of the Authorization for Use of Military Force the administration can launch attacks those forces without seeking further Congressional approval first.

So we have on one hand an increasing chorus of voices, including the Vice President's, actively advocating launching attacks against Iran, and on the other hand a political step which would make it easier for the administration to launch such attacks. We're on the verge of starting a war with yet another country allegedly in support of our troops who are in the midst of a civil somewhere they shouldn't be in the first place.

Apparently the "surge" has been so successful we're looking to bring it to other nations too, by unpopular demand!