[Washington Post] Karen DeYoung - The Iranian government has decided "at the most senior levels" to rein in the violent Shiite militias it supports in Iraq, a move reflected in a sharp decrease in sophisticated roadside bomb attacks over the past several months, according to David M. Satterfield, the State Department's top official on Iraq. Tehran's decision does not necessarily mean the flow of those weapons from Iran has stopped, but the decline in their use and in overall attacks "has to be attributed to an Iranian policy decision," he said. The Pentagon has been more cautious in describing Iran's role in changes on the ground in Iraq. A Defense Department report released Wednesday emphasized that support for militia groups by Tehran's Shiite government remains "a significant impediment to progress." Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Friday that "the jury is out" on whether Iran is playing a less-destructive role.
2007-12-24 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive