My two sources for this article are Power Line and National Review. Both have posts today about the release of five Iranian 'diplomats' in Iraq. These are not diplomats--they are Quds Force commanders from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) who were coordinating terrorist attacks in Iraq that have killed hundreds -- yes, hundreds -- of American soldiers and Marines. Releasing them puts American soldiers at risk and also is a threat to the stability of the government of Iraq. I guess President Obama is hoping no one will notice.
The National Review article is written by Andrew McCarthy and lists five things we need to know about the 'diplomats' released:
1. First, of the 4,322 Americans killed in combat in Iraq since 2003, 10 percent of them (i.e., more than 400) have been murdered by a single type of weapon alone, a weapon that is supplied by Iran for the singular purpose of murdering Americans. These weapons were designed by the IRGC.
2. President Bush and our armed forces steadfastly refused demands by Iran and Iraq's Maliki government for the release of the Irbil Five because Iran was continuing to coordinate terrorist operations against American forces in Iraq (and to aid Taliban operations against American forces in Afghanistan). Now that these men are released, they can continue where they left off.
3. Obama's decision to release the five terror-masters comes while the Iranian regime (a) is still conducting operations against Americans in Iraq, even as we are in the process of withdrawing, and (b) is clearly working to replicate its Lebanon model in Iraq: establishing a Shiite terror network, loyal to Iran, as added pressure on the pliant Maliki to understand who is boss once the Americans leave. This is not what America or Iraq wants or needs.
4. President Obama's release of the Quds terrorists is a natural continuation of his administration's stunningly irresponsible policy of bartering terrorist prisoners for hostages. The National Review article has the details on this charge.
5. When it comes to Iran, it has become increasingly apparent that President Obama wants the mullahs to win. What you need to know is that Barack Obama is a wolf in "pragmatist" clothing: Beneath the easy smile and above-it-all manner -- the "neutral" doing his best to weigh competing claims -- is a radical leftist wedded to a Manichean vision that depicts American imperialism as the primary evil in the world.
It really is time to take a hard look at the policies of this President. He has just endangered American troops in order to smooth relations with a tyrannical dictatorship. What is really sad is that the America press has not called him on it. Is anyone minding the store?
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