Do you think Iran is aiding the Taliban?

[Zande33]

Hi ! Zande here. After reading a CNN news story about new sanctions imposed towards Iran I began pondering. Is what they say true? Is The Quds Force, the elite unit of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, proving "lethal" assistance to the Taliban in Afghanistan and other countries? The U.S media is full of lies and deceit, but it seems like it would make sense --- maybe. Or possibly, this could be an "excuse" to start marching our Iraq troops to Iran. What do you think? I am personally not sure. I want to form an opinion on this, but I would love to hear your opinions first so I can analyze them and create my own. If there is already a thread about this I apologize, but I did check the first page to see if there was any recent ones.

Good night.

 

[Bast]

Of course, they are. People need to understand that Iran is a theocracy. It's a religious dictatorship that wants to see Islamic supremacy around the world. The Taliban is a tool they have to that purpose. They would support anything that will undermine western countries.

 

[Zande33]

Of course, they are. People need to understand that Iran is a theocracy. It's a religious dictatorship that wants to see Islamic supremacy around the world. The Taliban is a tool they have to that purpose. They would support anything that will undermine western countries.

That is a very valid point. But, you would think Iran would be intelligent enough to realize that Islamic supremacy around the world is virtually impossible, completely improbable. So aiding an organization that is aimed towards that cause would not only get you nowhere, but could if the assistance is discovered, get your country invaded. Maybe they are blinded by their own religion.

 

[The Yankee]

Of course, they are. People need to understand that Iran is a theocracy. It's a religious dictatorship that wants to see Islamic supremacy around the world. The Taliban is a tool they have to that purpose. They would support anything that will undermine western countries.

A Sunni extremist regime? I doubt it. Perhaps there may be an alliance of convenience, but Iran was at least fairly anti-Taliban in years past.

 

[Xenocrates]

Maybe the Brits and the US don't want to admit that they got thrashed by three one-eyed goat-herders and so have selected a sinister Moriarty figure (again) to hide their complete stupidity/complicity in the global heroin trade.



Who still doesn't think that opium was the main reason for the invasion of Afghanistan?

 

[The Yankee]

If it was, then why haven't I received my share of the opium? Gotta enjoy the spoils of war, after all.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Of course, they are. People need to understand that Iran is a theocracy. It's a religious dictatorship that wants to see Islamic supremacy around the world. The Taliban is a tool they have to that purpose. They would support anything that will undermine western countries.

Except that Iran is run by Twelver Shiites, and both the Taliban and Al Queda are Sunni organizations. They hate each other.

 

[Bast]

Except that Iran is run by Twelver Shiites, and both the Taliban and Al Queda are Sunni organizations. They hate each other.

See, I question whether they still hate each other. Enemy's enemy is a friend?

 

[The Yankee]

Doesn't always work that way, really. Iran and the Taliban are just too far apart to really have anything more than small time cooperation, IMO.

 

[emzie]

See, I question whether they still hate each other. Enemy's enemy is a friend?

1300 years of hatred > ~100 years of hatred towards the west. Think about it.

Plus, even by Iran's standards, the Taliban is disgusting.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

See, I question whether they still hate each other. Enemy's enemy is a friend?

I don't. Look at Iraq for a prime example.

 

[Japanrocks12]

yeah. Pan-Islamic nationalism fueled by hatred of the west simply isn't strong enough to overcome the sectarian disputes that Muslims had with each other since the inception of their religion

 

[EconomistBR]

A Sunni extremist regime? I doubt it. Perhaps there may be an alliance of convenience, but Iran was at least fairly anti-Taliban in years past.

I disagree

I am sure Iran is helping. Iran has all the interest in the world to see the US stuck in a quagmire in Iraq and in Afghanistan.
Iran is using just about anything as a proxy to wage war on the US Army.

And with oil at $90 a barrel, Iran has the money to finance anyone who is willing to attack US forces.

 

[Neomega]

In 2002, Iran aided the United States, by supporting the Northern Alliance, in the toppling of the Taliban.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/showdown/view/

Part 2 covers this part of Iran's history with teh Taleban.

I wonder how many people, who are so "sure" knew about this.

 

[emzie]

I disagree

I am sure Iran is helping. Iran has all the interest in the world to see the US stuck in a quagmire in Iraq and in Afghanistan.
Iran is using just about anything as a proxy to wage war on the US Army.

And with oil at $90 a barrel, Iran has the money to finance anyone who is willing to attack US forces.

No, they're not. They have the money to finance anyone who is willing to do whatever when they are willing. They have plenty of allies to finance in Iraq, no need to fund people hostile to theirown interests in Afghanistan. Don't think Iran doesn't know what happened to America when they supported the mujahideen.

 

[Halcyon]

Would you arm and aid a violent fundamentalist regime in a neighbouring country? Especially a regime which hates you? Maybe, if you're careful and expect them to lose, but probably not.

Sure, the Iranian government is crazy and can't be trusted. Unfortunately, the American government is just as crazy and also can't be trusted. I'll reserve judgement until there is actual evidence, and not just alarmist rumours from people who want a war. Sorry, guys.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

In 2002, Iran aided the United States, by supportingthe Northern Alliance, in the toppling of the Taliban.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/showdown/view/

Part 2 covers this part of history.

And get this: The Northern Alliance follows...wait for it...Twelver Shi'ism!

 

[The Yankee]

I disagree

I am sure Iran is helping. Iran has all the interest in the world to see the US stuck in a quagmire in Iraq and in Afghanistan.
Iran is using just about anything as a proxy to wage war on the US Army.

And with oil at $90 a barrel, Iran has the money to finance anyone who is willing to attack US forces.

I don't think Iran is so obsessed with America that they'll throw away their own interests just for the chance to blow up American soldiers.

Aside from ideological differences, if Iran were so bold as to play around in Afghanistan and even towards Waziristan, they'd lose the diplomatic angle they've been trying to play instantly. No need to give the US that advantage.

 

[emzie]

And get this: The Northern Alliance follows...wait for it...Twelver Shi'ism!

Well that's news to me. The Northern Alliance was made up of many different ethinic groups, of whom some were Shi'a and some were Sunni (Tajiks, Uzbeks among others).

 

[EconomistBR]

In 2002, Iran aided the United States, by supporting the Northern Alliance, in the toppling of the Taliban.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/showdown/view/

Part 2 covers this part of Iran's history with teh Taleban.

I wonder how many people, who are so "sure" knew about this.

I disagree as you mentioned this was in 2002

Before Bush went about bringing democracy to the Middle East. A stable pro-western Iraq and Afghanistan don't help Iran not even a bit.
Iranian priorities have changed.
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

No, they're not. They have the money to finance anyone who is willing to do whatever when they are willing. They have plenty of allies to finance in Iraq, no need to fund people hostile to theirown interests in Afghanistan. Don't think Iran doesn't know what happened to America when they supported the mujahideen.

What's Iran's interest in Afghanistan ??
A stable pro-western government, certainly is not.
A glorious US victory doesn't help Iran a bit either. Iran wants to see the US stuck there for the next 10 years.
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend"