The United States is preparing to declare Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps a foreign terrorist organization, The New York Times reported in Wednesday editions, citing senior administration officials.
If the declaration is imposed, it would be the first time that the United States has placed the armed forces of any sovereign government on its list of terrorist organizations, the newspaper reported.
The U.S. government has long considered Iran an active state sponsor of terrorism. Singling out the guard would signal a more confrontational turn in the administration's approach to Iran, the newspaper said.
Well it's about time. And for those on the Left who like to excuse the mullah regime for the Pasdaran's killing of US troops in Iraq by arguing the government doesn't really control them, this measure should not be objectionable.
But I bet they object anyway.
UPDATE: Cue the idiots. The New York Times editorializes against the decision:
The dangers posed by Iran are serious, and America needs to respond with serious policies, not more theatrics. Labeling Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organization — as the State Department now proposes — is another distraction when what the Bush administration needs to be doing is opening comprehensive negotiations with Tehran, backed by increasing international economic pressure.
In what world is talking to the mullahs about what outrageous demands they might have a "serious" response? Amateur hour, indeed. Objection noted and filed.
Ralph Peters notes that we could be setting the stage for serious military strikes against the Pasdaran to stop them from killing our troops inside Iraq:
The real reason for the move is to set up a legal basis for airstrikes or special operations raids on the Guard's bases in Iran.
Our policy is that we reserve the right to whack terrorists anywhere in the world. Now we have newly designated terrorists. And we know exactly where they are.
Could be. But then I keep going back to the idea that the President doesn't like small ball. Would Iran's military stand aside while we pummel the Pasdaran--the main prop of the regime?
