The United States will take unilateral action when needed to deal with the threat to American troops in Iraq from Shi'ite militias armed by Iran, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said Monday.
As a bonus, we might act unilaterally to stop Iran!
Remember when Iranian hostility was just a Bush fantasy?
UPDATE: A quick update with a good piece by Austin Bay on another reason Iran fights us in Iraq and why we must make sure Iran loses that fight:
Panetta could have added, with certainty, that Iran provides Iraqi gangs, extremist militias, and al-Qaida remnants with money and political support. Iranian intelligence services and special forces may also be providing some of these groups with operational planning and targeting advice.
Iran's radical Islamic regime knows an Iraqi democracy on its western border threatens its very existence. Iran's mullahs fear Iraq's democracy because it gives the Iranian opposition Green Movement an authentic Middle Eastern model for democratic political action. Waging a proxy war on Iraq serves the mullahs' domestic political goal of repressing their own population.
He also calls for a reinforced American ground division after this year. That can't be included with a cap of 10,000 Americans, which is being discussed in the media. Which is why I want 25,000 (3 brigade combat teams plus special forces and support personnel from the Army and other services).
Remember, we've won in Iraq in fights against a number of opponents. But if we lose the last fight, we don't get credit for the previous wins.
