Iran Poses Biggest Threat to Iraq's Stability, Pentagon Says

Iraqi Madhi army militiamen dance as they stand near a burning Iraqi army vehicle after attacking it on March 30, 2008 in the city of Basra. (PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)

From Bloomberg:

Oct. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Iranian support for Shiite militia groups poses the biggest threat to long-term stability in Iraq, where recent improvements in security are ``fragile,'' the U.S. Defense Department said.

Iran continues to ``fund, train, arm and direct'' groups intent on destabilizing its neighbor and its influence in Iraq is ``malign,'' the Pentagon said in its quarterly report to Congress.

While civilian deaths between June and August were down 77 percent on the same period last year, Iraq faces unresolved issues that may trigger fresh violence, including the status of the oil city of Kirkuk and the integration of Sunni tribesmen into the security forces, according to the report.

The Bush administration has repeatedly accused Iran of training and financing insurgents in Iraq and stoking violence between the country's Shiite and Sunni Muslim communities. The Islamic Republic denies the allegations and blames the U.S.-led military occupation for creating conflict among Iraqis.

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My Comment: Iran is a threat to every country in the Middle East .... everyone in the Middle East knows this.