Iran worries US officials beyond its nuclear plans

New intelligence czar Michael McConnell checked off homeland-security threats in a Senate briefing Tuesday.

from the February 28, 2007 edition

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In addition, it is "probable" that Iran's leadership knows that the Iranian Qods Force, an elite unit of the Revolutionary Guards, is shipping sophisticated anti-armor explosives to Iraqi Shiite militias, according to US intelligence.

"There is no direct link," said McConnell. "I am comfortable saying it is 'probable'."

Meanwhile, on Tuesday the White House said that it would be willing to attend a regional conference in Iraq next month that could include Iran and Syria.

The conference would be aimed at ways to stabilize Iraq. The administration has ruled out any direct talks with Tehran unless it suspends its uranium-enrichment program.

But if Iraq puts together a multilateral meeting, "[and] if we were invited to participate, we certainly would," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.

At the Senate Armed Services threat briefing, intelligence officials also presented a mixed view about the prospects and implementation of the president's plan to push for more security in Baghdad.

President Bush presented the effort as one in which Iraqi troops would be in the lead, with US forces serving in a supporting capacity.

To this point, Iraqi units are not fully at the point of the spear in Baghdad, but "are in the process of taking the lead," McConnell said.

Iraqi brigades moved into Baghdad have had anywhere from 43 to 82 percent of their approved manpower, he said. "It is a work in progress."

Military success will not occur without progress toward political reconciliation, said intelligence officials. Yet that remains a difficult challenge.

The Shiites are not confident of their position in the majority, and remain worried about a Sunni resurgence, said the officials. The Sunnis, for their part, are not yet willing to admit they are no longer in charge.

"The question is, will leadership emerge and be capable of taking the country to the next level," McConnell said.

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