Couldn't this be seen as sign of good will? Remember all that propaganda about how the Iranians were supporting terrorism against our troops? What happened? Did the surge defeat the Iranians in Iraq, as it did with al Qaeda? Or maybe Iran is not the great big boogeyman they've been made out to be. In any case, the neocon drumbeat of war continues unabated.
The number of rocket and mortar attacks in Iraq that can be linked to Iranian-sponsored fighters has fallen in recent weeks, the second-ranking American commander in Iraq said Wednesday.
Lt. Gen. Lloyd Austin attributed the decline mainly to inroads made by Iraqi security forces in choking off radical elements of Shiite militias in the southern cities of Basra and Amarah. Amarah purportedly is a hub for smuggling weapons to Iraqi Shiite extremists from Iran.
In an interview with three American reporters, Austin said he does not know whether the dropoff in attacks is an intentional gesture by Iran, which has strengthened its influence in Iraq since the war began five years ago.
It certainly isn't because Iran is afraid.
Iran state media said nine missiles were tested in total, including a new Shahab-3, with a range of 2,000km (1,240 miles).
Iran has tested the missile before, but the latest launch comes amid rising tensions with the US and Israel over the country's nuclear programme.
US Under-secretary of State William Burns said the test was "provocative".
He told a Congressional hearing: "We view force as an option that is on the table but a last resort.
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