Iranian Unit to Be Labeled 'Terrorist'

[elbales]

Iranian Unit to Be Labeled 'Terrorist'

U.S. Moving Against Revolutionary Guard
By Robin Wright
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 15, 2007; Page A01

The United States has decided to designate Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, the country's 125,000-strong elite military branch, as a "specially designated global terrorist," according to U.S. officials, a move that allows Washington to target the group's business operations and finances.

The Bush administration has chosen to move against the Revolutionary Guard Corps because of what U.S. officials have described as its growing involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as its support for extremists throughout the Middle East, the sources said. The decision follows congressional pressure on the administration to toughen its stance against Tehran, as well as U.S. frustration with the ineffectiveness of U.N. resolutions against Iran's nuclear program, officials said.

The designation of the Revolutionary Guard will be made under Executive Order 13224, which President Bush signed two weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to obstruct terrorist funding. It authorizes the United States to identify individuals, businesses, charities and extremist groups engaged in terrorist activities. The Revolutionary Guard would be the first national military branch included on the list, U.S. officials said -- a highly unusual move because it is part of a government, rather than a typical non-state terrorist organization.

This can't be a good thing.
 

Comments

[rurounitriv.livejournal.com]

Typical Bushco. If they don't like something they call it "terrorist" or "unAmerican" and figure that'll make everyone fall into line.

[elbales]

The scariest thing? If they call your group "terrorist," and they take you into custody, Bush can unilaterally declare you an enemy combatant and send you off to Gitmo. And then claim that the Geneva Conventions don't apply because you're not a proper soldier.

This is a bad and dangerous decision in so many ways, I'm having trouble picking just one.