Peter1469
07-14-2015, 06:15 PM
On day of deal military remembers deaths caused by Iran (http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/capitol-hill/2015/07/14/iran-linked-to-deaths-of-500-us-troops-in-iraq-afghanistan/30131097/)
Iran was the main supplier of explosively formed penetrators (EFP) and those killed at least 500 US soldiers and marines. Iran also did some direct action raids, although the military likely won't officially admit to that, especially now.
Many of those estimated 500 deaths occurred during the so-called surge in Iraq, when President George W. Bush ordered an influx of tens of thousands of troops to confront what had devolved into a sectarian civil war. Scores of American personnel were killed or maimed by highly lethal bombs, known as explosively formed penetrators, or EFPs, that Iran manufactured and supplied to Shiite militias across the border in Iraq. Many EFPs were powerful enough to destroy U.S. humvees and breach tank hulls.
The memory of those deaths was surely a factor in the caution signaled by the Pentagon on Tuesday afternoon, after Obama's announcement of this landmark deal between Iran, the U.S. and five other countries.
"As we implement this historic agreement, deterrence remains a major component of America's national security," Defense Secretary Ash Carter said in a statement Tuesday. The U.S. military will remain ready to "check Iranian malign influence" and "utilize the military option if necessary," he added.
Iran was the main supplier of explosively formed penetrators (EFP) and those killed at least 500 US soldiers and marines. Iran also did some direct action raids, although the military likely won't officially admit to that, especially now.
Many of those estimated 500 deaths occurred during the so-called surge in Iraq, when President George W. Bush ordered an influx of tens of thousands of troops to confront what had devolved into a sectarian civil war. Scores of American personnel were killed or maimed by highly lethal bombs, known as explosively formed penetrators, or EFPs, that Iran manufactured and supplied to Shiite militias across the border in Iraq. Many EFPs were powerful enough to destroy U.S. humvees and breach tank hulls.
The memory of those deaths was surely a factor in the caution signaled by the Pentagon on Tuesday afternoon, after Obama's announcement of this landmark deal between Iran, the U.S. and five other countries.
"As we implement this historic agreement, deterrence remains a major component of America's national security," Defense Secretary Ash Carter said in a statement Tuesday. The U.S. military will remain ready to "check Iranian malign influence" and "utilize the military option if necessary," he added.