Iraqi Prez - Iranian Detainee NOT Quods

By Cernig

Here's an update on an earlier story. Both the Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and the Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani say that an Iranian arrested by US forces as a member of the Quods Force who was allegedly smuggling EFP bombs and planning attacks in Iraq is an innocent merchant, and both have called for his immediate release.

In a angry statement, Mr Talabani - who is himself a Kurd - said the arrest was made without the knowledge or co-operation of the Kurdish regional government.

"This amounts to an insult and a violation of its rights and authority," said the statement, quoting from a letter Mr Talabani had sent the top US commander in Iraq Gen David Petraeus and US Ambassador Ryan Crocker on the day of the arrest.

The Iraqi president insisted that the man was part of a trade delegation - a guest of the Kurds - visiting to promote closer economic ties with Iran.

"I want to express to you our dismay over the arrest by American forces of this official civilian Iranian guest," he said.

On Friday, the president of the Kurdish regional government, Massoud Barzani, said the arrest was illegal.

Which was what I predicted on Thursday when Mike Ledeen was shilling this detention as a reason to attack Iran.