Sketchy at Best

Never know what to make of reports that get seeded, first, to the Washington Times, given its ownership, political stance, and spectacular ability to remain in print despite dismal, dismal financials. Of course, this story is all over the Arab news outlet (as is a Kuwaiti story regarding an alleged foiled importation of radioactive material into Iraq by US forces), so maybe a news aggregator at the Times just picked it up. In either case, reports out of a radical press of any country must be taken with a good helping of salt. The ramifications, however, if true, could be astounding.

Iran massing troops on Iraq border

Beirut, Lebanon, Jun. 15 (UPI) -- Iran reportedly is readying troops to move into Iraq if U.S. troops pull out, leaving a security vacuum.

The Saudi daily Al-Sharq al-Awsat, monitored in Beirut, reports Iran has massed four battalions at the border.

Al-Sharq al-Awsat quoted "reliable Iraqi sources" as saying, "Iran moved part of its regular military forces towards the Iraqi border in the southern sector at a time its military intelligence agents were operating inside Iraqi territory."