Sam Gardiner, 13 May 2008 

Con Coughlin writes a Friday column each week for the UK's Telegraph.  On Friday he wrote about Afghanistan : "Another week, another British fatality - and yet more evidence of Iran's lethal meddling on the battlefields of the war on terror."

He goes on to say the hand of Iran in the death of the  British soldier may never be proven, but in an attempt to justify his  assertion, he goes on to suggest it is because "the Revolutionary  Guards have become highly adept at covering their tracks."

His "evidence" that the Iranians are behind explosive devices in  Afghanistan goes beyond anything being suggested by even the most  anti-Iranian officials in either the US or British Government. One would think he would be at least a little self conscious about talking about evidence.

Until last December, Coughlin had been Executive Foreign Editor of the Telegraph

Coughlin has a history of being a cheerleader for war. He got us ready  for the invasion of Iraq with his 2002 book, Saddam: King of Terror.  He seems to be one of those getting us ready for a war with Iran.

Monday's Washington Post seems to be trying to follow in the New York  Times, Judith Miller tradition of supporting the US Administration. The article is called "Spread of Nuclear Capability is Feared," and it's written by Joby Warrick. Warrick makes extensive use of information provided by
IAEA and US government "officials."

The US government official who can't be named is quoted, "We are concerned that some countries are moving down the nuclear [weapons] path in reaction to the Iranians." Fascinating. Warrick seems to have added "weapons" to the quote in an effort to enhance the statement. Recall, the US intelligence community is on record as saying the Iranians are not on a weapons path.

Warrick has a pattern of quoting officials who cannot be named and seems to be another who is preparing us for the strike on Iran.

With journalists like these, who needs enemies?


Sam Gardiner
Colonel, USAF (retired)