However . . .

Casey said that he had NO EVIDENCE of Iranians actually in Iraq directing attacks against Iraqis or US forces, but said that he assumed elements in Tehran were guiding the process.

I wonder why he assumes it's Iran?

"We are quite confident that the Iranians . . . are providing weapons, IED technology and training to Shi'a extremist groups in Iraq" [he said].

"They are using surrogates to conduct terrorist operations in Iraq both against us and against the Iraqi people," he said.

Improvised Explosive Devices like road-side bombs are among the most commonly used methods to attack US forces in Iraq.

Isn't it possible that some OTHER nation might be secretly arming Iraqis?

Israel is one of the world's leading weapons exporters. Deals must be cleared through the Defense Ministry, but in past years there have been a number of cases of ex-army officers negotiating deals on their own, or taking on military training missions in foreign countries without approval.

In December, an investigative report by another daily, Yediot Ahronot, alleged that a number of private Israeli companies won contracts to provide security services to the Kurdish government in Iraq. The report said Israelis who had served in elite military combat units were teaching anti-terrorism methods to the Kurds.

At the time the Defense Ministry said, "we haven't allowed Israelis to work in Iraq, and each activity, if performed, was a private initiative, without our authorization, and is under the responsibility of the employers and the employees involved."

* * *

The Haaretz daily said Thursday that an Israeli businessman living in the United States and a Swiss firm operating in Israel, are suspected of selling security equipment and training courses to Kurds in northern Iraq.

Reaction was not immediately available from the Kurdish government.

To those who blame me for unfairly scrutinizing Israeli conduct - explain this one, please.

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Israeli firms probed for illegal dealings in Iraq: report

Several Israeli firms involved in defense exports are being investigated by the police on suspicion of illegal dealing in Iraq, local newspaper Ha'aretz reported on Thursday.

At the focus of the investigation are Shlomi Michaels, and Kodo, a firm registered in Switzerland but operating in Israel.

According to Ha'aretz, the two firms are suspected of selling equipment, know-how and technology, as well as providing security advisers from Israel to groups and companies of Kurds operating in northern Iraq. One of the main operations there was setting up of a security apparatus for the Irbil airport.

It was reported that suspicions about the role of Tadiran, Motorola, Magal and other firms believed to have been involved in providing equipment through intermediaries to Kodo and Michaels are also being investigated, though no company officials have yet been called by the police for interviews.

Citing police sources, the report said that the matter was being investigated, but at this time there was no further information for release.

Since 2004, Israeli firms operating in northern Iraq, including Michaels and Kodo, have been ordered to cease their activities because of threats of terrorism.

Source: Xinhua

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Read from Looking Glass News

Israelis training Kurds in northern Iraq - report