It would be naive to think that ‘outsourcing’ is a new phenomenon; at least the kind we see in Iraq today can be traced back to the 1940’s. In 1947, the National Security Act created the CIA. Little known or discussed is the fact that one of the fist acts of the National Security Council was the subversion of Italian democracy. In 1948, Italy was leaning towards a leftist government. Washington spent millions of dollars on propaganda to ensure that the election results were consistent with US desires.

While the US bullied its way without resorting to violence, it later came to light that the CIA had organized a secret paramilitary army of 15,000 troops in Italy called ‘Operation Gladio (derived from the Latin gladius meaning sword) with hidden stockpiles of weapons and explosives ready to resort to violence in the event that the elections did not go Washington’s way.

Operation Gladio continued into several other European countries. Many members of Operation Gladio were also in a shadowy organization known as P-2. One of P-2's specialties was the art of provocation. Leftist organizations were infiltrated, financed and / or created, and the resulting acts of terrorism were blamed on the left. The aim of this ‘successful’ strategy was to show how violent and dangerous the left was and to turn the people against them.

The strategy of terrorism, provocation, and propaganda is at work in Iraq today. This carefully planned strategy started with the bombing of the Askariya Shrine — the deliberate start of the Sunni-Shia divide.

In 1982, Oded Yinon, a senior advisor at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a journalist, articulated the Zionist plan to Balkanize the Middle East by breaking up the Arab states of Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States. “The dissolution of Syria and Iraq later on into ethnically or religiously unique areas such as in Lebanon, is Israel’s primary target on the Eastern front in the long run, while the dissolution of the military power of those states serves as the primary short-term target,” Yinon wrote.

While the blame was put squarely on the Sunnis for the bombing of the mosque, the Shias are blamed for taking revenge on the Sunnis, but not just any Shias, the ‘Shia extremists backed by Iran’. This is the President’s call to war on Iran — Operation Galio or false flag at work. But the operation is not yet complete. It has been announced that the President has authorized the troops to kill or capture Iranians in Iraq.

This White House has a minimum of 3,800 P-2 operatives in Iraq — they are the MEK. (It is worthwhile repeating that MEK — Mojahedeen-e Kahlg — are a terrorist organization responsible for the assassination of Americans who have been given special persons status by President Bush. See: US State Department: Chapter 6,Terrorist Groups.)

Operation Gladio is a success at the word go! A single MEK member can be captured with explosives provided by the US and Iran would be implicated. Mr. Bush would have the American people on his side, and indeed, the world, while the whistle of bombs would shut out the cry of the innocent and they run for cover in Iran.

It is an irony that the speech by Pope Benedict XVI which caused so much outrage in the Moslem world, Sunni and Shia alike, made reference to the Prophet Mohammad’s sword, yet the ‘sword’ in Operation Gladio now being taken up in Iraq to slaughter Moslems in the most devious fashion has not invoked the good Pope to speak up against the evil taking place under his nose. However, as the Pope’s speech demonstrated, this White House must realize that people steadfastly unite in the face of a greater enemy.

This administration must also bear in mind that had there been a divide between the Moslem sects, and a fear of a Shia ascent, A.Q. Khan and the predominantly Pakistani government would not have allowed the export of nuclear technology and equipment to Shia Iran. The effect of the propaganda that is temporarily driving the people of the Middle East apart will wane. At that point, the frenzy that drove their passion and hatred will be directed towards the very source that instigated their hatred.

This White House must be cautious that an attack on Iran will bring with it the retaliation of the Islamic Sword for generations to come. The American people must demand a different legacy from their President than the one he is condemning them to.

Soraya Sepahpour-Ulrich has lived and studied in Iran, the UK, France, and the US. She obtained her Bachelors Degree in International Relations from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. She is currently pursuing her education in Middle East studies and Public Diplomacy. Soraya has done extensive research on US foreign policy towards Iran and Iran’s nuclear program. She can be reached at [email protected]