July 22, 2010 – Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02) released the following statement today following revelations by General Raymond Odierno, the United State’s top commander in Iraq, that funding, supplies, and training for several insurgent groups in Iraq are coming directly from Iran:

“General Odierno’s remarks yesterday follow General David Petraeus’ announcement in March that Iran is directly assisting al-Qaeda.
“The Generals’ accounts of the situation on the ground make it clear that the Iranian threat is not merely something that may materialize a few years from now. Iran is a problem right now and is, at this moment, training, funding, and providing weapons for groups that are maiming and killing our young men and women in Iraq.

“These revelations make all the more odious President Obama’s spineless refusal to confront Iran with anything more substantive than flowery speeches.”

“No wonder the radical leaders of Iran hold in derision Mr. Obama’s hollow warnings against their pursuit of nuclear weapons.”

According to Gen. Odierno, “The Iranians… continue to fund, train and provide weapons and ammunition to Shiite extremist groups.” Odierno stated that the Iranians are primarily focusing on three extremist groups: Ketaib Hezbollah, Asaib Ahl al-Haq (League of the Righteous), and the Promise Day Brigade.

Congressman Franks is serving his fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, and is a member of the Committee on Armed Services, Strategic Forces Subcommittee, Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee, Military Readiness Subcommittee, Committee on the Judiciary, Constitution Subcommittee, and is Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR