Under the Radar Arrest Has Geopolitical Ramifications

The arrest of a former Iranian diplomat in Britain is the latest reminder of complications that could arise if the Bush administration turns to Iran to help solve the escalating violence in Iraq. In a development that so far has received no press coverage in the United States, Nosratollah Tajik, who served as Iranian ambassador to Jordan and has been previously linked to terror attacks in Israel, was arrested by British authorities last month at the request of U.S. Justice Department, a spokesman for Scotland Yard said this week.

Two U.S. law-enforcement officials, who asked not to be identified talking about nonpublic matters, confirmed to NEWSWEEK that a sealed indictment filed by federal prosecutors in Chicago charges Tajik with seeking to purchase night-vision goggles for delivery to Iran from U.S. companies, in violation of U.S. export-control laws. A former top FBI counterterror official said it is likely that the equipment was ultimately destined for Hizbullah—the Lebanon-based group that is heavily financed and armed by the Iranian government.

"Hizbullah has been trying to buy these things for years," said Chris Hamilton, who until last year oversaw FBI intelligence investigations into Palestinian-linked terror groups. "They have an unlimited need for NVGs [night-vision goggles]."

Hizbullah has been trying to buy all kinds of advanced weapons and equipment to bolster its considerable arsenal for the next round of fighting with Israel. Iran is a key backer of Hizbullah, and the US and the West better be tracking the money and watching for these kinds of actions. I fear that for every instance uncovered by law enforcement, there may be others that have gone through, letting Hizbullah and Iran gain access to weapons and equipment that give them an advantage in the looming conflict.

Sources close to Tajik say he feels that he's being made a scapegoat. However, there's this little tidbit:

In an unrelated matter, The Northern Echo has learned that Mr Tajik was named in a 2005 US House of Representatives inquiry into state-sponsored terrorism by Iran, as being involved in setting up Hezbollah cells in Palestine.

Hizbullah wants to expand its base of operations from simply South Lebanon (aka Hizbullahland). They want to secure bases of operations in Gaza and the West Bank to continue their assault on Israel - for the purpose of destroying Israel.

I'd suggest following the money and seeing just how deeply involved Tajik truly is. It would appear that he's quite deeply involved in spreading international terrorism, and working towards undermining US strategic interests in the Middle East including the destruction of a key US ally in the Middle East.