Two news stories, reporting the same remarks by Major General William Caldwell show how spin is applied. The first is from the Associated Press: "U.S.: Iraqi Shiites get help from Iran".
"We know that some Shiite elements have been in Iran receiving training," U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell told reporters. "But the degree to which it is known and endorsed by the government of Iran is uncertain."
The Iranian government did not immediately respond to the comments.
"We do know that weapons have been provided and IED technology been made available to these extremist elements," Caldwell said, referring to improvised explosive devices, or homemade bombs, that are in widespread use in Iraq's insurgency and sectarian conflict.
Caldwell's assertion came on the heels of allegations by U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, who told The New York Times that Iran was encouraging Shiite militias to step up attacks on U.S. forces in retaliation for the Israeli assault on Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Shiite Hezbollah is backed by Iran.
Iran's prodding has led to a surge in mortar and rocket attacks on the fortified Green Zone that houses the main components of the Iraqi government and the U.S. Embassy.
The second story is from Reuters: "No evidence Iran active in Iraq: US general".
"There is nothing that we definitively have found to say that there are any Iranians operating within the country of Iraq," Major General William Caldwell, the top U.S. military spokesman in Iraq, told a news conference.
U.S. officials have previously said the war between Israel and Iran-backed Hizbollah might encourage Tehran to make mischief in Iraq to pressure the United States, which has some 130,000 troops in the country.
"Iran has got Hizbollah in Lebanon. Iran has got some forces here. There is the possibility they might encourage those forces to create increased instability here," U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad told reporters last week.
Caldwell said recently-manufactured Iranian weapons and munitions had been found in Iraq.
"We do believe that some Shi'ite elements have been in Iran receiving training. But the degree to which this is known and endorsed by the government of Iran is uncertain," he said.
Kind of a different take, isn't it? Reuters claim is factual but not true. There is no evidence of Iranian personnel inside Iraq, that is factual. But the presence of recently manufactured Iranian weapons and IED components say that some assistance is coming from that country. Both stories mention people being trained in Iran. Both stories stress that there is no firm evidence that the Iranian government is directly involved. But there is certainly evidence that Iran is involved. Reuters Grade™ news, as accurate as Reuters Grade™ photography. Great motto for them, isn't it?
