US commander: Iran still supporting militias in Iraq

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Iran is still training, funding and arming insurgents in Iraq, the former No. 2 US military commander in Iraq said Tuesday. Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno told reporters at a Defense Department news conference that Iran must be more helpful to its neighbor and stop supporting surrogate militias that are attempting to destabilize the central government. And, he said it's not surprising that there were fewer attacks during Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's recent two-day visit to Baghdad, since it is mainly Iranian-backed Shi'ite military members who have been conducting rocket and other attacks in the capital. "We have no doubt they are still supporting insurgents," Odierno said. Asked if that was the greatest threat to stability in Iraq, he said, "If you ask me what I worry about most, I do worry about that as a long-term threat. And I think we have to, you know, constantly watch it."