This is a major long-term investment. If it’s going to be undermined for unjustified reasons, that will tell Arab investors and governments to keep away from the United States.

Whenever the Iranians come under pressure on the nuclear issue, like sanctions or military action, their answer will be in Iraq. This is a major card for them.

There will be no (future) change in Gulf policy towards the U.S., and with the Iran and Iraq crises I believe they will more openly attach themselves to the United States.

Self-defense can’t be done with the forces they’re talking about. If America wants an independent Iraq that can stand on its own and prevent intervention, there’s no option but to build an offensive capability.

They (Americans) gave Iraq to Iran on a gold plate free of charge. They did what Khomeini failed to achieve. He must be celebrating in his grave, thanking the Americans.

We might be able to apprehend the hands, but not the brains behind it. This is the problem. The brain keeps working somewhere else.

The man is still living in 1979 and believes Iran represents a revolution more than just a state. He believes (verbally) attacking Israel, which was a key principal of the revolution, will serve Iranian interests...

His organization is going to be under pressure. He’s anticipating a huge challenge, not from the Americans but inside Iraq.

They would shoot themselves in the foot. It’s one thing to test the market psychology, it’s another to take the actual step and stop oil exports.

They don’t want to see a strong army because it won’t allow these militia to operate.

These are single-operation names. They protect the real group behind the kidnapping along with its credibility if the operation goes bad.