Got something to say? 
1968: A year of revolt
1968 was a year of revolt. Here are some of the major events that shook the world in those months...
Zimbabwe dreaming
I used to be an unabashed admirer of Robert Mugabe MBE, writes Ebrahim Moolla.Iranian weapons found in Iraq
US intelligence believes that a cache of newly manufactured Iranian bombs discovered about two weeks ago in northeastern Iraq came from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, a US intelligence official told AFP.
"It is true that weapons clearly, unambiguously from Iran have been found in Iraq," Rumsfeld told reporters.
"Unhelpful" of Iran
He said he did not know whether there was official Iranian involvement in the weapons smuggling. But he added: "It's a big border and unhelpful for Iranians to be allowing weapons of those types to be crossing the border."
"It's a problem for the Iraqi government. It's a problem for the coalition forces. It's a problem for the international community. And ultimately, it's a problem for Iran," he said.
The Iranian weapons found by US forces were reported to include more sophisticated "shaped" charges, which focus an explosions power in ways that can penetrate armour as thick as that of an M-1 tank.
"We believe they came from Iran's Revolutionary Guards," an intelligence official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity, adding that intelligence analysts had "fairly high confidence" in their conclusion.
Manufactured bombs being used
The find is significant not only because of the Iranian connection but also because it indicates manufactured bombs are now being introduced in a conflict that has seen the widespread use of mainly improvised explosive devices.
"I think we believe there is more of them out there, that this is just the first cache we've actually obtained," the official said.
Surge in violence expected
US commanders have warned of a surge in insurgent violence in the coming weeks as Iraqis draft and vote on a constitution, and then hold elections for a new government in December.
But they also are planning for a substantial reduction of the 138 000 US force in Iraq next spring and summer if those political milestones are met and Iraqi forces are strong enough to progressively assume responsibility for security.
Rumsfeld was emphatic, however, that any draw down will depend on conditions on the ground, including the level of the insurgency.
AFP
