THE TENSION: Forces Capture a Suspected Distributor of Iranian Weapons

News in Balance:

While The Washington Post, CNN and The Associated Press were quick to report a dust-up over the arrest of eight members of an Iranian delegation who were released Wednesday, those news outlets were derelict in their objectivity when they failed to report that Iraqi and Coalition forces captured a highly-sought suspected distributor of Iranian weapons before dawn Tuesday in Baghdad.

The suspected senior weapons facilitator is responsible for distributing weapons and other forms of lethal aide smuggled from Iran into Iraq. The individual is also suspected of distributing explosively formed penetrators, or EFPs -- the most deadly form of improvised explosive device -- and funding from Iran. The weapons distributor is also suspected of having direct ties to other senior commanders in militias operating in and around Baghdad.

Two others detained during the raid are also suspected of distributing weapons smuggled into Iraq from Iran. One of the buildings searched during the raid produced currency and identification documents confiscated for further analysis and evaluation.

"We assess that this capture will degrade the weapons smuggling network,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson. “Coalition Forces will continue their focused operations to interdict Iranian supported terror groups operating in Iraq. We remain committed to dismantling terror networks that seek to kill innocent Iraqis, Iraqi Security Forces, and Coalition Forces.”