McClatchy's Warren Strobel and Jonathan Landay report:

The Bush administration is stepping up its confrontation with Iran, accusing the Islamic regime in Tehran of supplying arms to Shiite Muslim militias in Iraq for attacks on U.S. forces.

But the White House’s failure to document its case, its acute credibility deficit, and a new U.S. intelligence finding that outside meddling is “not likely” a major cause of the bloodshed are raising questions about President Bush’s intentions. Further, U.S. government data shows that Sunni Muslim insurgents commit most of the anti-U.S. violence in Iraq.

Moreover, the administration lacks proof that Iranian weapons shipments into Iran are sanctioned by the theocratic leadership or are being carried out by rogue elements, as Secretary of Defense Robert Gates confirmed on Friday.

“I don’t know that we know the answer to that question,” said Gates.

Posted by Laura at February 2, 2007 04:54 PM