The US stance on the military capabilities of Iraqis today is the exact opposite of its position ... four years ago. Then President Bush and Tony Blair claimed that Iraqis were technically advanced enough to produce long-range missiles and to be close to producing a nuclear device. Washington is now saying that Iraqis are too backward to produce an effective roadside bomb and must seek Iranian help. —Patrick Cockburn writing in "Target Tehran: Washington sets stage for a new confrontation"

Tags: * Iraq Iran Bush administration insurgency militias Sunni-Shia conflict explosively formed penetrators EFPs IEDs WMD technology