The Violent Option

U.S. Secretary of Defense William Perry expressed the suspicion that Iran is behind the car-bombing in June in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, in which 19 Americans were killed. If it becomes clear that the bombing of the TWA plane is also linked to Iran in any way, an American military response will be almost unavoidable. It is doubtful if President Bill Clinton will be able to allow himself to show restraint over two such acts of terrorism. Due to American pressure, most of the Iranian instructors have left Bosnia. But members of the Mujahadin who fought in Afghanistan have remained, marrying Bosnian women. The military training which the Iranians promised the Bosnians is currently being given in Iran.  Hamas, which has tried to preserve some degree of independence, has also begun sending its men for training in Iran. According to assessments, the Iranians are now arming Hizbullah with over 1,000 Katyusha rockets more than they had even before Operation Grapes of Wrath. The rockets were transported by air to Damascus, from where they were trucked to southern Lebanon.