Iranian Weapons Found in Afghanistan, Pentagon Chief Says

Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told defense writers this morning that there is evidence that weapons from Iran -- in addition to being used in Iraq -- are being intercepted in Afghanistan as well, reports senior editor Anna Mulrine.

"It's not clear which Iranian entity is reponsible," he said, "but we have intercepted weapons headed for the Taliban that were made in Iran."

Pace said these weapons included mortars and C-4 explosives found in the last month in the Afghan province of Khandahar. Pace added that "either the leadership of the country" of Iran knows or doesn't know about the weapons.

Either way, "it's a problem," he said, adding that the proper American response is to "continue to be aggressive inside Iraq and inside Afghanistan in attacking anyone attacking U.S. and coalition forces." He added that "there is a lot more diplomacy" at the disposal of the international community to "change Iran's attitude."

"Military force is your last tool," Pace added, "not your first."

He also said that in the next four months, "we ought to have a flavor" for how the "surge" is going. He added that he "recommends a very simple but straightforward metric" for gauging progress in the country in the months to come: "Do people in Baghdad feel more secure today than they did the day before?" and "Do they believe" that the days to come will be even more secure than that?"

"If not," Pace added, "than all of the other metrics may be of interest, but aren't compelling."