Is Iran good or bad for Iraq?
"White House spokesman Tony Snow . . . said the administration was taking a wait-and-see approach to a statement by Iran's ambassador to Baghdad that his country was prepared to offer the Iraqi government economic and military help to promote reconstruction and security. The ambassador, Hassan Kazemi Qomi, told the New York Times Sunday that the plans include establishing an Iranian national bank branch in Baghdad, the newspaper reported today.
"We'll wait and see whether it's a positive development or not," Snow told reporters in a news briefing. However, "to the extent that anybody, including Iranians, are smuggling weapons, bringing in fighters, killing Americans, trying to destabilize the democracy in Iraq, we will take appropriate measures to defend our troops and also to defend the mission," he said.
If carried out, the Iranian offer could drive a wedge between Washington and the Iraqi government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki at a time when the United States is trying to limit Iranian influence in Iraq and punish the Islamic Republic for pursuing a nuclear program that includes uranium enrichment and spent-fuel reprocessing." [1]
"[Ambassador Qumi] would not provide specifics on Iran’s offer of military assistance to Iraq, but said it included increased border patrols and a proposed new 'joint security committee.'
Any Iranian military assistance to Iraq would be fraught with potential difficulties. Aside from provoking American objections, such assistance could further alienate Sunni Arabs, many of whom already suspect that Iran, overwhelmingly Shiite, is encouraging Iraq’s Shiite-led government in persecuting them.
. . . 'We are welcoming all the initiatives to participate in the process of reconstruction,' said Qasim Daoud, a former national security adviser who is now a secular Shiite member of Parliament. 'My belief is that our strategic alliance is with the Americans, but at the same time we are looking for the participation of any country that would like to participate,' Mr. Daoud said.
. . . 'Iraqi national interest requires seeking good neighborly relations with Iran as with other neighbors, but that requires respect for Iraqi sovereignty,' [said Barham Salih, a Kurdish deputy prime minister.] [2]
sources
[1] Branigin, William . (The Washington Post). January 29, 2007. Bush Warns Iran Against Action in Iraq.
[2] Glanz, James. (The New York Times). January 29, 2007. Iranian Reveals Plan to Expand Role in Iraq.
posted: tuesday, january 30, 2007, 3:29 PM ET
update: tuesday, january 30, 2007, 5:38 PM ET
tags: iraq iran
"We'll wait and see whether it's a positive development or not," Snow told reporters in a news briefing. However, "to the extent that anybody, including Iranians, are smuggling weapons, bringing in fighters, killing Americans, trying to destabilize the democracy in Iraq, we will take appropriate measures to defend our troops and also to defend the mission," he said.
If carried out, the Iranian offer could drive a wedge between Washington and the Iraqi government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki at a time when the United States is trying to limit Iranian influence in Iraq and punish the Islamic Republic for pursuing a nuclear program that includes uranium enrichment and spent-fuel reprocessing." [1]
"[Ambassador Qumi] would not provide specifics on Iran’s offer of military assistance to Iraq, but said it included increased border patrols and a proposed new 'joint security committee.'
Any Iranian military assistance to Iraq would be fraught with potential difficulties. Aside from provoking American objections, such assistance could further alienate Sunni Arabs, many of whom already suspect that Iran, overwhelmingly Shiite, is encouraging Iraq’s Shiite-led government in persecuting them.
. . . 'We are welcoming all the initiatives to participate in the process of reconstruction,' said Qasim Daoud, a former national security adviser who is now a secular Shiite member of Parliament. 'My belief is that our strategic alliance is with the Americans, but at the same time we are looking for the participation of any country that would like to participate,' Mr. Daoud said.
. . . 'Iraqi national interest requires seeking good neighborly relations with Iran as with other neighbors, but that requires respect for Iraqi sovereignty,' [said Barham Salih, a Kurdish deputy prime minister.] [2]
sources
[1] Branigin, William . (The Washington Post). January 29, 2007. Bush Warns Iran Against Action in Iraq.
[2] Glanz, James. (The New York Times). January 29, 2007. Iranian Reveals Plan to Expand Role in Iraq.
posted: tuesday, january 30, 2007, 3:29 PM ET
update: tuesday, january 30, 2007, 5:38 PM ET
tags: iraq iran
posted by eric at 3:00 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home