DAMASCUS, Syria - IraqÂ’s vice president said Saturday that his country will not be used as a base to launch attacks against Iran or Syria. Adel Abdul-Mahdi said he discussed security and other regional issues with Syrian President Bashar Assad during their meeting Saturday.
In response to a reporterÂ’s question about a possible US military strike against Iran, the Iraqi vice president said: Iraq does not accept that its territory be used for any aggression against any neighboring country.Â’ Iraq has an (Arab) identity which it is keen on and will defend,Â’ he told reporters at the Damascus Airport at the end of a three-day visit to Syria.
Abdul-Mahdi said he discussed security issues with Assad adding that Assad stressed SyriaÂ’s support for the political process in Iraq. He said Syria had an important role to play in the political process of Iraq due to its weightÂ’ in the Arab world.
| Assad has this remarkable quality to talk out of both sides of his mouth at the same time, and keep his lips attached. Amazing, really. |
Abdul-Hadi predicted the withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq by the end of 2008. He did not elaborate.
| Suits me if the place can hold it together at that point. |
He reiterated the Iraqi governmentÂ’s rejection of a US Senate proposal to divide Iraq. We donÂ’t accept any division of Iraq. ... We donÂ’t accept any system under any name that adopts sectarianism or ethnic (division)Â’ Abdul-Mahdi said. |