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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Iran hails Iraq vote but warns of US meddling

2005-01-31

TEHRAN: Iranian officials on Sunday hailed Iraq's elections as a "great step" towards full independence, but repeated a warning from the Islamic republic's supreme leader that the United States may not accept the result. "The organisation of the elections in Iraq constitutes a great step for Iraqis towards an independent and popular regime," top MP Alaeddin Boroujerdi was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news agency. But influential former Iranian president Akbar Hasemi Rafsanjani warned that Washington may not accept Iraq becoming a country that is "free and independent and that does not stand next to America and Israel."

Israel! Oh, horrors! Quick, Ethel! My pills!

"If a free and clean election happens in Iraq, an Arab country, self-rule will be a good example for many countries. I think the Americans and Iraqi Baathists do not want this to happen," he told the student news agency ISNA.

[Scratches head] Then why'd we let them have elections? The Sunnis wanted them postponed indefinitely. Kofi wanted them postponed. The Euros wanted them postponed. We could have gone along...

Rafsanjani said the United States "could either rig the results of the elections," or otherwise stage a coup d'etat — a warning expressed earlier this month by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei..

Brilliant. Simply brilliant.

For his part, Iranian Defence Minister Ali Shamkhani told ISNA that "a massive participation in the election will put an obstacle in front of the occupiers."

Sounds like they're just as confused as al-Jizzles.

Posted by:Fred

#7 "...And I would have made it too, if hadn't beenfor those meddling Americans!!"

Mike

Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2005-01-31 10:33:20 PM

#6 Boyo! What are the arabs going to say now? We have once again defied the sentiment of the UN and Europe and went ahead with successful and relatively calm Elections. Again the US has done the right thing in contrast to the views of the rest of the World. How can the arab press be critical of a process they long to have in their own countries? Mullah Ras is tinkling in his turban over the fact the success next door could happen at home and so is Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan etc. etc. My father told me Bush was a dreamer and a visionary - I didn't see it now it's glaringly apparent.

Posted by: Rightwing 2005-01-31 12:22:58 PM

#5 "Rafsanjani said the United States 'could either rig the results of the elections,' or otherwise stage a coup dâetat..."
After all, that's what he would do.

Posted by: jackal 2005-01-31 9:45:35 AM

#4 poor rafi--this is what happens from eating too many pistashio nuts and being the most corrupt mullah in iran--gawd--i'd love to see him dangling from a lampost by his turban on a street in north tehran

Posted by: SON OF TOLUI 2005-01-31 4:09:59 AM

#3 But influential former Iranian president Akbar Hasemi Rafsanjani warned that Washington may not accept Iraq becoming a country that is âfree and independent and that does not stand next to America and Israel.â

That doesn't matter. We removed a potential threat, set the Iraqis free from tyranny, and started them on their way to whatever awaits them, the only desire being that they not be a member of Terrorists Inc. That's all.

If Rafsanjani isn't careful, he might find himself the next one in the crosshairs.

Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2005-01-31 1:43:26 AM

#2 Not that declaring he'd nuke Israel the instant he had the means was insufficient, but this pretty much closes the book on Rafsanjani: he's simply insane. None of this makes any freakin' sense whatsoever. Thus it is perfect for PakiWaki & Arab consumption, of course.

Posted by: .com 2005-01-31 12:17:36 AM

#1 Dear Iran,

Your next!
Love and Kisses!

GWB

Posted by: Long Hair Republican 2005-01-31 12:13:03 AM

00:00