| Submit your comments on this article |
| Iraq |
| A Disturbing ShiÂ’ite Alliance? |
| 2006-09-15 |
| By Andrew G. Bostom Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki—who spent years in Iran during his exile from the Saddam Hussein regime—made his first official visit to Iran Tuesday, September 12, 2006 —five years and a day after the cataclysmic jihad terrorist attacks of 9/11/01. Mr. al-Maliki was greeted warmly by Iranian President Ahmadinejad. The meeting reflected growing economic ties between Iraq’s Shi’ite-led government and the Shi’ite theocracy of neighboring Iran. Last month Baghdad finalized deals for Tehran to provide it with gasoline, kerosene and cooking fuel amid a shortage in Iraq. Immediately prior to al-Maliki’s visit, a separate Iraqi delegation discussed additional petroleum deals, including possible Iranian investment in Iraq’s fuel sector. Accompanied by mutual expressions of “brotherhood”, the two Shi’ite leaders—al-Maliki and Ahmadinejad—pledged continued cooperation. Ahmadinejad stated, “This trip will strengthen bilateral relations. Iran and Iraq, as two brotherly neighbors, will stand by each other and unwanted guests (U.S.-led coalition forces) will leave the region”. Al-Maliki characterized the talks as “very constructive” adding that Iran is “…a very important country, a good friend and brother.” I found the meeting between al-Maliki and Ahmadinejad surreal, and profoundly depressing, juxtaposed with President Bush’s speech commemorating the fifth anniversary of 9/11/01, which ended only hours earlier (9:18 PM EDT), in Washington, DC. The President told us (sans Muslim references), Al Qaeda and other extremists from across the world have come to Iraq to stop the rise of a free society in the heart of the Middle East. They have joined the remnants of Saddam’s regime and other armed groups to foment sectarian violence and drive us out. But only hours later, the clearly extremist Shi’ite Muslim President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Shi’ite “brother”, our ostensible ally Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki, pledged their own mutual cooperation against (Sunni Muslim) Al-Qaeda, Ahmadinejad affirming, All our assistance to the Iraqi people will be to establish complete security in this country [i.e., Iraq] President Bush also warned, If we yield Iraq to men like bin Laden, our enemies will be emboldened; they will gain a new safe haven; they will use Iraq’s resources to fuel their extremist movement. We will not allow this to happen. America will stay in the fight. Iraq will be a free nation, and a strong ally in the war on terror. But what if the Shi’ite Iraqi government willingly allies itself to the jihadist Shi’ite theocracy of Iran, an erstwhile nuclear power? Iran clearly has designs on “Iraq’s resources” (for the moment contenting itself with “trade”), which could be used to advance its own hegemonic “extremist movement”. And President Bush’s “not allow” rhetoric already rings hollow as these unsettling developments—highlighted by al-Maliki’s Iranian visit—are happening now, despite America staying “in the fight”. Moreover, if Iraq continues its seemingly inexorable progression towards a Shari’a state [“Islamic State by the will of the people”, in popular Islamic parlance], it will be neither a “free nation”, nor “a strong ally in the war on terror”. Rest at link. |
| Posted by:ed |
| #3 Why is this surprising? The main reason Bush Pere didn't finish the job in GWI was because of the commonly held opinion that Saddam was the only one on the Iraqi scene with the ability to prevent the Shi'ite south from being swallowed by the mullahs. |
| Posted by: Gleng Ebbemble9194 2006-09-15 17:01 |
| #2 Would a cold war make more sense? The not one will come soon enough. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-09-15 16:13 |
| #1 Could be disturbing. Might also be that the discussions will reduce the Iranian funding and interference. Maybe it'll play well to the local Shi'ites, not that I care about Mookie. Maybe it dimishes him? In between are another host of possibilities. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2006-09-15 16:03 |