More on Iran's role in Iraq
James Forsyth 11:01pm
Many of those who advocate for an early withdrawal from Iraq argue that Iran can be persuaded to play a constructive role there. But all of Iran’s actions suggest that it wishes to keep peace from breaking out in its neighbouring state. As General Petraeus told the BBC today: “The rockets that were launched at the Green Zone yesterday, for example... were Iranian-provided, Iranian-made rockets," he said, adding that the groups that fired them were funded and trained by the Quds Force.
"All of this in complete violation of promises made by President Ahmadinejad and the other most senior Iranian leaders to their Iraqi counterparts."
Iran is a state with hegemonic ambitions that is happy to use terrorist proxies to achieve its aims. A premature withdrawal from Iraq would be an invitation to it to expand its sphere of influence.
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Comments
David Lindsay
March 25th, 2008 12:38amIs Iran backing people in Iraq who are not sure if Shi'ites are really Muslims at all, but know that they hate them all the same? Could anyone possibly have carried out the detective work to find out that she was? No, of course not.
But then, the idea of magically invisible Iraqi WMD was also recognised as ridiculous by ninety per cent of Britons, and a fat lot of good that did. Get ready for war against Iran.
Phillip Atkinson
March 25th, 2008 12:43amWhy would Iran wish to cooperate with the US in Iraq? Do they not remember the US interference in their country during the Shah's rule, who the Americans installed. The US is reaping now, what it has sowed in the past. The US must look to the history of it's conduct towards Iran and others to understand why it is all alone in Iraq. The US invaded it, with no plan and against the worlds advice, and now they own it. If it were not for the immense suffering inflicted on the people of Iraq, no one would be concerned about the US getting what they deserve in Iraq. Maybe this will teach you respect.
Max Kaye
March 25th, 2008 1:16pmPhillip Atkinson, "Told you so"s from people who have always despised the US wouldn't 'teach me respect. They would teach me, next time, to be more ruthless in achieving my objectives.