Iraq and Iran -- The Lovefest Continues
Once again, the Western news media has failed to report a story of utmost importance.Two weeks ago, Iran and Iraq announced a military agreement, and the American press hardly paid attention. This week, in Iran's holiest city, Mashhad, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, met with Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari for a 'lovefest'.
During the meeting, Khamenei called al-Jaafari a "virtuous, religious and intellectual figure," and the Iraqi nation "a real brother of Iranians". Essentially, this is the #2 and #3 oil powers of the world uniting in friendship with the potential of a future lasting alliance. More than that, its a potential sign that Iraq will also turn theocratic. In fact, Khamenei stated:
“The Iraqi people have shown that they seek a constitution based on Islam and hopefully their representatives in the National Assembly will revive Iraq’s high position in the Islamic world by drafting such a constitution”Personally, I find it rather funny. Our president thought we could go over there, occupy the nation, seize the oil, and spread democracy (or so he said), and here we have Iraq moving in the direction of closer ties with Iran, a nation that also has a popular Shi'a majority!
Now, I dont want to start talking 'Shi'a,' but this really is just what we deserve. We went over there based on lies, and in the end, we cleared the way for Iran to finally marry the Iraqi Shi'ia majority. In essence, we gave Iran what they failed to gain in 10 years of war with Iraq, a broader Middle East foothold and the emboldening of Islamic theocracy.
And what can we really do about it? Nothing. Our country isn't willing to support a US led attack on Iran. (thank the Lord!) Iran has been keenly playing the nuclear card against us, and yet at the same time, Iran has opened up its borders to foreign private investment. Essentially, Iran has played the 'carrot and stick' game to perfection. While Germany and France have invested in Iran and reaped the rewards of a 7% GDP growth, the United States is spending $40 billion dollars a month occupying Iraq and alienating itself further from Iran's burgeoning economy with haphazard threats that it knows it cannot seriously back up.
In my opinion, we deserve this failure. This is exactly what should happen to an imperial power intent on using force to gain wealth. Hopefully, we will learn a lesson and become a more humble nation. But I seriously doubt that will happen. More likely, our government and the angry and fearful people who support it, will likely do something even more stupid to try to save face.
It was John Bolton who stated back in September of 2003: "Everyone wants to go to Baghdad, but real men want to go to Tehran."
i am glad that iran and iraq join forces and if they would kick the us +uk out, leaving them with high bills to pay and lives uselesly lost (i'm not glad about that)
but another question: if NY was predicted, london aswell now the big menace is italy, where or what target are "they" likely to bomb?
it should be not american, nor israely, it must not touch berlusconi probably neither the vatican.
probably some train or station in the Bologna area (that's where in the 80's the italian extremists (red brigates where infiltrated by cia and mossad) had their most victims.
Posted by
peace by equity |
Friday, July 22, 2005 1:48:00 AM
Well if you bully a country, the country is forced to create friendships which it may not want, but improve it's strategy. Though it does highlight that short term solutions only work short time.
Posted by
D-Thinker |
Friday, July 22, 2005 3:02:00 AM
A country does not have to be democratic to be an Ally of the USA. I feel it is a step closer to Iraq gaining ground as a new government without a dictator. We have allies in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia and neither country is considered "Democratic". But if countries like Iran support this new government, then it can only strengthen their ties as neighbors and build towards a more peaceful area.
Posted by
gigotti |
Friday, July 22, 2005 12:17:00 PM
Gigotti,
I agree that our nation has no problem cozying up to despots, dictators, and military strongmen. In fact, in many cases, it was our country who installed the hardliner. Heck, just this year in Haiti......
Posted by
The Bulldog Manifesto |
Friday, July 22, 2005 2:13:00 PM
I was listening to my local NPR stt ion today and they were interviewing the underambassador to the UN from Iraq. He denied totally the possibility that the Shia's will align with Iran rather than form a federal state with Sunni's. And the constitution close to being executed returns women to pre Saddam days of status. No right to choose their own husband, no or little inheritance etc. And Bush calls this democracy? For this we are spending billions and losing lives. Is there no end to this foolishness. I have bookmarked your blog. I find it very interesting
Posted by
Alexandra |
Friday, July 22, 2005 6:13:00 PM
Your analysis is spot on! I think the Bush administration has never truly grasped the enormous power of fundamentalist Islam. I believe that, for the first time since 1648, Westphalian states must again confront the issues of religion that challenge the contemporary world order. What we're seeing in the Middle East is a challenge to the system of secular nation-states. Ousting a dictator hardly begins to address that broader conflict.
Why aren't we talking about moderation in religion? To my mind, that would do more to end the Islamic jihad than any fantasy of democratic bliss.
Posted by
Cryptic Muse |
Friday, July 22, 2005 6:58:00 PM
"Iran's burgeoning economy'??? What are you talking about??
Posted by
Publius Rendezvous |
Friday, July 22, 2005 7:00:00 PM
Publius,
Look up "burgeoning". It means "budding". It means, "new growth".
Whats the matter, 7% GDP growth isn't good enough to be called "burgeoning"?
Posted by
The Bulldog Manifesto |
Friday, July 22, 2005 8:37:00 PM
Thank you for your analysis! Sometimes I get so frustrated when other people just don't get it, and that doesn't help me explain things any better. You've laid it out so much better than I could, I'll be sending people to this post rather than arguing myself blue in future.
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