American F-16s in Iraq: Iran wants them out, but Iraqis aren't sure.

Azzaman, Iraq

Why for Iraqis, America Has an Edge Over Iran

"Iran has failed to dissipate the fear and suspicion that was deposited in the Iraqi heart as a result of the eight-year war and the long embargo afterward … Teheran treated the Iraqi people just as they treated Saddam's oppressive regime, putting the people and the despot on an equal footing."

By Fateh Abdusalam

Translated By James Jacobson

June 9, 2008

Iraq - Azzaman - Original Article (Arabic)

It seems that Iran's project to compete with America for the approval of Iraq's shattered heart is slowly gaining impetus. Politicians and nationalists are busy discussing the security agreement with the United States, which has met with categorical Iranian refusal even before an Iraqi one. Iran has its own proposal under which Teheran would guarantee the security and stability of Iraq and the region. The Iranians believe that first and foremost, the deal should be a regional Security Agreement rather than one guaranteed by the “Great Satan.”

On a practical level, any Iraqi-American security deal must meet with the approval of Iraq's neighboring countries. And simply by virtue of Iran's long border with Iraq, Teheran has a major influence over the regional balance of power. This isn't something that any Iraqi government can reject, given the importance of Iranian cooperation on a slew of major international agreements and the long string of requests and signs of good faith that the two countries have openly exchanged.

So after meddling freely in Iraq for the past five years, it appears that the Iranians want to carry on a complimentary relationship with Iraq that safeguards the economic interests of both countries and would be a pillar of political partnership and vision for the entire region.  

Iran President Ahmadinejad with Iraq's Prime Minister al-Maliki,

during a historic visit by the Iranian leader to Baghdad in March.

Are the Iranians turning over a new leaf to build ties with Iraq?

This change in tack is in part because Iran has so-far failed to dissipate the fear and suspicion that was deposited in the Iraqi heart as a result of the eight-year war [1980-1988] and the long period of embargo which followed, during which Iran did nothing to break the siege of the Iraqi people. Teheran treated Iraqis just as they treated Saddam's oppressive regime, putting the people and the despot on an equal footing.

Because of this, one can say that over the last two decades of war and embargo against Iraq, Iran has been unable to lift its relations with this country to the level of a strategic partnership like the one being sought by Washington.

Iran has achieved a privileged position in the region, but rather than doing so positively, it has done so through a policy of breaking bones, dirty politics and engaging in conflict with the United States on Iraqi land for the past five years. 

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

For example, Iraqi aircraft are still detained in Iran, despite their obsolescence and meager value. If they had been returned after the fall of the regime, it could have been taken as a message of trust by the Iraqi side.

[Editor's Note: During Operation Desert Storm, the Iraqi Air Force didn't seek to challenge Coalition air forces, and nearly half of Iraq's Air Force fled to Iran to escape destruction. Why they fled to Iran is not precisely known. As of early 2000, Iraq claimed it flew more than 100 military planes and 33 civilian airliners to Iran, though the Iranians said the numbers are lower ].

Similarly, issues surrounding oil exploration, trade, health, transportation, communications, telecommunications and Iraqi refugees in Iran must first be overcome before relations can be upgraded to match the ambitions floating around the heads of Iranian leaders.

CLICK HERE FOR ARABIC VERSION

ALSO ON THE IRAQ SECURITY DEAL:

Sotal Iraq, Iraq
Long-Term Security
Treaty Between Iraq
and U.S. 'Rejected'

http://worldmeets.us/sotaliraq000008.shtml

Kitabat, Iraq

Security Deal With

America is Iraq's

'Chance of a Lifetime'

http://worldmeets.us/kitabat000019.shtml

[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US June 18, 11:06pm]