Iranian
President Ahmadinejad is welcomed to Damascus by Syrian
President
Assad before a meeting to announce a new alliance that
includes
Iran, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. Iraqis appear divided on the
wisdom
of all this, and question if Iraq's government has agreed to it.
Kitabat, Iraq
Curse of America
or Curse of Iran: Iraqi Voters Must Choose
"If
they go in Iran’s direction, it means that America will curse them; but this
curse will be laid more at the doorstep of the Iraqi government than the Iraqi
people. … but if Iraqis go in America’s direction, Iran will curse them, and
this curse will be more sharply directed at the Iraqi people. That is why we
are now caught between two curses."
Nouri al-Maliki on campaign in Basra, Feb 20. He's been called everything from an American shill to an Iranian turncoat, but he's determined to win another term as Iraq's prime minister on March 7.
Is Iraq or the Iraqi
government prepared to be a player in the political games of the region or the
world? With their tendencies and attitudes domestically, Iraqi politicians have
so far proven themselves unready. This is clear to be seen be examining the
worrisome and unstable situation in every part of Iraqi political life,
including security, economics, and even the social sphere. How is Iraq supposed
to play a role in the regional environment when it's enchained by an
occupation, political disintegration and economic decline, as well as by
security breaches and social deterioration?
But it seems that
Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad holds a different view of all things relating to Iraqi politics.
He, with extreme arrogance, has included Iraq in an alliance of confrontation
against Israel, with partners that include Iran, Syria and Lebanon - of course, he
referred specifically the south of Lebanon [Hezbullah territory]. Despite the
fact that Iraq has historically and publicly stood against Israel, it
doesn’t need to be mixed up in an alliance with Iran, Syria and Southern
Lebanon - which is what Ahmadinejad announced during a meeting in Damascus with
Syrian President Bashar Assad.
I would like to ask the Iraqi
government: Is it in favor of this alliance Ahmadinejad spoke of? Or doesn’t Ahmadinejad
need to ask the Iraqi government before including us? The
matter clearly exposes the weakness of Iraq's government and its humiliating
subordination to Tehran. This is what compels us to stand up against this enfeebled
government.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
I think that Iranian-American
confrontation will now intensify, and it seems that Iraq will be the scene of further
conflict between the two sides. In the upcoming elections, the two sides now
seek to divide the Iraqi electorate between supporters of Iran and supporters of
America. But there is still a third way.
I believe that despite the
great pressure being exerted on Iraqi voters, they hold the keys to a solution,
since it's still possible for them to distinguish which candidates seek to push
Iraq into regional and international disputes. The current government is unable
to effectively take a position independent of the desires of Iran.
I would like to ask, if Iraq
is compelled to join one of the existing regional alliances; that consisting of
Iran, Syria, South Lebanon and Hamas; or the one consisting of Saudi Arabia,
Egypt and Jordan under American auspices, which would Iraqis prefer to join? Which
is best for Iraqis? I doubt Iraq will be able to take an independent position
and avoid joining one of them - and the second alliance is less harmful than
the first.
Here I have outlined the
emerging Iranian-American conflict, which is one of alliances and which to a
great extent is guaranteed to greatly deplete Iran. Iraqis have already paid an
enormous price. If they go in Iran’s direction, it means that America will curse
them; but this curse will be laid more at the doorstep of the Iraqi government
than the Iraqi people, as General Odierno stated clearly and explicitly.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
However, if Iraqis go in
America’s direction, Iran will curse them, and this curse will be more sharply directed
at the Iraqi people. That is why we are now caught between two curses, that of
America and that of Iran.
It seems that the results of
the upcoming elections will determine which curse we will take upon ourselves. Nonetheless,
despite all this, we may yet disappoint both sides by voting for those that
deserve our support.
