But we have now, I think, been confronted with the Iraqi government having the support of the United States being withdrawn if it does not, as it were, toe the line when it comes to Iran
Yes, of course. The US has been unofficially at war with Iran since 1979. If you want to play kissy face with Iranians, do it after US troops are gone. And then we can start bombing you as we bomb the Iranians. That's the way it is.
Iran is a neighbor - we can't really overlook the fact there are links of geography, of history, of common religion, and so on.
So? All of Iran's other neighbor's hate Iran. Why does Iraq have to have a good relationship with the IRI? Iran's not that type of "good neighbor" - Iran is the type of neighbor you have to call the police on, because he's always in your back yard stealing your fruit, his dog shits in your yard, he plays the music too loud, his kids are always breaking your windows every time they play ball outside, he parks his car in your driveway, and he beats his wife and kids out in the front yard. You wanna be friends with Iran? More power to you. Just wait til we are gone.
Which of Iran's neighbors has problems with it? U.S. borders end 30,000 miles away.
'And then we can start bombing you as we bomb the Iranians. That's the way it is.'
Not the best way to win hearts and minds, Craig.
AfghanShia | 01.25.07 - 2:00 pm | #
"Which of Iran's neighbors has problems with it? U.S. borders end 30,000 miles away."
One "good" sentence from you so far my neighbour. Still US is technically Iran's neighbour from all sides and corners. Scary.
Iraqi American | Homepage | 01.25.07 - 2:47 pm | #
Thanks - (and nice name.)
It might not be true though...because I think Iran and Azerbaijan both genuinely hate each other. Iran cuz they're secular russified Azeris, and Azerbaijan because without the 20-30 million Azeris in Iran, they'll be insignificant as a nation.
But definately no hate from Iraq or Afghanistan.
Which of Iran's neighbors has problems with it?
Which doesn't? Are you even serious about Afghanistan? And I'm not talking about post 2001, I'm talking about *before* 2001. How about the gulf Arabs? How much do they like Iran? And if Shia in Iraq think Iran is their "friend" it's only because they haven't had an opportunity to see the truth. Yet. Iraqi Kurds and Sunni certainly have no love for Iran.
IraqiAmerican,
Not the best way to win hearts and minds, Craig.
I'm not trying to win "hearts and minds" - I've never been an advocate of that idea. If you are, fine by me. Good luck with that. What I'm trying to do is tell the truth. If Iraq allies with Iran after the US pulls out, Iraq will suffer the consequences of that, when and if the US goes to war with Iran. If you think otherwise, you're mistaken. Nothing to do with "hearts and minds" - it's simple reality. We aren't going to allow Iraqis to offer a safe haven to Iranians, and not do anything about it.
Craig | Homepage | 01.25.07 - 8:08 pm | #
“Which doesn't? Are you even serious about Afghanistan? And I'm not talking about post 2001, I'm talking about *before* 2001.”
It is funny how you compare relationship between nation states as you would between that of two persons. All neighbouring nation states have “problems” with each other: to be so close and not to have any issues!!! Iran and Iraq or Iran and Afghanistan will be bickering neighbours for ever. In case of Iran and Iraq it was never otherwise. One day they would be fighting about a border dispute, tomorrow they would be at each others’ throat because of disagreements on distribution of shared water resources. There will always be one or other problem. Even more once Iraq (or Afghanistan) has gotten over its internal problems and starts looking around – not just to Iran. There will always be noisy rivalry. Completely natural and a sign of good health. Healthy competition and interaction is what the our region needs. Hopefully they wouldn’t equate rivalry with enmity.
“How about the gulf Arabs? How much do they like Iran?”
Again, countries cannot “like” each other. Did Ali Allawi said that Iraq likes Iran? He didn’t. He said they have a great deal of ties (which in my view more lasting and valuable). When I am thinking that I “like” the US, I am not thinking of all these American Craigies I come across, or of president Bushes or of the brave American soldiers with their guns.
“Yet. Iraqi Kurds and Sunni certainly have no love for Iran.”
No love?! What a stupid word, especially to use in such a context! To apply a word used to describe the most shallow, vague and over-estimated human emotion in such a context! Thank God there is no “love”. I suppose Iran and US had a lot of the same “love” before the revolution. I am Iranian and I have no “love” for Iran (and I usually run away as fast as I can when I see an Iranian). This over-used word should be removed from the vocabulary only to be used for literature and poetry and occasionally when we want to seriously fool ourselves or others.
“I'm not trying to win "hearts and minds" - I've never been an advocate of that idea. If you are, fine by me. Good luck with that. “
Of course you are not an advocate of that, and the fact that Mojo actually mentioned it shows his own good heart (figuratively) and sweet personality.
“We aren't going to allow Iraqis to offer a safe haven to Iranians, and not do anything about it.”
Safe haven? You talk as if Iran is an alien in the region (like the US). Iran doesn’t need to go to Iraq to have a safe haven. It is already in the region. There are more Iranians lurking in Najaf, Krabala and Kurdistan than there are American soldiers in all of Iraq. Maybe it would help if you looked at a map now and then: what is that country east of the triangle (Iraq)? But then of course you are talking about the “truth”, which is another word for American interests. I have no problems with it, but the
..........
I have no problems with it, but then remember there are a lot of “truths”.
'And then we can start bombing you as we bomb the Iranians. That's the way it is.'
[IA] Not the best way to win hearts and minds, Craig.
But Craig isn't here to WHAM. He's here to remind us all how 'ruff' the US is and how we better polish out knee pads or else. He's also recruiting for every undecided radical group out there, and convincing the people who believed dialogue was possible with the US that dialogue is a dead end.
People like Craig only understand when you blast red-hot shrapnel into their bodies. Pity.
'When I am thinking that I “like” the US, I am not thinking of all these American Craigies I come across, or of president Bushes or of the brave American soldiers with their guns.'
Craig does not represent all Americans, Z.
"Craig does not represent all Americans, Z."
I think I wasn't very clear when I typed that, IA - I see that now. What I meant is that Craig types do not cross my mind when I am thinking positively of the US, exactly because I know he doesn't represent everybody in that country.
That's good, Z. You are smart
Commenting by HaloScan
