Iran and Iraq to sign military deal

Aljazeera.net ^ | July 2005

[Grendel9]

I wonder if this is the culmination of those "meetings of the military with the enemy forces" that Rumsfeldt was asked about over a week ago.

[Josh in PA]

I don't like this at all.

[Sidebar Moderator]

do you have a link for this?

[bnelson44]

"I wonder if this is the culmination of those "meetings of the military with the enemy forces" that Rumsfeldt was asked about over a week ago."

No, those were Sunni forces

[lugsoul]

There isn't anyone who views this as a postive development, right?

[ConservativeMan55]

No those meetings were between Iraqi insurgents and the Coalition. Those meetings did not include foreign fighters.

[bnelson44]

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/A3B7E6C5-B473-4779-8402-8D48A7299A35.htm

[Camerican]

Keep your friends close. Keep your enemies even closer. - Sun Tzu

[Gefreiter]

Iran to train Iraqi military?

What the f*ck do they have to teach them? How to storm an embassy? Hostage abuse 101 and 102? Intro to pray n spray? Transportation and terrorism?

Much more preferable for them to be at each other's throats.

[Ranger]

The demarcation lines for the Iraqi civil war are being established.

[bnelson44]

"There isn't anyone who views this as a positive development, right?"

I do. If Iran is an ally of Iraq, they will be more reticent in sending terrorists in. The more they help Iraq stand up, the sooner we can stand down.

I am also in favor of the EU and UN helping out as well.

[Srirangan]

A shia Iraq and a shia Iran.

[AmericanChef]

I dunno. On the one hand, a free Iraq could be an influence/ally to Iranians who also want the same freedom, providing the two come in contact with each other; on the other, is Iraq strong enough to repel Iran's force of will?

One of the goals was for Iraq to influence the region, was it not? I suppose we'll just have to wait and see, as it's going to happen anyway.

[tfecw]

"There isn't anyone who views this as a postive development, right?"

Sort of. I can see it going either way. It's their country and they can court anyone they like to IMO. They have a democracy in place and it's up to their own people to use it. Looks like the Representatives of the Iraqi People want to talk with Iran. Who are we to say otherwise?

Also, the folks over in Iraq aren't complete idiots. They know our position on Iran and it's sort of difficult to get people who have hated Iran for the past few generations to suddenly like them. This is just another case of "You scratch my back, I'll scratch your back" Imagine that, Iraq trading with it's neighbors. Who would have thunk that! I certainly didn't see it coming.

[bayourod]

Agreed.

Allegiances are changed more often than underwear in that part of the world. That's why we must get them hooked on personal liberty, democracy and capitalism.

[rhombus]

Weren't some folks "hooked on phonics" a while back?

[joesnuffy]

al brazeera?

[Americanexpat]

I have always felt that as soon as Iraq can get on it's feet they will turn on the US. If blood is thicker than water, then this Muslim culture is thicker than blood.