Iran will not defend Syria militarily against US attack

Iranmania ^ | April 17 2003 | AFP

[knighthawk]

TEHRAN, April 16 (AFP) - Iran will not defend neighbouring Syria militarily against the United States, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said Wednesday.

"We support Syria which is on the front line against the Zionist regime and defends the Palestinian cause, but that does not mean we are going to enter a military phase" to defend Syria against an eventual attack, Khatami said after his weekly cabinet meeting.

"I hope the US threats against Syria are bluffs,... I don't think the United States has the capacity to attack Syria, since the world situation does not allow a repetition of what happened in Iraq," Khatami said, while calling on Washington to stop its "threats" against Damascus.

A close ally since the 1979 Islamic revolution, Syria was the only Arab country that supported Iran in its war against Iraq from 1980-1988.

Khatami also called on US forces to leave Iraqi territory to preserve their interests.

"If the Iraqi regime had been toppled by the Iraqi people themselves, we would have organised a big feast in Iran, but occupation of Iraq (by US-led coalition forces) is a violation of international regulations," he said.

Asked about relations between Tehran and Washington, which severed ties after the 1979 revolution and the bitter embassy hostage crisis, Khatami said "if we feel US behaviour toward us has changed, a new situation maybe be created that would permit us to adopt new ways".

[knighthawk]

Ping

[My2Cents]

Green light. Let's roll!

[uncbob]

Persians don't like arabs

[w_over_w]

"We support Syria which is on the front line against the Zionist regime and defends the Palestinian cause, but that does not mean we are going to enter a military phase" to defend Syria against an eventual attack, Khatami said after his weekly cabinet meeting.

Wow! a moment of clarity . . . they must have removed their towels and got blood flow to the brain.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

I don't think the United States has the capacity to attack Syria

Baghdad Bob, meet Tehran Tom.

[El Gato]

Iran will not defend neighbouring Syria militarily against the United States, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said Wednesday.

I hate to tell the author, or perhaps even President Khatami, Iran is not a neighbouring country, in the usual sense when speaking of countries. That is usually reserved for counntries which share a border, which Syrian and Iran (thankfully) do not. There is a big chunk of Shia Arabia and parts of Kurdistan in between. :)

[SwinneySwitch]

"I don't think the United States has the capacity to attack Syria..."

WRONG!

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Iran will not defend neighbouring Syria militarily against the United States

Uhh, 'scuse me. But any Iranian miltary support would need to go through Iraq or Turkey to get to Syria. They're not exactly "neighbours".

[LisaAnne]

"I don't think the United States has the capacity to attack Syria..."

Think again, buddy-boy.

[Democrap]

"If the Iraqi regime had been toppled by the Iraqi people themselves, we would have organised a big feast in Iran, but occupation of Iraq (by US-led coalition forces) is a violation of international regulations," he said.

A little hypocritical there, my religion of peace friend.

[kinghorse]

""I hope the US threats against Syria are bluffs,... I don't think the United States has the capacity to attack Syria, since the world situation does not allow a repetition of what happened in Iraq," Khatami said, while calling on Washington to stop its "threats" against Damascus."


Aint just a river in Egypt.

[Just mythoughts]

Iran isn't about to get involve overtly, they want to protect their nuclear materials for future weapons, and they know darn well that if they get caught up in this mess that material be the first to go.

[birdsman]

Asked about relations between Tehran and Washington,....... Khatami said "if we feel US behaviour toward us has changed, a new situation maybe be created that would permit us to adopt new ways"
Might this be a trial baloon being put out by Iran about improving relations with the US? The Iranian regime has to be nervous after seeing how we handled Iraq, and might be hinting that they're ready to reform in order to avoid the same fate.

[schaketo]

Should we rename Iraq, Gateway to Syria, or Gateway to Iran? Decisions, decisions.

[drypowder]

"I don't think the United States has the capacity to attack Syria..."

WRONG!

And very dumb.

[patent]

"If the Iraqi regime had been toppled by the Iraqi people themselves, we would have organised a big feast in Iran, but occupation of Iraq (by US-led coalition forces) is a violation of international regulations," he said.

I’ll bet. They’d feast on the rotten carcass of the old state so fast it would make your head spin. Be quite a few more “Iranian” oil fields in short order. Unlike us though, I doubt they would leave and let the Iraqis rule themselves.

patent  +AMDG

[Steel Wolf]

Iran will not defend Syria militarily against US attack

This should in fact read:

Iran cannot defend Syria militarily against US attack

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Iran will not defend neighbouring Syria militarily against the United States, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said Wednesday.

Translation:

Don't hurt us, don't hurt us oh Allah please please Mr. Bush don't hurt us.

[Lockbox]

Dear Middle East, we did not start this fight, but we sure as hell are going to finish it!