Posted on 03/10/2007 4:35:11 PM PST by blam
Iran tells US to set timetable for Iraq exit
By Colin Freeman in Baghdad, Sunday Telegraph
Last Updated: 12:24am GMT 11/03/2007
Iranian officials last night demanded a timetable for US troop withdrawal from Iraq as they attended a rare meeting with American diplomats in Baghdad.
Iran's deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi
The conference was aimed at stopping Iraq being used as a sectarian battleground by Sunni and Shia neighbours. Iran has been accused of funding Shia death squads in the Iraqi capital and smuggling in roadside bomb technology that allows insurgents to kill coalition troops.
Yesterday's conference, attended by all of Iraq's neighbours, backed plans for further meetings next month to set up working groups to discuss problems over border security and refugees.
The US ambassador, Zalmay Khalilzad, made it clear that Iraq's neighbours, including Syria and Iran, had to stop encouraging or ignoring influxes of insurgent and sectarian fighters. "Iraq's neighbours can only be counted as providing 'true and honest' support to Iraq's stability if they act decisively to halt the flow of fighters, weapons and other lethal support to militias and other illegal armed groups, and cease sectarian rhetoric and other propaganda that could incite violence," he said.
Iraqi foreign minister Hoshiyar Zebari described the discussion between the US, Iran and Syria as "a lively exchange" and said it had been constructive.
The British ambassador, Dominic Asquith, said it had been a positive meeting.
But Iran's deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, Abbas Araghchi, used the occasion to accuse the international forces in Iraq of playing a double game.
"It will help resolve the problem of violence if they set a timetable for withdrawal of their troops from Iraq," he said. He condemned attacks on religious places and gatherings five days after a double suicide attack on a crowd of Shia pilgrims killed at least 117 Iraqis in the central city of Hilla.
The meeting was a "test" of whether the United States was serious in trying to solve Iraq's problems. "Teheran stands ready to help bring peace and stability to Iraq," he said. Earlier, Mr Khalilzad and Iraq's prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, had called on neighbouring countries to halt the supply of weapons and recruits to sectarian armed groups fighting in Iraq.
Mr Khalilzad urged other world powers to do more to help Iraq and, in an apparent reference to Iranian demands for the release of five of their citizens detained in Iraq earlier this year, said the US would continue to act against foreign interference.
Mr Maliki warned that Iraq's growing sectarian bloodshed could spill across the Middle East. He told the conference: "The future of Iraq and the Middle East is the defining issue of our time."
The threat posed by the insurgency was spelled out a few minutes later when three mortar rounds detonated next to the foreign ministry, where the conference was being held, and a bomber slammed a truck laden with explosives into an army checkpoint at the entrance to Sadr City, two miles away, killing at least 26 people.
Related thread ( I posted this NY Times piece):
NY Times: Democrats Steer the War in Iraq in Fits and Starts ^
Isnt it funny how the Iranians and the democrats think alike?
Well not so funny.I wouldnt be surprised if they arent working together.
Democrat traitors are working on it for Iran.
Iran talks and the dems listen. Who woulda thunk it?
Do any of you guys (or gals) remember the t-shirts that were printed in the late 70s/early 80s during the Iran hostage crisis that said "Hey Iran! Up yours!" and which had a picture of Mickey Mouse giving the middle-finger. That t-shirt just came to mind.
Be proud, we just gave "peace a chance".
Note to Self: Forward to Pelosi to act as new Dem talking points.
Who do they think they are, DemocRATs???
It is astounding to me that the people of our nation do NOT understand this....They both HATE America, their rhetoric is the same and their GOALS are the same.
Why it is not obvious is beyond my comprehension!!
What you said!
This is rich!!! The Dummies kowtowing to Iranians again....lI mean is this SO 1979 or what!!!The next thing you'll know we'll see Jimmuh and Pelosuh out there trying to "dialogue" with these nuts "for th' sake of our boas over theh"
Otherwise, we may give you a 'timetable' on when you can expect your nuclear sites to turn into rubble. :>)
Jawboning with them simply gives them not only a forum to be insolent, but it also accords their government far more legitimacy than it has.
Why incur the travel expenses, they can surrender from DC.
bttt
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