Report: Iran wields influence in Iraq

[ProSense]

Report: Iran wields influence in Iraq

1 hour, 53 minutes ago

LONDON - Iran wields more influence than the United States in Iraq and has established itself as America's chief rival in the Middle East, a British think tank said in a report released Wednesday.

London-based Chatham House attributes Iran's influence to diplomacy, charitable efforts and the removal from power of regional rivals Saddam Hussein in Iraq and the Taliban in Afghanistan.

"While the U.S. has been playing poker in the region, Iran has been playing chess," said Nadim Shehadi, a fellow in the Middle East program at Chatham House, an independent group that analyzes international issues.

"Iran is playing a longer, more clever game and has been far more successful at winning hearts and minds," Shehadi said.

The report asserts that the Bush administration has shown little ability to use politics and culture to pursue its strategic interests while Iran's knowledge of the region and its fluency in the languages have given it a strong advantage.

more....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060823/ap_on_re_mi_ea/britain_iran_influence_2

[alvarezadams]

1. Many of us have been saying this for quite some time

You have to hand it to the Iranians - they got one of their enemies to eliminate two of their's while simultaneously handing over the control of their neighbor AND increasing oil revenues.

Thanx a lot, neocons.

[ProSense]

2. If it's a chess game,

bush, stupid smirk and all, is the perfect pawn.

[PointAndLaugh]

3. No?! Really?!

They needed a "think tank" for this? A British one at that?!

You know, Iran is right next door. "Iran wields influence in Iraq" is pretty much a given.