Time for regime change? Iraq cozies up to Iran.

[greatauntoftriplets]

Iraq says Iran right to pursue nuclear energy
Former enemies' relations improving

By Liz Sly
Tribune foreign correspondent
Published May 27, 2006

BAGHDAD -- Iraq assured Iran on Friday that it supports Iran's right to develop nuclear energy and will not allow Iraqi territory to be used to threaten Iran, adopting a position at odds with America's view that Iran should abandon its nuclear program.

Speaking during a visit by the Iranian foreign minister to Iraq to congratulate the new government formed a week ago, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said Iraq's new government is "friendly" to Iran.

"Iraq definitely will not be a place to threaten Iran from," Zebari said at a news conference in Baghdad, with the Iranian foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, standing at his side.

Mottaki was the second foreign dignitary to call on Iraq's week-old government after Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair, who visited Monday. Mottaki's trip came as a reminder that although the Shiite-dominated Iraqi government remains beholden to the U.S.-led coalition for its existence, it also enjoys warm relations with its neighbor, Shiite Iran, and does not wish to become embroiled in the rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0605270030may27,1,6049961.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. And Iran most likely figures it would be just jim dandy if Iraq

borrowed a little of its noocuelear stuff so it can make some lectric and save a wee bit of her oil for a rainy day.

[leveymg]

2. REGIME CHANGE? Baghdad, Tehran, DC, or London? All of the above?

Do you want fries with that?

[NJ_Lib]

3. HA... There's no effing way... Anyone familiar with...

Iran-Iraq relations over the past few decades, will tell you this is just not happening... I would need to see this with my own two eyes to believe it... I don't think most Americans, espcially our "leaders", have any clue as to the different Muslim factions and the deep resentments that run within those factions... No fucking way, I don't believe it...

[greatauntoftriplets]

4. Apparently some opposition Iraqis lived in Iran for a time...

and are now among those in power. Politics indeed makes strange bedfellows.

<snip>

Iraq and Iran fought a bitter war in the 1980s, but relations have warmed significantly over the past year, since the United Iraqi Alliance took control of Iraq's government. The Alliance groups a number of religious parties whose leaders sought exile in Iran because of their opposition to Saddam Hussein's regime.

<snip>

[Dunvegan]

5. So, if Iraq had no WMD, this "marriage" with Iran could supply...anything?

Heckuva job, BushCo.