Iraq Sunni leader says Iran stokes sectarian war

[sabra]

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2006/March/middleeast_March164.xml§ion=middleeast&col=

Iraq Sunni leader says Iran stokes sectarian war
(Reuters)

AMMAN - One of Iraq’s leading Sunni Arab politicians accused Iran on Monday of stoking sectarian tensions to foment a civil war that would break up Iraq and allow Tehran to control its oil-rich Shi’ite Muslim heartlands in the south.

Tarek Al Hashemi, a contender for speaker when the new parliament opens on Sunday, said Iran was fostering instability in Iraq, partly through militias loyal to Shi’ite parties, in a bid to divert US pressure over Tehran’s nuclear programme.

...

All Iraqis were paying the price for a proxy war between Iran and the United States on Iraqi soil, Hashemi said.

“The antagonists are Iran and America and those paying the price are the Iraqi people in the near term and, yes, in the long term, there are Iranian designs on Iraqi territory.”

[Avalux]

1. So how much are we paying this guy??

Of course the WH will use this as ammunition to take out Iran - convenient, eh?

[tatertop]

2. I don't know. What is the reward for leading the Two Minutes Hate?

[Nickster]

3. I hate to say it, but I think this guy is on the mark. Richard Clarke has

been saying the same things as well. The Iranians are using our presence and our troops for their own ends. Iran wants a Shi'a friendly region, so they stir up the Sunnis, use a little Al-Qaeda, etc. They keep their hands clean and everyone else kills each other.

[Avalux]

4. I'm willing to acnowledge Iran is stirring the pot -

I would never say they're innocent in this mess, but that doesn't change the fact our government will use this for their own purposes - more war.

[Nickster]

5. Oh certainly, no doubt about it. But we can't completely dismiss what they

are doing either as simply propaganda. It is a razor's edge we walk in this situation.

[Avalux]

7. Yes, and completely our doing.

I am unable to believe our government didn't understand this would happen. But then again - maybe that's what they wanted? To destabalize Iraq knowing Iranian Shiites would move in and cause problems, giving them further reasons to move forward with their ME agenda. I've long thought the goal of PNAC is to destabalize the entire region.

[Nickster]

8. Like Randi says, you need chaos to hide your stealing.

The situation does work out nice and convenient for PNAC and their goals. I agree with your assesment, they want the region chaotic, better to keep China, Russia, etc out of there as well in the increasing battle for the limited oil resources there.

[Avalux]

10. Yep - and it is all about the oil (and money).

Always has been, and those who don't see it are foolish. "Spreading democracy", "liberation and freedom" - disgusting they have bastardizeds these words to cover for their true intent. People mean nothing to these soul-less, ruthless criminals.

[madrchsod]

6. many iraqi bloggers are saying the same thing

the most powerful group in iraq at this time are the Shiite militias backed by the Iranians...

[European Socialist]

9. I can hear Cheney now--Iran must be destroyed to protect Iraq's democracy

[Roland99]

12. Don't be surprised to hear Bolton head down this rhetorical path soon.

[reprobate]

11. It's been so since before the invasion. Anyone remember Chalabi?

Chalabi the Iranian spy who fed our Neocon conspiracy all the lies to encourage us to attack Saddamm?

This bunch of idiots we have in charge now is led around by it's nose so easily. They had a goal of taking over the oil in the middle east, so they believed anything told to them that would encourage that goal. I think they'd have trouble scrounging up an IQ of 80 between them.

And even with all they've done to us and to the future of the US and the world we still leave them in power. Will the Democrats stand up and demand impeachment? No, of course not. That would be standing up against the campaign contributors that keep them in office.

As much as the Repuglicans are to blame, even now with the majority of americans opposed to this administration, still they won't stand together.

Well, I say a pox on both their houses.