Iraq: A Fly In The Ointment

They say you should be careful what you wish for. We may once again prove the wisdom behind that adage given events in Iraq. We wanted an independent state in Iraq. Now, that state, dependent on us, is meeting with Syria and Iran this weekend.

While barbaric, Syria and Iran are not dumb. And I doubt the Gemayel assassination in Lebanon today took place without some thought. What's unclear is whether or not those tri-party meetings in Iran are taking place with the understanding of the US, or because a Shia people we abandoned once before has decided to place its own interests as a majority above anyone's wish for a free and forward moving Iraq.

Jules is right to say we can't negotiate with Iran or Syria without a show of strength ... personally, I doubt it's worth the effort under any circumstance. But what remains to be seen is if we aren't about to be negotiated out of Iraq, whether we like it, or not. Certainly Iran would do the thing America has resisted doing - crush any resistance or sectarian violence.

The Maliki government would become powerful over night were it backed by a state with leaders more willing to fight the type of ruthless battle to which the Middle East is accustomed.

You can read Crittenden's thoughts here.

Comments

[Rhod]

Isn't Assad a Sunni, a Ba'athist? The Shi'a, I think, compose about 15% of all Muslims. This is strange.

[Dan Riehl]

Assad is a Ba'athist, yes. But what he is most, IMO, is interrested in staying in power. Just as Iran is allegedly pushing a Shi'ite to take a leading role in al Qaeda, there ar5e those who would like to unite the Muslims against the West. Hell, they can always kill one another later, I guess.

The real bastards in all this are the Saudis and other Sunni groups who do nothing, except funding for terrorists and extremist education, of course.

If I had my way, we'd rip the whole damn region down and start over. The only saving grace for the 8th century middle east is that Africa is probably more BC, than AD.

What a wonderful time it's going to be diffusing the growing radicalism in that swamp.