WASHINGTON - The Bush administration cautioned Iran on Wednesday against trying to influence the outcome of Iraq (news - web sites)'s election, reacting to fears that Tehran is trying to produce a Shiite-dominated Islamic government in Baghdad.
Posted on 12/08/2004 1:11:21 PM PST by crushelits
WASHINGTON - The Bush administration cautioned Iran on Wednesday against trying to influence the outcome of Iraq (news - web sites)'s election, reacting to fears that Tehran is trying to produce a Shiite-dominated Islamic government in Baghdad.
Bush talked about Iran in meetings Monday with Jordan's King Abdullah II and Ghazi al-Yawer, the interim Iraqi president, both Sunni Muslims.
Iran and Syria joined other nations at an international conference on Iraq last month at the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh in pledging to contribute to Iraq's stability and to prevent terrorists from coming into Iraq, White House press secretary Scott McClellan said. The communique also called on all parties to tighten border controls.
"We expect them to abide by that commitment," McClellan said.
"Iraq has talked to Iran about these issues," the spokesman said. "We've made our views very clear to Iran, as well as others, and we continue to call on Iran to act in a responsible way and be helpful as the Iraqi people move forward on building a brighter future."
Abdullah and al-Yawer accuse Shiite Muslim-dominated Iran of trying to influence the Jan. 30 elections in Iraq, where the country's majority Shiites are expected to perform strongly.
Abdullah told The Washington Post in an interview published Wednesday that more than 1 million Iranians have entered Iraq, many to vote, and said they were being encouraged by the Iranian government.
Iran has said it has no interest in fomenting instability in Iraq and it tries to block any infiltration into Iraq by insurgents — while noting that the borders are hard to police.
U.S. Once More Yet Again Warns Iran Anew Against Iraq Interference
Iran is walking on thin ice - and they've got blazing hot boots on. My guess is that we'll have to rearrange some of their landscaping in less than 16 months.
This is serious stuff. Evidently, the Iran leadership still does not appreciate the finer aspects of diplomacy.
Someone should spell it out to them that they have just been seriously warned, and they are definitely treading in deep water.
I fear we may have to do something with Iran and Syria. How could an Iranian vote in Iraq? Don't we have some way to stop that from happening?
Sureeeee!
They lie!
fyi
Don't get involved in Iraq. PERIOD.
We need to fire a warning shot across Iran's and Syria's Bow.
Unfortunately, that can't be done now. We've let them get away with too much for too long, and the hard way is the only way they're going to learn anything. Get ready for another chorus of wailing and whining from The WorldTM (aka France).
fyi
Your fearing the wrong thing I know we need to do something about Iran and Syria I fear because of the lack of WMDs or the death toll in Iraq we may not have the political will to do it.If we leave Iraq without taking care of Iran and Syria we'll be back.
What do you call proof?
They'll have the bomb before 16 months is out. By then, it'll be too late.
We need to do everything we can to encourage a coup in Iran. The ruling clerics aren't that popular.
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