Posted on 02/28/2008 7:36:27 AM PST by OESY
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrives in Bagh dad tomorrow for what both sides call an "historic visit."...
As the possibility of al Qaeda and its allies winning recedes, Iran is starting to focus on the prospect that a Shiite-dominated but pro-American Iraq might offer Iranians a rival model. So the Islamic Republic has determined not to let the Americans and their Iraqi allies succeed beyond defeating al Qaeda and the Sunni insurgency.
As Ahmadinejad has put it several times, Tehran won't allow Iraq to have an "American future."
In Tehran's eyes, America's historic mission was to remove the Khomeinist regime's mortal enemy Saddam from power so that Iran could dominate Iraq.
But Maliki and the other new Iraqi leaders don't want their country to become an Iranian satellite; they're trying to negotiate a long-term arrangement to keep America committed to Iraq until it can defend itself.
Ahmadinejad believes the United States lacks the staying power to consolidate its victory in Iraq. Encouraged by Sen. Barack Obama's promise to withdraw all US troops by the end of 2009 if he wins the White House (which the Iranians expect him to do), Ahmadinejad's message to Iraqis is simple: The Americans are leaving, wouldn't you like to join our side?...
Ahmadinejad will also offer military assistance, including troops, to replace "the fleeing Americans."
Those promises come coupled with implicit threats. Last week, Iraqi police uncovered an Iranian-sponsored plot to kill Basra Gov. Muhammad al-Wanli and his brother. Also last week, Tehran ordered Muqtada al Sadr, one of its pawns on the Iraqi chessboard, to issue a public threat that his Mahdi Army would break a self-imposed cease-fire and resume killing anti-Tehran elements.
This visit will let Iraqis take a close look at Ahmadinejad.... Iraqi leaders hope that he'll appear more like a warning.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
wait a minute....Iranians in Iraq.....wouldn’t that make them the infidels?
Couldn’t we have a stinger take out his plane and blame it on Al Qaida?
Target of opportunity?
What, is he going to visit his weapons and IEDs?? Gonna say Hi! to his troops of insurgents over there?? Jerk!
Where is a remote controlled car bomb when you need it?
Better yet lets drop it on an SUV nearby, make it a JDAM with a cardboard missile, no wait Hollywood did that already.
pong
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