Iran Halts Talks With U.S. on Iraq

New Yotk Times ^ | May 6, 2008 | Alisa J. Rubin

[freerepublic_or_die]

As American strikes on Shiite fighters in Baghdad have widened, Iran has suspended talks with the United States on Iraqi security, with the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Monday citing the continued offensive as the reason. The American forces have been responding to fire from Shiite militias in the Amel neighborhood in western Baghdad. In eastern Baghdad they hammered the nearby district of New Baghdad during the day and the Shiite section of Sadr City on Monday night.

“The focus of discussions with the U.S. is Iraq’s security and stability,” said Mohammad Ali Hosseini, the spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry in Tehran, according to IRNA, the official Iranian news agency.

“We are witnessing indiscriminate bombardment of Iraqi residential areas by the U.S. occupying forces,” Mr. Hosseini told reporters at his weekly news conference. The Americans believe that Iran is supplying weapons and training to Shiite militias in Iraq, but the Iranians have denied that they are interfering here. It remains uncertain whether some of the weapons found in Iraq that appear to be Iranian came directly from Iran or through third parties.

The Iraqis are forming a committee with experts from Interior and Defense Ministries to look into the allegations against Iran.

The State Department did not comment directly on the talks, but a spokesman, Tom Casey, said, “The fact remains, though, that the Iranian government continues, despite their public statements of support for the Iraqi government, to play this negative role, to provide this kind of assistance to militant groups and to militia groups.”

“It’s something we want to see stopped, and it’s something the Iraqis want to see stopped,” Mr. Casey said.

[freerepublic_or_die]

I tell you, when these guys finally get the comeuppance, the ass-whipping, the beaten-up-to-a-bloody-pulp, the vaporized-by-a-glorious-mushroom-cloud punishment they so rightfully, divinely, deserve, that they're just begging for, it won't come a moment too soon.

[Billthedrill]

It remains uncertain whether some of the weapons found in Iraq that appear to be Iranian came directly from Iran or through third parties.

I love this. Ms Rubin really ought to invest in a map of the area. Does she think the stuff is being air-dropped by FedEx planes from Norway?

[pawdoggie]

love this. Ms Rubin really ought to invest in a map of the area. Does she think the stuff is being air-dropped by FedEx planes from Norway?

Maybe not, but they could have bought them at Mahmoud's Rod and Gun in Tehran!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

They are working the PR Game...watch the NY Slimes....

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

It remains uncertain whether some of the weapons found in Iraq that appear to be Iranian came directly from Iran or through third parties.

OH Give me a F*** Break....

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

ping!

[A CA Guy]

Iran like other Middle Eastern nations only call for breaks and time outs (in the name of peace) to stop advances against them as they rearm.
If the people can't take Iran back, I think there will be some significant conflict with Iran. (I mean directly with Iran)

[VeniVidiVici]

Mr. Hosseini told reporters at his weekly news conference. The Americans believe that Iran is supplying weapons and training to Shiite militias in Iraq, but the Iranians have denied that they are interfering here. It remains uncertain whether some of the weapons found in Iraq that appear to be Iranian came directly from Iran or through third parties.

What an odd "denial".

Certainly sounds a lot like, "Well, those may be our weapons but it remains to be seen whether we shipped them directly to Iraq or to Iraq thru Syria."

[STARWISE]

Isn’t it so lib/Clintonesque?

‘We’re helping to kill you guys in Iraq,
and you have the nerve to tell the
world and dare to want talks with us?
Hmmpf .. all bets are off. Just wait
‘til we tell Barack.’

[johnny7]

I love this. Ms Rubin really ought to invest in a map of the area. Does she think the stuff is being air-dropped by FedEx planes from Norway?

Absolutely...

[ResponseAbility]

Ha, She looks like she could be the Attorney General in Idiocracy.

[johnny7]

Ha, She looks like she could be the Attorney General in Idiocracy.

I bet she's a wiz on Gorebal Warming too...

[bert]

Rode hard and put away wet

[wolfcreek]

“We are witnessing indiscriminate bombardment of Iraqi residential areas by the U.S. occupying forces,” Mr. Hosseini”

It won’t be *indiscriminate* in your country.

[Edgerunner]

Alissa Johannesen-Rubin is an American journalist who began covering the Middle East for The New York Times in 2007. Previously, she had been a correspondent for The Los Angeles Times. In August of 2007, Rubin was named deputy bureau chief in the Baghdad bureau of The New York Times.

She lives in Paris! Right in the thick of battle. How can you doubt a reporter with such vast knowledge of the ME? (since 2007!) /s

[Joe Boucher]

Should have happened way back when Jimmy Carter was president.
Would have when Ronald Reagan became pres if the children of pigs hadn’t released our hostages.

[Allegra]

“We are witnessing indiscriminate bombardment of Iraqi residential areas by the U.S. occupying forces,” Mr. Hosseini told reporters at his weekly news conference.

WE are witnessing the indiscriminate bombardment of coalition bases with Iranian artillery, done by Iranian-trained, freedom-despising terrorists who would love to occupy Iraq and turn it into another Islamic-controlled prison like Iran.

Ain't gonna happen, Iran. Give it up.

[Marine_Uncle]

She’s an idiot at best, or a carefully crafted anti-American at worst. Probably a mixture of both.