"Iran to hold presidential talks with Iraq, Syria.
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iran has invited the Iraqi and Syrian presidents to Tehran for a weekend summit with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to hash out ways to cooperate in curbing the runaway violence that has taken Iraq to the verge of civil war and threatens to spread through the region, four key lawmakers told The Associated Press on Monday.
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has accepted the invitation and will fly to the Iranian capital Saturday, a close parliamentary associate said.
The Iranian diplomatic gambit appeared designed to upstage expected moves from Washington to include Syria and Iran in a wider regional effort to clamp off violence in Iraq, where more civilians have been killed in the first 20 days of November than in any other month since the AP began tallying the figures in April 2005. "
So I assume we are not invited?
It’s disturbing how our foreign policy continues to make Iran stronger. We eliminate the Taliban, who were no friends of the Iranians. We oust Saddam, removing a major thorn in the Iranians side. It seems clear to me that despite having 130,000 troops in Iraq, that Iran actually has more power in the country than we do. Now, they are positioning themselves to “solve” the problem in Iraq, perhaps calling off the militias and working towards stability…hmm…if only the UN and the United States look the other way on their nuclear energy program?
not geting invited to this meetin’ - and a few other signals, shows that regardless of how Americans view themselves, to the world we are becoming irrelevant - certainly at least as a poitical force, and probably militarily as well.
I hate to burst your bubble, but Iran and Syria share much of the responsibility for the violence in Iraq. Both countries have been providing arms and munitions to various insurgent groups. The military has proof that most of the EFP’s (shaped charge IED’s that go through armor like butter) have come from Iran.
Iran especially has no reason to want a stable Iraq. Especially since as long as we are there, they are relatively safe from us.
Which is why we should withdraw from Iraqi cities, take up positions in defensible bases and serve as a rapid-reaction force against major threats against the Iraqi infrastructure (and against Iran if need be).
I know we broke it we own it, but we dont own centuries worth of Shi’ite - Sunni hostilty.
I hate to burst your bubble, but Iran and Syria share much of the responsibility for the violence in Iraq. Both countries have been providing arms and munitions to various insurgent groups. The military has proof that most of the EFP’s (shaped charge IED’s that go through armor like butter) have come from Iran.
I will be biking through Iran (from Turkey border to at least Shiraz) probably by mid-2008, so I’ll get a first hand look at the country and people. We will be on our way to India and likely take a train across the Pakistan border (likely a bit of a hot spot).
It’ll be interesting to get a perspective that’s not media biased. It’s hard to go when you always hear the negative stories but I know from experience, what the reality is and what we hear about can be two different things. I missed the story by Ted Koppel but I am in contact with a guy currently biking in Iran, and he has very favorable things to say about it, but he does say to keep away from the Iraq border.
Which is why we should withdraw from Iraqi cities, take up positions in defensible bases and serve as a rapid-reaction force against major threats against the Iraqi infrastructure (and against Iran if need be).
Exactly. Now appears to be a good time to let Iraq settle their own issues within the context of the Middle East, without our involvement. They have to live there, we are like that bad uninvited Uncle who just doesn’t know when to leave.
I will be biking through Iran (from Turkey border to at least Shiraz) probably by mid-2008, so I’ll get a first hand look at the country and people. We will be on our way to India and likely take a train across the Pakistan border (likely a bit of a hot spot).
Wow, that sounds cool. How did you decide on cycling through Iran?
Casey - Are you American? I swear Koppel said that no US citizens will be allowed into Iran after Ted left. I’ll bet (if you get there) that the Iranian people are very welcoming. As for Pakistan; watch out. Them folks don’t like us at all.
My wife and I have been planning a bike trip for sometime and intended to go this past summer but a death last spring prevented it.
We are looking to bike to India to raise support and work in an orphanage. Our plan is to cycle across the U.S and then fly to Portugal and continue east all the way to India. The only way across the Middle East, with both Iraq and Afghanistan out of the picture, is to cross Iran, something I have always wanted to do. I did bike their briefly in the 1980’s and loved it. I want to get there and only take 1 flight. I hate to fly and flying with bicycles is no picnic, as most of us know.
We will be going with the intent of going to Shiraz and probably hop on a bus at that point. How far we go on the bus is something that will probably not be determined until we get there. I think Pakistan may be a problem particularly at the border areas but India should be okay, again avoiding the India/Pakistan border. We will have a computere with us but you get most of the information from other cyclists, who seem to have a really good hand on the safety issues in a particular country. When you are on your bikes, you meet the locals and get a great feel for what people are thinking.
We are not leaving until next summer so things can change but for now, it’s all systems go. We are looking at going for at least 3 years (it will take almost 2 to get there) but who knows, it’s a long time off.
Of course Iran and Syria are to blame for all the violence and death to Iraqis in Iraq. They want it, they did it and now Iran and Syria will reap the rewards. But facts like causing death of so many Iraqis just don’t matter when you’re talking about the more encompassing factor which is the basic tenet of Islam, bonding the Muslim brotherhood.
It really doesn’t matter an iota what USA does or contributes Amount of money, amount of aid given, the US will always just be an outsider infedel pariah. How much has been given to Palestine and Lebanon over the years and how much more has been pledged to the Lebanese after the recent fiasco? It runs into billions and see how many natives in these two places just love the USA for that contribution? They take it, take it for granted, then spit their disgust and hatred and when it was stopped in Palestine they whine and threaten as if they have been denied their Allah given right to recieve that aid and monies.
It was just plain obvious for Iran to take this advantage when the time was ripe. First expressing willingness to co-operate with the US … to their benefit and obviously to the US’s detriment and now just go ahead without the USA. Either way the objective is to render the USA impotent in the ME.
Considering what’s at stake in the region and considering Iran is still hell bent on spreading the vile Muslim radicalism in ME and then worldwide and also so determined to go nuclear, the question is … what is at stake? Take that and add in the Muslim brotherhood thing discussed above and ask again …what sort of policies and actions need to be taken? Playing the good neighbour first policy … think that will lead to any resolutions?
I for one am not in favour of the spread of Muslim radicalism or the use of the ME and oil by Muslim radicals to hold the rest of the world hostage. It’s a them or us thing … and it always has been. If anyone here doesn’t see it that way … so be it … but just know them Muslims see it very clearly and have drawn the distinction stark and clear through their actions and their expressions. It’s in their Koran and they follow it to the letter. The above meeting of Iran, Iraq and Syria is just another example to this fact.
For you and your Missus … was it Vietnam you mentioned and now cycling through Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan?
Well again to each his own, but for me I really wouldn’t go there for some unique earthly experiences to put my and my missus heads in danger of getting lopped off. There are a lot of nicer poor places to go, rich in potential unique experiences and a lot more deserved people to help out as well.
The only way I would go to such places is as a combatant if I was called to serve. But since I have been out of the army for awhile and I’m an old dude now … I did have a German GF for a year odd when I was in Uni by the name of Stephanie Netzer. Uncharacteristic of the standardized image of the big Gretchen German girl, Steph was actually quite short, about 5’ 2" and small boned, though really curvey and naturally busty (heavy bossomed) and genetically very well proportioned, small waist and good child bearing hips… Not classically beautiful in face but pleasantly sweet like in a similar facial looks to Andie McDowell kind of way. A good nostalgic memory for me aging-self. Ich lieber dich … I learnt that from her. Well she was one of those Globe Treking kind of gals and back-packing through Afghanistan she was gang raped … well at least the once I know of that she told me about. … Besides being attractive, she was a really pleasant soul, but damn I couldn’t figure what the fuck was good about back-packing in such places then and I can’t now.
2 to 3 years is a long time to be exposed to that. Things in that region are a little more happening now, than way back when I knew Steph almost 30 years ago. Be safe, good luck mate … you’ll really need it!
**was it Vietnam you mentioned and now cycling through Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan? **
One of our options was to get to India via Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia etc., and I was curious about Vietnam. My preference is to go the Europe route and not the southeast Asia one.