Iran vows to 'fill the gap' in Iraq if U.S. leaves

[yllus]

Iran vows to 'fill the gap' in Iraq if U.S. leaves

WASHINGTON -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad issued a stark challenge to the Bush administration Tuesday, saying his country is "prepared to fill the gap" if American forces withdraw from Iraq.

Stoking tensions with the U.S. as the two nations fight for influence in Baghdad, Ahmadinejad said Iran will fill the power vacuum created if American lawmakers succeed in forcing President George W. Bush to end the war and bring troops home.

"The political power of the occupiers is collapsing rapidly ... Of course, we are prepared to fill the gap," Ahmadinejad told reporters at a press conference in Tehran. "Occupation is the root of all problems in Iraq. It has become clear that occupiers are not able to resolve regional issues."

Ahmadinejad did not detail specific Iranian plans for Iraq. However, his explicit declaration of Tehran's interest in increasing its role if U.S. power wanes may actually bolster Bush's efforts to forestall a hasty end to the war.

The withdrawal of U.S. forces would embolden radical Sunni groups like al-Qaeda, while helping Iran's Shia leaders stoke a civil war, Bush said.

"For all those who ask whether the fight in Iraq is worth it, imagine an Iraq where militia groups backed by Iran control large parts of the country," he said. "We've seen what these enemies will do when American forces are actively engaged in Iraq. And we can envision what they would do if they were emboldened by American forces in retreat."

Well, at least we possibly have a better understanding of what would become of Iraq if the U.S. abruptly pulled out of the area, though I guess even that is up for debate since Mr. Ahmadinejad tends to be all bluster and no substance.

While the partisans should and will find it amusing that President Bush has now fallen back upon - "Look what would happen if we pull out now! I mangled this so badly that we can't contemplate that now!" - keep in mind that he's probably right, and that a vast majority of presidential contenders for 2008 agree with that sentiment.

Just a little FYI to those who tend in here to scream for an immediate withdrawal.

 

[UberNeuman]

Originally posted by: yllus
Iran vows to 'fill the gap' in Iraq if U.S. leaves

WASHINGTON -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad issued a stark challenge to the Bush administration Tuesday, saying his country is "prepared to fill the gap" if American forces withdraw from Iraq.

Stoking tensions with the U.S. as the two nations fight for influence in Baghdad, Ahmadinejad said Iran will fill the power vacuum created if American lawmakers succeed in forcing President George W. Bush to end the war and bring troops home.

"The political power of the occupiers is collapsing rapidly ... Of course, we are prepared to fill the gap," Ahmadinejad told reporters at a press conference in Tehran. "Occupation is the root of all problems in Iraq. It has become clear that occupiers are not able to resolve regional issues."

Ahmadinejad did not detail specific Iranian plans for Iraq. However, his explicit declaration of Tehran's interest in increasing its role if U.S. power wanes may actually bolster Bush's efforts to forestall a hasty end to the war.

The withdrawal of U.S. forces would embolden radical Sunni groups like al-Qaeda, while helping Iran's Shia leaders stoke a civil war, Bush said.

"For all those who ask whether the fight in Iraq is worth it, imagine an Iraq where militia groups backed by Iran control large parts of the country," he said. "We've seen what these enemies will do when American forces are actively engaged in Iraq. And we can envision what they would do if they were emboldened by American forces in retreat."

Well, at least we possibly have a better understanding of what would become of Iraq if the U.S. abruptly pulled out of the area, though I guess even that is up for debate since Mr. Ahmadinejad tends to be all bluster and no substance.

While the partisans should and will find it amusing that President Bush has now fallen back upon - "Look what would happen if we pull out now! I mangled this so badly that we can't contemplate that now!" - keep in mind that he's probably right, and that a vast majority of presidential contenders for 2008 agree with that sentiment.

Just a little FYI to those who tend in here to scream for an immediate withdrawal.

If Iraq is that weak to allow Iran to take it over, then the county isn't worth saving....

 

[yllus]

Originally posted by: UberNeuman
If Iraq is that weak to allow Iran to take it over, then the county isn't worth saving....

That comment is just... weird. The worth of a country is its ability to repel invasion? Canada could be taken over by well, pretty much any first world nation - does that mean we're not worth saving?

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: UberNeuman
If Iraq is that weak to allow Iran to take it over, then the county isn't worth saving....

Bingo :thumbsup:

Edit: On a personal note it will never happen.

I doubt we would let go of the oil.

I just heard from an old friend I didn't even know he had joined the military.

He told me that all we are doing over there is guarding the oil deliveries.

Apparently they are trucking the oil because the pipelines have been decimated.

His humvee took a hit and he has spent the last 6 months in re-hab at Walter Reed.

He'll be OK but it was a very close call.

 

[dahunan]

I say it is the religious people who are so weak they are not worth saving.. These criminal religious feuds are an embarrassment to all religious people everywhere.

Allah is giving them what they deserve..

 

[Gneisenau]

Originally posted by: yllus

Originally posted by: UberNeuman
If Iraq is that weak to allow Iran to take it over, then the county isn't worth saving....

That comment is just... weird. The worth of a country is its ability to repel invasion? Canada could be taken over by well, pretty much any first world nation - does that mean we're not worth saving?

Hum....I'm thinking..I'm thinking..... J/K

Sorry, I saw the easy shot and took it....

 

[Lemon law]

This may correlate to a trip to Iran that Maliki took very recently. As as we know Maliki is somewhat on probation and fighting for his political survival. If he can carry along the Iraqi government and maybe bring in Saudi Arabia to guard Sunni interests, it could well be a viable plan. And a coalition of various regional countries could well scrape up the 500,000 troops needed, especially if the Turks come aboard which would tell the Iraqi Kurds not to get any funny ideas.

And good ole GWB may have the experience of having the very democratic government he set up tell everyone Yankee go home.

As for Al-Quida, they would also be very unhappy. Shias and Al-Quida just don't get along. And Iran is Shia to the core.