Maliki to tell Iran to butt out
posted at 8:20 am on May 1, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Nouri al-Maliki sent a delegation to Tehran to demand an end to Iranian involvement with Shi’ite militias, the AP reports this morning. The evidence collected during his offensives against the Mahdi Army in Basra and Sadr City will be presented to the Iranians, and Maliki expects Iran to end its subversion of Iraqi sovereignty — a move that may be designed to bolster reconciliation among Iraqi factions:
Iraqi officials say the government has dispatched a delegation to Iran to discuss concerns about the arming and training of Shiite militias in Iraq.
A government official says five Shiite politicians left Wednesday with “evidence, confessions and pictures” indicating that Iran is supplying weapons and training fighters who are locked in a violent standoff with U.S. and Iraqi troops.
The official says the delegation “will seek to clarify … the interference of Iranian leaders.”
Maliki shows more and more confidence since his late-summer efforts in 2007 to reconcile the sectarian and tribal factions in Iraq. Beginning with the surge, he has dumped his alliance with Moqtada al-Sadr in favor of broader coalitions between Sunnis, Kurds, and Shi’ites opposed to Sadr, mainly in the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council. The fight against the Mahdis has given Maliki enough credibility among these factions for Sunnis to rejoin his unity government, isolating Sadr even further.
Standing up to Iran is the next step. Maliki himself appeared too close to Iran in the early days of his tenure, making Sunnis and Kurds especially suspicious of the former Dawa leader. With Sadr on the run, he needs to show now that he will not tolerate Iran propping up any militias in Iraq, and he has that opportunity now. Iran may be in a position where they will have to listen; Sadr has turned into a major disappointment, and all of the Iranian interference has not kept the green Iraqi Army from destroying the inept Mahdis in straight-up military battles.
If the US wanted an ally in the region with the strength to stand up to Iran, the Iraqi mission could be heading for success. Maliki needs to crush the Mahdis to completely secure Iraq internally, and then needs to push the Iranians out of the south altogether and secure Iraq’s borders. Reconciliation appears to be within his grasp, and Iran may find themselves with a much stronger Iraq on their border than they anticipated even a few months earlier.
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Iran will never comply. They are on a roll, and are hell bent on destruction of Israel and the killing of our military in Iraq. Talking to them solves zero.
Hening on May 1, 2008 at 8:32 AM
“… Iran may find themselves with a much stronger Iraq on their border …”
An Iraq full of U.S. military and Afghanistan on the other border full of U.S. military. This won’t be your father’s Iran/Iraq War.
Tony737 on May 1, 2008 at 8:35 AM
One missle should mean one less Iranian jet. When the jets run out start on the bridges.
Just don’t hit the Barbies.
Limerick on May 1, 2008 at 8:48 AM
Maliki needs to take his evidence public. Go in front of the cameras and lay it all out for the Arab world.
rockhauler on May 1, 2008 at 8:57 AM
Yeah I agree, put it on TV and on the web.
dogsoldier on May 1, 2008 at 9:02 AM
“Maliki expects Iran to end its subversion of Iraqi sovereignty”
This is like pi**ing into the wind.
“he has dumped his alliance with Moqtada al-Sadr in favor of broader coalitions between Sunnis, Kurds, and Shi’ites opposed to Sadr, mainly in the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council”
This is very encouraging but way to late.
burt on May 1, 2008 at 9:06 AM
How much more clarification is needed?
How is this any different from Hans Blix writing an angry letter?
aengus on May 1, 2008 at 9:15 AM
Isn’t this sort of Arab Culture 101? Give your enemy an opportunity to back off and then crush him if he doesn’t. Of course, he’s dealing with Persians, so who knows what the outcome of that will be.
Kafir on May 1, 2008 at 9:23 AM
Unfortunately for the Bush administration, IMO the only thing motivating Malaki is our elections in November.
Further, due to the ineptitude, the Republican Party has surrendered both houses of congress, national life and treasure, and now polls showing the party in the tank with a war weary public desperate for bold leadership.
If the party leadership, from the WH on down is so worried about democratic responses and the left’s howling about the war, then I suppose that tentative and hesitant leadership will do it?
Malaki can read the papers like anyone else, and it will likely be a democrat and deminished American role after January 2009.
Starlink on May 1, 2008 at 9:30 AM
Ed, I think you’re being overly optimistic about Maliki helping the US to stand up to Iran. If anything, I think Maliki would rather being friends with Iran than the US.
What the emissaries will ask from the Iranians is to adjust their strategy of fighting the US so that Iraqis will suffer less. But over all, I think Maliki doesn’t want to align himself with the US re: Iran.
AlexB on May 1, 2008 at 9:36 AM
It’s best the Iraqis do this instead of us.
LT Nixon on May 1, 2008 at 9:48 AM
Maliki standing up to Iran…
How can this be.
The media keeps telling us Sadr has won.
Harry Reid told us “the war is lost”.
So don’t Iran and al-qaeda already control Iraq?
Surely the democrats and media wouldn’t lie to
undercut the mission.
Baxter Greene on May 1, 2008 at 9:50 AM
Yeah, that will stop them.
Reminds me of Alice’s Restaurant’s 8 by 10 glossies.
davidk on May 1, 2008 at 9:55 AM
“It’s best the Iraqis do this instead of us.”
LT Nixon on May 1, 2008 at 9:48 AM
You are right,and you have company:
US officials: Decision on confronting Iran up to Iraq
Written by Robert Burns , Associated Press
Wednesday, 30 April 2008 20:48
WASHINGTON (AP) — Iraqi leaders have been given the latest U.S. evidence of Iranian support for militias inside Iraq, and Baghdad will decide what to do about it, two senior Pentagon officials said Wednesday.
Marine Lt. Gen. John Sattler, director of strategy, plans and policy for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki possesses the evidence, which other officials said contradicts Tehran’s stated commitment to stop providing arms, weapons technology and training to Shiite militias inside Iraq.
“The evidence inside Baghdad has been shared with the Iraqi leadership, and that’s where it stands right now,” he added.
http://iraqstatusreport.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=407&Itemid=7
Baxter Greene on May 1, 2008 at 10:25 AM
So let me get this straight….
We will act if Iraq says it is ok? Since when are our troops wearing the Red, White, and Black on their shoulder?
Limerick on May 1, 2008 at 10:45 AM
Allow me to clarify that for ‘ya: Stop effin’ around in Iraq or we’ll blow your collective asses back to the stone ages.
amerpundit on May 1, 2008 at 11:04 AM
Standoff? Huh?! How well are they “standing off” here is Basrah? Are they pushing our from Sadr City while I wasn’t lloking? Sheesh…
Limerick, we are trying to get the Iraqis to stand on their own two feet and take care of themselves. They have gone from conciliation and turning a blind eye to Iranian involvement and the JAM to beating the stuffing out of the JAM and telling the Iranians to back off.
Going to Tehran to put the cards down on the table: This is an important play in the Arab world – going to tell the Persians to bug off plays pretty well with the Iraqis, Saudis, Kuwaitis, Egyptians, et al. I wouldn’t downplay the IO aspect of this – even if it looks silly to us in the US.
major john on May 1, 2008 at 11:07 AM
Yikes, my typos are back in full force!
major john on May 1, 2008 at 11:08 AM
don’t be so cynical, this is consensus building in action.
did you see . . .crap, now I can’t find it.. .. wait a minute.
Here it is, National Review, Iran is trying to persuade Egypt to permit Hamas easier border access via Egypt-Gaza border. Describes Egyptian support for Sunni, and opposition to Iran. Also includes explanation of why Egypt/Iranian relationships so frosty.
Thus I conclude that at least Egypt would be receptive to Maliki making the case of Iranian interference inside Iraq.
And presume other Arab governments with similar experiences would also be receptive.
rockhauler on May 1, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Just frustrated (like most of America). I appreciate your perspective. My boy is up in Mosul on his third. He has gone from ’screw these guys’ during his second tour to ‘they ain’t doing bad’ on his third.
Big tip of the ol sombrero to all you fellas.
Limerick on May 1, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Blast….link filtered, dropped lost. poorly entered.
National Review Jonathan Schanzer titled “Renewed Iran –
Egypt ties” (today).
rockhauler on May 1, 2008 at 11:14 AM
MB4 on May 1, 2008 at 12:36 PM
“If the US wanted an ally in the region with the strength to stand up to Iran, the Iraqi mission could be heading for success.”
You are having a laugh Ed. Let’s see… the US President visits Iraq unannounced at night and stays on a heavily fortified US base. The Iranian leader gets a full Head of State reception complete with public address and adoring crowds…. yeah… this is looking really successful to you? I hate to imagine what a setback or a disaster might look like.
lexhamfox on May 1, 2008 at 12:49 PM
Maliki needs to take his evidence public. Go in front of the cameras and lay it all out for the Arab world.
rockhauler on May 1, 2008 at 8:57 AM
Quite correct Hauler. Forgive me if I dont put much faith in the substance of whatever talks take might or might not place between Iraq and Iran. Another commenter said earlier and quite correctly that Iran is on a global PR roll right now and why would they cede one inch of ground?
When I see the entire proceedings broadcast live on C-Span, complete with Maliki going upside Imajihadwhackjob’s head with a cricket bat, then I might put some faith in this.
Short of that I expect a lot of inter-species snorgling between Maliki and the Mullahs. Call me nutty, but….
Mike D. on May 1, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Wait a minute. Us talking to Iran solves nothing. Maliki talking to Iran, and tossing his junk on the table, is just what the doctor ordered. Iran is not omnipotent, and Iraq is not defenseless. This talking is a good thing. You may recall that these two countries fought a long and bloody war not long ago, and neither of them likely wants another.
Major John, thanks for your perspective and your service. You rock. Thank your troops for me as well.
Pablo on May 1, 2008 at 2:01 PM
One thing Maliki can not do is go to Iran, plead his case. Go to Saudi Arabia, plead his case. Go to Egypt plead his case. Go to government, to government, to government, plead his case, and get nothing for it.
If he goes in front of the world, presents his evidence, makes the case that Iran is destabilizing civil society in Iraq, and then says, “And we are going to put an end to it.” Then do exactly that; put an end to it. Maliki would be an international hero.
rockhauler on May 1, 2008 at 2:14 PM
Maliki can tell the Iranians that if they don’t stop, then the proxies they paid for will end up dead. Or in prison. Mullah’s choice after that…
(More than one Iranian has been scooped up down here too. FWIW)
major john on May 1, 2008 at 3:37 PM
One important thing to remember is that there was a time a while back when Maliki said Iraq would not permit the US to attack Iran from it’s territory. I’m betting this has all changed now and that’s part of the reason for the visit to Tehran with evidence in hand that Maliki has been bald-faced lied too by the Iranians.
Texas Gal on May 1, 2008 at 6:36 PM
Yeah, including those 5 Quds that were taken from the Iranian Embassy long long time ago.
Stay safe Major John.
Texas Gal on May 1, 2008 at 6:39 PM
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