(More than one Iranian has been scooped up down here too. FWIW)

major john on May 1, 2008 at 3:37 PM

Yeah, including those 5 Quds that were taken from the Iranian Embassy long long time ago.

Stay safe Major John.

(More than one Iranian has been scooped up down here too. FWIW)

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.

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

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.

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….

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.

Nouri al-Maliki sent a delegation to Tehran to demand (Plead maybe, but demand? Maliki is not in any position 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 (Who will then go, “We’re shocked, I tell you just shocked”? No, they will just reject it or say, “We’ll look into it.”), and Maliki expects Iran to end its subversion of Iraqi sovereignty (He can’t possibly be that naive.)— a move that may be designed to bolster reconciliation among Iraqi factions

major john on May 1, 2008 at 11:07 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 10:45 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.

fighters who are locked in a violent standoff with U.S. and Iraqi troops.

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.

The official says the delegation “will seek to clarify … the interference of Iranian leaders.”

Allow me to clarify that for ‘ya: Stop effin’ around in Iraq or we’ll blow your collective asses back to the stone ages.

We will act if Iraq says it is ok? Since when are our troops wearing the Red, White, and Black on their shoulder?

Continuing to consolidate his coalition government, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki sent a delegation to Iran to confront them with evidence of Iran’s efforts to train and supply Moqtada al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army.
The current action follows…

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.

“It’s in Prime Minister al-Maliki’s hands right now, the evidence as to whether or not he’s been lied to — bald-faced lied to — by the Iranian government,” Sattler told a Pentagon news conference.

“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

Maliki expects Iran to end its subversion of Iraqi sovereignty

Yeah, that will stop them.

A government official says five Shiite politicians left Wednesday with “evidence, confessions and pictures”

Reminds me of Alice’s Restaurant’s 8 by 10 glossies.

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.

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.

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.

The official says the delegation “will seek to clarify … the interference of Iranian leaders.”

How much more clarification is needed?

How is this any different from Hans Blix writing an angry letter?

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.