New Persian Empire?
...oops
TEHRAN — Former foes Iran and Iraq said Thursday that they would sign a military cooperation agreement that would include Iranian help in training Iraq’s armed forces, despite likely U.S. opposition.
“It’s a new chapter in our relations with Iraq. We will start wide defense cooperation,” Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani said at a news conference with his visiting Iraqi counterpart, Saadoun Dulaimi.“We’re going to form some committees which will be involved in mine clearance, identifying those missing from the war and also … to help train, rebuild and modernize the Iraqi army.”
...Dulaimi said Iran had offered $1 billion in aid to show its support for Iraq’s quest for postwar recovery. He did not give further details.
Asked about possible U.S. opposition, [Iran’s Defense Minister Ali] Shamkhani said, “No one can prevent us from reaching an agreement."
Alrighty, thennnn
“I have come to Iran to ask forgiveness for what Saddam Hussein has done,” al-Dulaimi said ...
[Iraq Defense Minister Saadun] al-Dulaimi said that the two neighbors will launch military and “anti-terrorist” co-operation, but he also asserted that it was still too soon for the U.S. to leave his country.
...The promise of co-operation comes despite the U.S. allegations that Iran is aiding the Iraqi resistance and that it is seeking atomic weapons.
The Islamic republic strongly denies both charges.
...Iran has asked Iraq not to allow the United States to establish long-term military bases on its soil, fearing that it would strengthen the American and Israeli military domination of the region.
But Dulaimi promised that he will not allow the U.S. forces to use Iraqi soil for attacks against the Islamic republic.
“Iraq will not be a source of insecurity and instability for any of its neighbors. Nobody can use [Iraqi territory] to attack its neighbors,” he said.
..."We have come to our Iranian brothers to ask them for help and we have not yet started on the more sensitive issues,” Dulaimi said.
They also discussed the continued presence in Iraq of Iran’s main armed opposition group, the People’s Mujahedeen, which Saddam Hussein backed in his war on Iran.
“The Mujahedeen can stay in Iraq if they act like political refugees but they will have no place if they act against Iran,” Dulaimi said.
Feeling calm? I am. But then again I’m sipping from a bathtub-ful of chamomile tea. Laced with horse tranqs. ...sorta crunchy, in fact.
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