War & Peace In Iraq

[Rasputin]

Al-Qaeda in Iraq leader 'killed'

The interior ministry in Iraq says it has received intelligence that the head of al-Qaeda in Iraq has been killed.
Abu Ayyub al-Masri, believed to be an Egyptian, has led the group since June 2006 when Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed in a US air strike.

Al-Qaeda in Iraq is blamed for or has claimed some of the bloodiest insurgent attacks in Iraq since 2003.

According to Iraqi officials, Abu Ayyub al-Masri was killed in an "internal battle" between militants.

[Rasputin]

Iran to tell coalition forces to leave Iraq at summit in Egypt

Iran will tell the US and Britain to get their troops out of Iraq and leave the problem for neighbouring countries to sort out when regional and western foreign ministers, including the US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, meet at a special Iraq summit in Egypt later this week.
Although no bilateral meetings between Ms Rice and her Iranian counterpart, Manouchehr Mottaki, have been planned in advance, both sides have indicated willingness to talk on the sidelines of the Sharm el-Sheikh conference about Iraq's security, including insurgent activities and border issues.

But Iran's message, whether delivered across the conference table or in private, is likely to be an uncompromising one, officials here indicated.
"We believe it would be to the benefit of both the occupiers and the Iraqi people that they [the coalition forces] withdraw immediately," said Mohammad Reza Bagheri, deputy foreign minister for Arab and African affairs with primary responsibility for Iran's policy in Iraq.

"In Iraq there is an elected government and parliament and the other government institutions are functioning. They must be allowed to do as they wish. It is better that the US and Britain withdraw and let neighbouring countries assist them.

"Neighbouring countries are not willing to ransack the country. They do not want what is not theirs. When we speak of American and English people, historically they have acted as colonialists and ransackers," Mr Bagheri added.

David Satterfield, the state department's Iraq coordinator, said this week that the US would not spurn the opportunity for a "useful dialogue" with Iran.

Mr Satterfield said Ms Rice would call for an end to Iranian involvement in the infiltration of foreign jihadis and weapons into Iraq, as well as a halt to Iranian training of Shia militiamen.

Opposition sources here say that despite repeated government denials, Iran continues to operate training camps for Shia fighters in Tehran province and near the city of Shiraz, in southern Iran.

Speaking during an interview at the foreign ministry in Tehran, Mr Bagheri said Iran viewed all such allegations as false propaganda intended to discredit the Islamic revolution and divide the Muslim world. "The Americans have not been entirely successful in their policies in Iraq. They are trying to cover up their faults and wrongdoings by accusing Iran," he said.

Iran had developed good relations with all groups in Iraq, including Kurds and Arabs, Mr Bagheri said. "We believe there is not much difference between Shia and Sunni Muslims, not just in Iraq but internationally. We support Hizbullah [in Lebanon] which is Shia, and Hamas [in Palestine] which is Sunni. We have the same level of friendship with [Abdul Aziz] Hakim and Sciri [the Shia Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq] as with Sunni leaders."

Despite facing UN sanctions over its nuclear programme and western political and economic ostracism, Iran's approach to the conference appears to be that the US needs its help more than it needs US approval. Officials here are well aware of the Iraq Study Group's recommendations and subsequent congressional calls for the Bush administration to talk to Iran.

Last week Ms Rice encouraged Mr Mottaki to go to Sharm el-Sheikh, saying Iran's absence would be a "missed opportunity". A meeting between them would be the highest-level official contact between Iran and the US since the 1979 Iranian revolution and the subsequent break in diplomatic relations.

From Washington's point of view, bilateral talks, while potentially calming relations between the two sides, have added value as part of a broader effort to strengthen regional support for the Iraqi government of the prime minister, Nour al-Maliki, and underpin the Baghdad security "surge" led by the US commander, General David Petraeus.

Despite Iran's hard line ahead of the conference, finding some common ground may still be possible. Mr Bagheri dismissed suggestions that Tehran regarded Mr Maliki as too "pro-Arab" and "pro-western" and was seeking to replace him with a more malleable figure. "We want a stabilised Iraq which is not destabilising for us. We want to be at ease mentally about what is happening there," he said. "From the beginning of Mr Maliki's government he was always supported by us. We believe that he is a good and strong manager who can drag Iraq to stability."

[Rasputin]

The partisan, when he is engaged in a dispute, cares nothing about the rights of the question, but is anxious only to convince his hearers of his own assertions. --Plato

Why is America in the Middle East? Why is America killing tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis, Afghanis, Muslims, and Palestinians? Why is America continuing to support oppressive regimes, while trumpeting democracy? Why is America poised to start another war with Iran? Why is America not practicing what it preaches? Why is the American administration contradictory in its words and actions? Why is America often dismissive of the international covenants and treaties? And why is America acting as the police or the lone ranger of the world?

Whether we like it or not, these are some of the key questions repeatedly posed by people around the globe, particularly in the Middle East and Muslim world.

Why do Americans support occupation and terrorization of other nations? Why has aggression become a part of the mindset and vocabulary of some of our political leaders, such as the presidential hopeful John McCain, who recently responded to a question about Iran by re-dubbing the Beach Boys song into "Bomb... Bomb... Bomb Iran?" Why have we sacrificed our "common ground" in favor of a "battleground?" Why have we forgotten the very principles of humanity and the U.S. Constitution? Why have we forgotten the simple yet profound Christian admonition, "Do unto others as you would have them do onto you"?

The tragic war on Iraq, or the so-called war on terrorism, has impacted the lives of numerous families across the U.S., Iraq, and indeed the world. The ongoing illegal and immoral war in the Middle East has not only adversely touched everyone in Iraq but has reached the very doorsteps in large and small towns and hamlets across the United States. Aldous Huxley once said, "Civilization is a race between education and catastrophe." But it appears that today we favor catastrophe over education, conflict over dialogue, war over peace, and death over life. Consequently, terrorism has become the weapon of choice by the weaker states and groups and, in fact, Al-Qaeda and other organized groups have gained strength and support throughout the world while America's global status, image, and prestige have been damaged, perhaps irreparably.

We have occupied Iraq, and we call those who fight for the control of their homeland our enemies. While the Iraqis want us to leave their country, we insist that they are incapable of charting their own destiny. But we do not view ourselves as foreign occupiers. On May 1, 2003, President George W. Bush standing in front of a giant "Mission Accomplished" sign aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, declared "Mission Accomplished." The fact is that the mission was not accomplished then and is not now. He continues to repeat relentlessly his self-professed mantra of "we have undermined Al-Qaeda," "we are winning the war on terrorism," "we are making progress in Iraq," and "we will fight until the enemy is defeated." Yet, his recently proposed surge in troop deployment has resulted mostly in a surge in killings in Iraq. My question is "How can one really defeat an undefined and faceless enemy?"

In the meantime, the causalities of the war on terror continue to mount. As of this writing, the American casualties of war on Iraq stand at nearly 3,400 killed and over 25,000 wounded or maimed. As the US Central Command officer, General Tommy Franks, once said, "We do not do body counts," in reference to Iraqi casualties; yet, it is estimated that nearly 70,000 have been killed and thousands injured or maimed.

Where are we headed? How can we get out of the Middle East quagmire? Obviously, there is no easy solution, only tough choices many of which were diligently identified and recommended, in March 2006, by the Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study Group. Each finding and recommendation was dismissed by the Bush administration. Rather than welcoming the recommendations of the10-person bipartisan commission for a phase-down, the administration opted for a surge in troop deployment to Iraq.

The surge not being as effective as anticipated, it was decided to erect a wall of separation between the rival factions in Iraq. Still not accepting failure, the administration started pointing its finger at Iran and Syria for aiding the insurgency in Iraq. But the question is, "Would attacking Iran change the course of events in Iraq or inflame the entire region and, indeed, the globe?" Based on what I know of the region, if such a scenario is enacted, my own opinion is that the latter will be the outcome.

Regarding Iran, there are some hopeful signs, and we continue to hear some level-headed comments by our politicians. When asked on Face the Nation (February 18, 2007), whether he is in favor of an invasion of Iran, Senator Richard G. Lugar of Indiana said: "No, I certainly am not. And I would hope very strongly the diplomatic course is followed." I couldn't agree more with the Indiana Senator, and others, including Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, who argues in favor of finding common ground through dialogue rather than opting for another disastrous battleground.

Regarding Iraq, my own sense is that we should listen to the American and global voices as they are reflected in the Senate Iraq War Funding Bill that sets a deadline for withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from Iraq by next April. The message in that Bill is not that the U.S. is leaving, but that the Iraqi government officials have only a limited time to assume control of their own domestic and international affairs. I believe this is a sound strategy which gives ample time for Iraqis to pull together and determine the destiny of their war-torn nation. On the other hand, the Iraqis must be assured that the occupation is temporary and not long-term or permanent.

In today's highly complex global environment, it's easy to blame "others" but not "ourselves" for the ill-conceived and ill-engineered chaos of war that has plagued our daily lives. On the average, nearly 100 Iraqis, Afghanis, and American soldiers are killed and hundreds maimed daily. The highly divisive and counterproductive "us against them" and "them against us" mentality blinds us to the realities of our increasingly divided and troubled world. We call "them" our enemies and in turn they call "us" their enemies˜and, in the process, we all become enemies of one another. All this is done in the name of an ideology one kind or another. Mutual distrust and resentment have replaced mutual trust and respect.

Sadly, our myopic politicians have created an era in which death by design has become a daily occurrence. We have become numb to the plight of our fellow human beings. We kill without blinking an eye. Whether we talk of democracy, human rights, freedoms, or justice, I strongly believe that America, as the only superpower in the world, must lead by example and try to resolve domestic and global issues through persuasion, not fear, reason not force, cooperation not confrontation, dialogue not monolog, love not hate, and justice not injustice. Woodrow Wilson once said: "Power consists in one's capacity to link his will with the purpose of others, to lead by reason and a gift of cooperation".

[Rasputin]

Iran has strongly criticised US policy in Iraq, blaming the American presence there for sectarian violence.
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki was speaking in Egypt on the second day of a summit of world and regional powers, called to discuss Iraq's security.

The summit, now over, had been expected to see the first high-level US-Iran talks in almost three decades.

Those hopes were dashed, although ambassadors from the US and Iran did hold a face-to-face meeting.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari described the meeting - the second lower-level meeting in three months - as "a positive sign".

The United States must accept the responsibilities arising from the occupation of Iraq, and should not finger point or put the blame on others

Manouchehr Mottaki
Iranian Foreign Minister
But BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says the meeting will be remembered more for what did not happen, rather than for what did.

Concern for the situation in Iraq but little real action seems to be a fair initial verdict, he says, adding that national reconciliation is, above all else, a job for the Iraqis themselves.

Egyptian organisers did make an effort to bring US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Mr Mottaki together, seating them opposite each other at a formal dinner on Thursday night.

Unfortunately for the Egyptians Mr Mottaki stayed away from the dinner. US officials said he excused himself over the apparently "un-Islamic" dress worn by a violinist entertaining diners.

He was quoted by the Associated Press as saying that a problem with "Islamic standards" was his only reason for not attending.

'Accept responsibility'

Iraq's neighbours, including Iran and Syria, had joined ministers from the G8 nations and the EU at the conference in Sharm el-Sheikh.

Mr Mottaki said the US should issue a clear troop-withdrawal plan to return stability to Iraq.

IRAQ CONFERENCE KEY POINTS
Attended by Iraq's neighbours, permanent members of Security Council, EU and G8
International compact signed, aimed at achieving political and economic stability in five years
Iraq won pledges of US $30bn debt relief
US secretary of state talks with Syrian foreign minister
US and Iranian officials met at ambassador level


Q&A: Egypt conferences
Press writes off summit
"The continuation of, and increase in, terrorist acts in Iraq originates from the flawed approaches adopted by the foreign troops," he said.

"The United States must accept the responsibilities arising from the occupation of Iraq, and should not finger point or put the blame on others."

Mr Mottaki also called for the immediate release of five Iranians detained in northern Iraq by US troops in January.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki called for neighbouring countries to stop funding terrorists and to block their entry into the country.

"We will not allow terrorist organisations to use Iraqi territory as a safe haven," Mr Maliki said.

The US has previously accused Iran and Syria of allowing foreign fighters to enter Iraq and of fomenting unrest in the country.

Militants seized

More than $30bn (£15bn) in aid and debt relief was pledged by donors on the first day of the summit.

A five-year agreement was signed offering financial aid but insisting that Iraq pushes towards political reform and reconciliation.

Egypt agreed to write off about $800m owed to it by Iraq while Slovenia, Bulgaria and Poland would cancel 80% of Iraq's debts, the Iraqi finance minister said.

The UK and European Union each pledged $200m in grants.

Meanwhile, US forces in Iraq say they have detained 16 people suspected of smuggling armour-piercing bombs into the country from Iran.

The US army said the smugglers were arrested during military raids in the Sadr City area of Baghdad.

[Rasputin]

Clash between Iran and US overshadows Iraq conference

Iran and the United States clashed publicly over Iraq and nuclear weapons yesterday after their foreign ministers failed to hold a widely anticipated meeting during an international conference convened to support the Baghdad government.
Iran's foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, demanding a US "plan for withdrawal", said: "The United States must accept the responsibilities arising from the occupation of Iraq and should not put the blame on others."

Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, countered that relations with Iran, famously dubbed part of an "axis of evil" by George Bush in 2002, could improve but only if Tehran ended its uranium enrichment and reprocessing, as demanded by the UN.

Mr Mottaki would not say why he had failed to meet his US counterpart at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit as had been expected. Ms Rice said: "The opportunity simply didn't arise," adding with a smile: "I'm not given to chasing anyone."
On Thursday night the Iranian minister boycotted an Egyptian-hosted dinner where he was supposed to be seated opposite Ms Rice, on the pretext that a woman violinist was dressed too revealingly.

"I don't know which woman he was afraid of: the woman in the red dress or the secretary of state," quipped the state department spokesman Sean McCormack. Ms Rice did briefly meet Syria's foreign minister for talks on Iraq but officials made sure no photographs were taken.

Mr Mottaki also called for the release of five Iranians held in Irbil, northern Iraq, by US troops. "We hold the perpetrators of this clumsy and adventurous act responsible for its consequences," he said.

Iran's blasts at the US overshadowed the conference's call for support for Nuri al-Maliki's Shia-dominated government in Baghdad, with Sunni Arab states such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt pressing it do more to bring Sunnis into the political process and defuse the insurgency.

One sign of unease came when Amr Musa, the Egyptian secretary general of the Arab League, failed to deliver the opening address to the conference.

Seeking to overcome Arab reservations about sectarianism, Mr Maliki insisted that national reconciliation was "not some passing political slogan but a strategic vision". He pointed to planned changes to the controversial de-Ba'athification programme that purged members of Saddam Hussein's regime but failed to mention amending the new Iraqi constitution, a key demand of Arab states unhappy with the Shia ascendancy.

"People are really getting fed up with Maliki for not being inclusive enough," said one western diplomat. Arab and westerners alike doubt whether the Baghdad government is prepared to do enough. "It all depends how the Iraqis pick up on the mood round the table," said another foreign official. "The biggest onus is on them to convert words into action."

[Rasputin]

Iraq's Kurds have found themselves in a delicate position since the US-led invasion of Iraq four years ago. They are trying to court good relations with their eastern neighbour Iran - without angering Washington.


Compared to the rest of Iraq, Kurdistan is prosperous and peaceful

This is a tricky balancing act because while Iraqi Kurds rely on the United States for protection, they also depend on Iran's goodwill to help maintain their economy and the relative stability they have been enjoying.

"The Americans helped us overthrow Saddam Hussein's regime so we respect them, but we're not indebted to them for everything," said Nasir Ghafoor Ramadan, a member of Iraqi Kurdistan's Regional Parliament.

"Iran has also helped the Kurds of Iraq a lot at various times so from this point of view, we also respect Iran."

Iraqi Kurds and Tehran have long maintained ties. They have often worked together to fight common enemies: most recently, Iraq's former President Saddam Hussein.

Dependency

These days, a large part of Iraqi Kurdistan's economy depends on imports from Iran.

"Around 30 to 40% of our imports come from Iran," said Zaher Mahmood Jalil, who heads an economics' program on Radio Zagros in Irbil. "Iraqi Kurdistan doesn't produce much itself so it has to import most of its goods."

We have become dependent on gas imports from Iran. If Iran tried to limit the petrol that crosses the border, we would face a major shortage, and it would cause a crisis

Jamaal Abdullah Hussein
Petrol seller

Kurds here say if Iran were ever to close its border with Iraq, their economy would be hit hard. Iranian produce, appliances, and electronics flood Kurdish cities, and petrol smuggled in from Iran helps Iraqi Kurds keep their cars running.

Jamaal Abdullah Hussein sells Iranian petrol for eight times its original price on the side of a road in Suleimaniya.

"We have become dependent on gas imports from Iran," he said. "If Iran tried to limit the petrol that crosses the border, we would face a major shortage, and it would cause a crisis."

If Iran closes its border, Iraqi Kurdistan would have to rely more on its other neighbours, like Turkey and Syria, for help.

That could lead to infighting among Kurdish political parties - those controlling areas bordering Turkey and Syria could gain an upper hand over the parties based near Iran.

Tehran, however, has said it plans to expand its economic ties with Iraqi Kurdistan - not curtail them - to help create stability in Iraq.

Porous border

So for now a steady stream of goods flows across the border. Travellers do, too. Some enter legally; others do not.

Iran and the US should take their disputes elsewhere

Nasir Ghafoor Ramadan
Kurdish Iraqi MP

Amir, a 19-year-old Kurd who helps smuggle people across the border, said sneaking between the two countries is not very hard.

"I know the path well," said Amir, who did not want to use his full name. "If guards are monitoring my regular path, I take another route. If they were to catch me, I could face six months in jail."

Amir's clients are not the only ones making illegal journeys into northern Iraq. Some Iraqi Kurdish officials accuse Iran of letting insurgents infiltrate the border.

"I don't have any specific evidence of this," said Buhari Hidir, a member of the Iraqi Parliament's Foreign Relations Committee.

"But it's natural for us politicians to think that Iran would use all its powers to create problems for the United States in the region, especially in Iraq."


The border with Iran is a crucial frontier for Iraqi Kurdistan

Iran denies the charge. Instead, Tehran, which has worries about its own Kurdish population seeking autonomy, accuses Iraq's Kurdish Regional Government of failing to crack down on Iranian Kurd opposition groups in northern Iraq.

Some, like the Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan, or PJAK, have launched attacks on Iran.

Others, like the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran, or KDPI, say these days they turn to arms only for defence and instead focus on political activities.

Iraqi Kurdish officials have said their regional government allows groups like KDPI to operate in northern Iraq as long as they do not engage in military actions against Iran.

The officials have acknowledged, however, that it is difficult to control PJAK, which is based high in the mountains.

Forced to choose

Complicating the picture is the Bush Administration's increasingly aggressive stance on Iran's involvement in Iraq.


Without smuggled petrol from Iran, Iraqi Kurdistan would suffer shortages

In January, American troops captured five Iranians in Irbil.

Tehran says the five were diplomats. Washington claims they were agents plotting attacks against the United States and its allies in Iraq.

The raid put Iraqi Kurds in a difficult position, said Mr Ramadan, the member of Iraqi Kurdistan's Regional Parliament.

"This was a big mistake by the United States," he said. "There was no evidence that the Iranians were intelligence agents. Iran and the US should take their disputes elsewhere."

Mr Ramadan said Iraqi Kurds would benefit most by having friendships with both the United States and Iran.

He realises, however, that the United States has not ruled out launching a military strike on Iran over Iran's nuclear program. If America one day decides to make that move, it may turn to Iraqi Kurds for help.

Then the Kurds might be forced to choose between Washington and Tehran.

[Rasputin]

مجلس اعلای انقلاب اسلامی، غیر انقلابی شد
مجلس اعلای انقلاب اسلامی ، عمده*ترین حزب شیعه عراق، انقلاب را از نام رسمی خود حذف کرد.
عبدالعزیز حکیم، رییس این حزب ضمن اعلام این خبر گفت: "انقلاب به معنی تغییر است. واین چیزی بود که ما از آغاز تاسیس مجلس به دنبال آن بودیم"
حکیم افزود: "این مجلس در تحقق تغییرات سیاسی در عراق مشارکت کرد که مهمترین آن تغییر رژیم بود. اکنون دیگر کلمه انقلاب غیر ضروری شده است".
عبدالعزیز به همراه برادرش محمد باقر حکیم مجلس اعلای انقلاب اسلامی را در سال 1982 در ایران پایه*گذاری کردند.
پس از حمله نیروهای ائتلاف به عراق، نیروهای مجلس اعلا به کشورشان بازگشتند.

[Rasputin]

ارتش آمريکا اعلام کرد در حمله شورشيان به هفت سرباز آمريکايی و يک مترجم عراقی پنج نفر کشته و سه نفر مفقود شده ند.
به گفته ژنرال ويليام کلدول سخنگوی ارتش آمريکا اين حمله در نزديکی شهر محموديه واقع در جنوب بغداد پايتخت عراق رخ داد.

نيروهای آمريکايی و عراقی عمليات گسترده ای برای يافتن سه نفری که مفقود شده اند آغاز کرده اند.

در اين عمليات که شنبه شب نيز ادامه يافت چند هلی کوپتر و هواپيمای بدون خلبان نيز بکار گرفته شده اند.

ارتش آمريکا با رهبران محلی تماس گرفته و خواستار کمک آنها شده است.

علاوه بر اين جاده های محموديه به استان انبار نيز بسته شده اند تا از انتقال سربازان مفقود شده به اين منطقه که پايگاه پيکارجويان سنی است جلوگيری شود.

ژنرال کلدول گفت: "اشتباه نکنيد، ما تا يافتن و يا تعیین قطعی سرنوشت سربازانمان از جستجو دست نمی کشيم و به خواندن دعا برای سلامت و بازگشت آنها ادامه می دهيم."

ارتش آمريکا هنوز اعلام نکرده که مترجم عراقی کشته و يا مفقود شده است.

طی يکسال گذشته در دو حادثه مشابه شش سرباز آمريکايی ربوده و کشته شدند.

در ژوئن گذشته دو سرباز آمريکايی در محموديه ربوده و دو روز بعد جسدهای آنها پيدا شد.

در ژانويه گذشته نيز چهار سرباز آمريکايی توسط شورشيان در کربلا ربوده و کشته شدند.

ارتش آمریکا در حدود ۳۰ هزار نيروی اضافی در بغداد و استان انبار مستقر می کند.

اين افزايش نيرو بخشی از سياست جديد آمريکا در عراق برای بهبود وضعيت امنيتی اين کشور است.

اندرو نورت خبرنگار بی بی سی در بغداد به نقل از فرماندهان آمريکايی در عراق می گويد افزايش نيرو به کاهش کشتار های فرقه ای در پايتخت اين کشور کمک کرده اما تغييری در تعداد بمبگذاری ها حاصل نشده است.

از هنگام حمله آمريکا به عراق در مارس ۲۰۰۳ تاکنون بيش از ۳۳۰۰ سرباز آمريکايی در اين کشور کشته شده اند.

[Rasputin]

[Rasputin]

Iran to remind U.S. of duties in Iraq: Khamenei

Iran's highest authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on Wednesday the Islamic Republic would hold talks with the United States about Iraq to remind Washington of its duty to provide security there.

But, in his first public comments on the proposed Iranian-U.S. talks in Baghdad, he said Iran would not hold talks on broader issues until Washington changed its policies, state television quoted him as saying.

"Iran's policy of not negotiating and having relations with America remains the same until the policies of this arrogant government change," said Khamenei, who has the final say in all matters of state under Iran's system of clerical rule.

"(These) negotiations (on Iraq) are only about the duty of the occupier regarding the security of Iraq."

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had previously said Iran had agreed to talk to the United States about Iraq to help the Iraqi people. Washington has said U.S. and Iranian officials will meet in the next few weeks in Baghdad about Iraqi security issues.

"The (Iranian) Foreign Ministry, at the request of the Iraqi government, decided to remind them (the United States) of their duties and responsibilities ... in a face-to-face discussion," Khamenei said in the comments reported by state TV.

The supreme leader said Baghdad had appealed to Tehran to hold the talks. He added that the United States, which broke ties with Iran shortly after the 1979 Islamic revolution, had also made a written request for talks.

U.S. officials accuse Iran of stirring up violence in Iraq, a charge Tehran dismisses. Washington also says Tehran is seeking to build atomic bombs, while Iran insists its nuclear program has only civilian aims.

[Rasputin]

هشدار در مورد احتمال 'فروپاشي' عراق

يكي از معتبرترين مراكز پژوهشي سياست خارجي در بريتانيا در گزارشي نسبت به خطر جدي سقوط دولت و فروپاشي جامعه عراق هشدار داده است.

ادامه خشونت هاي فرقه اي و قومي در عراق روزانه دهها شهروند اين كشور را قرباني مي كند
موسسه سلطنتي امور بين الملل بريتانيا، كه به نام چتم هاوس شناخته مي شود، در تازه ترين گزارش خود با عنوان 'پذيرفتن واقعيات عراق' به درگيري هاي قومي و حملات شورشيان در بخش هاي وسيعي از عراق اشاره كرده و دولت اين كشور را در اين مناطق 'عملا بي اختيار و ناتوان' خوانده است.

گرت استنسفيلد، متخصص در مسائل خاور ميانه، در اين گزارش خواستار تغيير اساسي در استراتژي آمريكا و بريتانيا در عراق شده و از دولتمردان اين دو كشور خواسته به گفتگوهاي گسترده تر با بازيگران منطقه اي همچون ايران و گروه هاي داخلي همچون مقتدي صدر روي بياورند.

اين استاد دانشگاه اكستر به آمريكا و بريتانيا توصيه كرده كه برخورد خود را ديگر بازيگران در وضعيت عراق، مانند ايران و مقتدي صدر، تغيير دهند و به آنها به جاي دشمن همچون شريك سياسي نگاه كنند.

آقاي استنسفيلد با استناد به موقعيت ژئوپوليتيكي منطقه و ارزيابي روابط پيچيده قدرت همسايگان عراق اينگونه جمع بندي كرده است كه هر يك از سه كشور ايران، تركيه و عربستان سعودي، دلايلي براي بي ميلي به تغيير وضعيت بي ثبات فعلي عراق دارد.


آنچه در عراق رخ مي دهد جنگ داخلي نيست، بلكه جنگ هاي داخلي متعدد است بين گروه ها و نهادهاي مختلف [اين كشور] بر سر كسب قدرت


گرت استنسفيلد، تهيه كننده گزارش چتم هاوس

گزارش اخير چتم هاوس در حالي منتشر مي شود كه خشونت هاي فرقه اي و حملات شورشيان عليه نيروهاي ائتلاف در عراق به رغم افزايش نيروهاي آمريكايي همچنان ادامه دارد و هر روزه دهها نفر جان خود را در اين كشور از دست مي دهند.

نويسنده گزارش تأثير عمليات ماه هاي گذشته نيروهاي آمريكايي را راندن پيكارجويان از منطقه اي به منطقه ديگر ارزيابي كرده و نوشته اين تدابير به غلبه بر شورشيان يا نابودي آنها نيانجاميده است.

وي درگيري هاي مختلف قومي و فرقه اي در عراق را برشمرده و جمع بندي كرده است كه با متكثر شدن گروه هاي درگير و پراكندگي آنها، ابتكار عمل از دست دولت عراق خارج شده و حكومت مركزي عملا بي اختيار است.

تصويري كه گزارش چتم هاوس از وضعيت عراق، به ويژه چشم انداز آن در ماه هاي آينده ترسيم كرده بسيار تاريك است. به زبان تهيه كننده اين گزارش آنچه در عراق رخ مي دهد، جنگ داخلي نيست، جنگ هاي داخلي بر سر كسب قدرت است.

[Rasputin]

US and Iranian diplomats are to hold talks later this month on the security situation in Iraq, Iran's foreign minister has said.
Manouchehr Mottaki said discussions would take place in Iraq on 28 May.

"Nothing but Iraq is on the agenda," he told reporters at a conference in Islamabad, Pakistan.

A BBC correspondent says this will be the most significant meeting between US and Iranian officials since the Iranian revolution in 1979.

The US severed relations with Iran in 1980, after US citizens were taken hostage in Tehran.

Washington has accused Iran of fomenting violence in Iraq - a charge Iran denies.

The talks will be at the level of ambassadors.

Iran's spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on Wednesday that the talks would serve to remind Washington of what he called its ''occupier's duty'' to provide security in Iraq

Climate of suspicion

The BBC's James Shaw in Baghdad says given the climate of suspicion and hostility which has existed between Iran and the US for nearly 30 years, it is doubtful that the talks stand any chance of yielding quick or substantial results.

He says there are huge differences in how both countries view the crisis in Iraq.

The Americans accuse Iran of arming Shia militias, while Iran says American and other Coalition forces should be withdrawn from Iraq.

US and Iranian officials have held low-key talks in the past.

There were discussions in Baghdad in March and brief exchanges between Mr Mottaki and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at a summit in Egypt earlier this month.

[Rasputin]

نام پنج ايرانی بازداشت شده در عراق فاش شد


مقامات آمريکايی پيشتر به خانواده بازداشت شدگان يک بار اجازه گفتگوی تلفنی با آنان داده و همچنين اعلام کرده اند که امکان ملاقات حضوری ميان آنان را فراهم خواهند کرد اما چنين ملاقاتی هنوز انجام نگرفته است
با گذشت بيش از چهار ماه از حمله نظاميان آمريکايی به دفتر نمايندگی ايران در شهر اربيل عراق و بازداشت پنج تن از شهروندان ايرانی که در اين دفتر کار می کردند، نامهای اين افراد برای نخستين بار فاش شد.
دولت ايران پنج شهروند بازداشت شده ايرانی در عراق را ديپلمات اعلام کرده است و بازداشت آنان را خلاف معيارهای ديپلماتيک می داند.

اما دولت آمريکا اين پنج نفر را افسران نيروی قدس سپاه پاسداران می داند و آنها را متهم کرده که به کمک تسليحاتی به گروههای مسلح شورشی عراقی در عراق مشغول بوده اند، اتهامی که دولت ايران بشدت رد کرده است.

دولت عراق نيز تاکنون ديپلمات بودن پنج شهروند بازداشت شده ايرانی در عراق را تأييد نکرده، هرچند خواهان آزادی آنان شده و اعلام کرده که برای آزادی آنان تلاش می کند.

فاش نکردن نامهای شهروندان بازداشت شده ايرانی به ترديدهايی که در مورد ديپلمات بودن آنها مطرح می شود دامن زده بود اما سرانجام در ديداری که خانواده های بازداشت شدگان با منوچهر متکی وزير امورخارجه ايران و با حضور خبرنگاران داخلی و خارجی داشته اند، نامهای بازداشت شدگان علناً مطرح شده است.

آن گونه که از اين جلسه گزارش شده، بازداشت شدگانی که نامهايشان در اين جلسه مطرح شده عبارتند از: مجید قائمی حیدری 43 ساله، حمیدرضا عسگری شکوه 37 ساله، باقر غبیشاوی 48 ساله، عباس حاتمی کساوند 45 ساله و موسی چگينی 39 ساله.



نامهای بازداشت شدگان در ديدار خانواده های آنان با متکی علناً مطرح شده است



اعلام نام اين افراد می تواند به بررسی ادعای مقامات آمريکايی مبنی بر اينکه آنها ديپلمات نبوده و افسران سپاه قدس بوده اند کمک کند.

طی مصاحبه هايی که خبرنگاران با خانواده های بازداشت شدگان داشته اند، همسر حمیدرضا عسگری شکوه از نانسی پلوسی، رئیس مجلس نمایندگان آمریکا خواسته است برای آزادی بازداشت شدگان تلاش کند و همچنين بکوشد تا جلوی آنچه وی جنگ طلبيهای جورج بوش، رئيس جمهور آمريکا خواند است را بگیرد.

مقامات آمريکايی پيشتر به خانواده بازداشت شدگان يک بار اجازه گفتگوی تلفنی با آنان داده اند و همچنين اعلام کرده اند که امکان ملاقات حضوری ميان آنان را فراهم خواهند کرد اما چنين ملاقاتی هنوز انجام نگرفته است.

وزیر امور خارجه ايران در ديدار با خانواده بازداشت شدگان گفته که بخش حقوقی وزارت* امورخارجه در حال تهیه لایحه *ای برای دریافت خسارت از آمریکا برای زیانهای معنوی و مادی حمله نظاميان آن کشور به دفتر نمايندگی ايران در اربيل است.

به گفته آقای متکی، در اين لايحه علاوه بر بازداشت کارکنان اين دفتر و خساراتی که به اين دفتر خورده، اثری که حمله به اين دفتر به حضور ديپلماتيک ايران در عراق داشته نيز مطرح می گردد و برای آن طلب خسارت می شود.

وی در عين حال خبر داده که مسئولان آمريکايی به هوشیار زیباری، وزیر خارجه عراق گفته اند که پنج شهروند بازداشت شده ايرانی را در خرداد ماه، يعنی بين 22 مه تا 21 ژوئن آزاد خواهد کرد.

مقامات ايرانی و آمريکايی قرار است 28 مه (هفتم خرداد) آينده به صورت مستقيم به مذاکره بنشينند و در مورد مسائل عراق گفتگو کنند.

انتظار می رود آزادی شهروندان ايرانی بازداشت شده در عراق از خواسته هايی باشد که مقامات ايرانی در اين ديدار مستقيماً با آمريکاييها مطرح کنند.

[Rasputin]

نماينده عراقي: هيچ نيرويي براي مقابله با خطر ايران وجود ندارد!


يك نماينده پارلمان عراق از افزايش نفوذ ايران در كشورش ابراز نگراني كرد.

به گزارش روزنامه فرامنطقه اي الشرق الاوسط، "عياد جمال الدين"، روحاني ليبرال شيعه و از نمايندگان پارلمان عراق گفت: جنبه هاي مختلفي از نفوذ اقتصادي، سياسي، فرهنگي، اطلاعاتي و مذهبي ايران در عراق وجود دارد.

وي افزود: از ديدگاه اقتصادي ايران بازار عراق را از طريق صادرات ميوه جات، سبزيجات و محصولات اساسي كنترل مي كند و از نظر فرهنگي نيز در هر شهر و روستاي عراق مراكز فرهنگي و كتابخانه هايي توسط ايران تامين بودجه مي شود.

اين نماينده پارلمان عراق خاطرنشان كرد: از سوي ديگر نفوذ اطلاعاتي ايران در صحنه سياسي عراق بسيار بارز است كه با مداخله ايراني ها در تشكيل دولت آغاز شده و با انتصاب مقامات ارشد و شكل دهي روابط بين حزب هاي سياسي ادامه يافته است.

"جمال الدين" اضافه كرد: خطر حضور ايران در عراق اين است كه هيچ نيرويي براي مقابله با آنها (ايراني ها) وجود ندارد... و ايران حزب هاي سياسي شيعه را تامين مالي مي كند.

[Rasputin]