Different perspective

[gmc]

I was going to post this as part of an answer to a different post but decided it would be taken as an intention to offend rather than discuss.

http://www.tehrantimes.com/News.asp?Da= ... t=14&Num=0

"Jaafari and his delegation are scheduled to meet Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, President-Elect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Majlis Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel, and Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi.

The religious and historical affinities between Iran and Iraq give the Iraqi delegation’s visit to the Islamic Republic added significance because bilateral relations between the two countries have been constrained over the past 50 years due to international, regional, and domestic developments.

These developments always ended up benefiting certain neocolonial countries, which have always feared the common religious beliefs of the Iranian and Iraqi nations.

After the collapse of the dictatorial Baath regime in Iraq, which was the main source of regional insecurity, the occupying forces tried to prevent relations between the two Muslim countries of Iran and Iraq from developing, in the belief that the establishment of friendly relations between Iran and Iraq would lead to the formation of a Shia crescent in the region.

Unfortunately, such assumptions are being made under the influence of some neighboring Arab countries, which are actually the main breeding grounds for Arab terrorism in the region and the world.

Ironically, the occupying forces in Iraq have had to pay a heavy price for their misperception about the possibility of the establishment of a Shia crescent in the region due to the activities of some Arab terrorists who are of the same view about the perceived threat of a Shia crescent.

Over the past 28 months, the United States has lost about 1800 soldiers in attacks by Arab terrorists, but if the U.S. refuses to review its Iraq policy, it will most likely suffer even more losses.

Furthermore, unless it begins to cooperate with some of the non-Arab neighboring countries of Iraq, which seek the establishment of peace and security in the region, the U.S. will not only fail to establish security in Iraq, but will also be incapable of providing the necessary security for its own forces."

I will refrain from pointing out who encouraged Saddam in his war against Iran

[QUOTE] In addition, the issue of the still unclosed dossiers of the 1980-1988 Iraqi imposed war on Iran is also on the agenda of the Iraqi prime minister’s negotiations with Iranian officials.

Iran believes that Iraq owes it about $1 trillion in war reparations. According to United Nations Security Council Resolution 598, Iraq was the aggressor in the war with the Islamic Republic and must pay reparations to Iran. The change of government in Iraq does not mean that it can avoid paying the debt since Kuwait, which was also attacked by Iraq, is still receiving reparations from the country.

Another issue on the agenda of the Iran-Iraq negotiations is the participation of the Islamic Republic in the reconstruction of Iraq. A mutually acceptable agreement on this issue could play a significant role in improving bilateral relations.

The Islamic Republic of Iran, which enjoys great experience in reconstruction work, can play an active role in the reconstruction of Iraq because the long borders between the two countries facilitate access to Iraq for Iran’s skilled workers.

Jaafari’s negotiations with Iranian officials will surely have a positive effect on Iran-Iraq relations. It is hoped that this important visit will boost cooperation between the two neighboring countries and help put an end to the senseless violence currently plaguing Iraq.