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Editorial Commentary
Scott Sullivan: Bush appeases Iran
President Bush is appeasing Iran by providing Ahmadinejad’s visa; approving weak sanctions against Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC); permitting Iraqi Kurdistan to become a major supply corridor from Iran to the IRGC in Iraq; permitting Iraqi Kurdistan to support PKK raids against Turkey, which is Iran’s major rival for power in the Middle East; permitting the Kurdish government to sign its own agreement with Hunt Oil, bypassing the Iraqi government; and pressuring Congress not to hold hearings on the Barzani-Ahmadnejad-Hunt connection, which is fatal for US security.
Bush’s first mistake is approval of a US visa for Ahmadiejad. Intended or not, Bush is sending a signal of US approval of Ahmadinejad and his Nazis. Iraq’s Sunnis in Anbar province would do well to take up arms again to fight Iranian forces in Iraq.
Bush’s second mistake is approval of weak economic sanctions against the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC). Two months ago the Bush Administration indicated that it was close to imposing comprehensive sanctions against the IRGC. The IRGC is the equivalent of Adolph Hitler’s Black Shirts (SS), a combined force of elite troops, intelligence forces and industrial enterprises, including the management of Iran’s nuclear weapons program. The IRGC also oversees Iranian state sponsorship of terrorism including IRGC attacks on US forces in Iraq.
Bush looked the other way as IRGC terrorist activities grew. The Iran-Iraq border has been open to the IRGC for the last four years. The IRGC has infiltrated as many as 30,000 military personnel into Iraq. Meanwhile, the US has refused to pressure the Iraqi or Kurdish governments to expel IRGC personnel.
Not to worry said Bush policy makers. The upcoming US sanctions will take strong action against the IRGC.
Wrong. According to recent press reporting, the proposed Bush sanctions against the IRGC will have as many holes as Swiss cheese. Bush’s sanctions will give a broad stamp of approval to the IRGC as an organization. Bush’s IRGC sanctions will focus on a few IRGC leaders. This is nonsense. Such an approach would give a green light to the IRGC to reorganize staff and to carry on killing US personnel in Iraq. Moreover, it is absurd for the US to sanction the IRGC director while providing his boss, President Ahmadinejad, with a visa to travel to the US.
Bush’s third mistake was to permit Iraqi Kurdistan to serve as a major supply corridor from Iran to IRGC forces in Iraq. This US policy has allowed the IRGC to develop significant political influence in Iraqi Kurdistan. In fact, when the US apprehends Iranian IRGC personnel in Iraqi Kurdistan, Kurdish officials now attack US policy. As a result, Iraqi Kurdistan is aligned with Greater Iran, not with the US.
Bush’s fourth mistake was to permit Iraqi Kurdistan to sign an oil exploration deal with Hunt Oil without first obtaining the approval of Baghdad’s energy ministry. Iran and its plan to partition Iraq with Iraqi Kurds was the big winner. Moreover, US failure to block the Hunt-Barzani deal would signal that the US is no longer in favor of a unified Iraq, governed by Baghdad. This would be a major victory for Iran, which would quickly annex Basra and southern Iraq.
Bush’s fifth mistake was to permit the PKK to stage military raids into Turkey from PKK bases in northern Iraq. Iran wants the PKK to attack Turkey because Turkey is Iran’s major rival for power in the Middle East and Western Europe.
Bush’s sixth mistake is to pressure congressional Republicans to avoid oversight hearings on the Barzani-Ahmadinejad-Hunt Axis. This Nazi Axis extends to Hugo Chavez, Evo Morales, and Fidel Castro in this hemisphere.
Finally, Bush’s appeasement of Iran at Turkey’s expense is misdirected because Bush is betting on a losing horse – Iran. The reality is that Turkey is sure to prevail over Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan due to its size, economic success, military capabilities, and NATO membership. Forget Ahmadinejad, Barzani and Talabani. They are yesterday’s news. Turkey is the future
Scott Sullivan is a former Washington government employee. Petroleumworld not necessarily share these views.
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Petroleumworld News 09/25/07Copyright© 2007 Scott Sullivan. All rights reserved.
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