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Editorial Commentary
Scott Sullivan :
Richardson plan brings Iran’s demise
Summary: In short, only one viable option exists for Senator Clinton and the other presidential candidates – endorse Bill Richardson’s plan for the immediate withdrawal of all US military personnel in Iraq. Bring the troops home, and mobilize the Arabs, now!Richardson Plan Brings Iran’s Demise
The US has three options for dealing with Iran in Iraq – collaboration; confrontation; or mobilization of the Arab states via the early withdrawal of all US troops, as suggested by Bill Richardson.
Under President Bush, US policy continues to focus on US-Iran collaboration in Iraq. For more detail on the extent of US-Iranian collaboration in Iraq, thanks to US policy, see the op-ed by Ambassador Peter Galbraith, “Mission Accomplished, for Iran,” Salon, 11 October 07.
Unfortunately for President Bush, his policy of US-Iran collaboration in Iraq is unworkable.
First, Iran and its Nazi leadership are not interested in sharing power with the US in Iraq. Iran’s Nazi president Ahmadinejad wants a world in which the USA “no longer exists.” These are not the words of a US partner. Second, the US public rejects the idea of Iran as a partner because Iran is deeply involved in terrorism in the Middle East and South America. Third, the UK and France oppose a policy of US-Iran collaboration in Iraq. France in particular is threatened by the expansion of Iranian influence in Lebanon. A stronger Iranian position in Iraq would boost the Iranian position in Syria and Lebanon.
In August 2007, President Bush switched from a policy of collaboration with Iran to a policy of carefully circumscribed US-Iran confrontation in Iraq. Bush threatened to designate Iran’s revolutionary Guards (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. The US also arrested several IRGC members active in Iraq in terms of weapons smuggling.
The problem for President Bush is that the Iraqi Kurds now support Iran, not the US. Just this week Iraqi president Talabani (who is a Kurd) said that he now favored breaking Iraq into three regions, as promoted by Iran. Talabani also permitted Kurdish authorities to sign new oil agreements bypassing Baghdad’s central government, following the Kurdish-Hunt Oil agreement signed two weeks ago. Finally, Talabani said Kurdish authorities would resist US efforts to apprehend IRGC agents in Iraq.
In other words, US confrontation with Iran is blocked by Talabani. As noted earlier, a policy of US-Iran collaboration is at a dead end, despite strong support from President Bush. What will work?
The only remaining US option is a policy of immediate withdrawal of all US troops from Iraq, as suggested under Bill Richardson’s plan. Under Richardson’s scenario the US would essentially turn Iraq and its problems over to the UN and the Arab League.
Good! This is an excellent US move because it would demoralize Iran, who detests the UN, while maximizing Arab support for a UN/Arab peacekeeping force. Richardson would not only deter Iran in Iraq, he would deter Iran in the Persian Gulf because his peacekeeping force would be based in Bahrain and the UAE. Perfect!
With this single proposal Bill Richardson has earned a place on Mount Rushmore. Clinton and Giuliani, who are alike in accepting Bush’s pro-Iran stance in Iraq, should join Bill Richardson.
In short, only one viable option exists for Senator Clinton and the other presidential candidates – endorse Bill Richardson’s plan for the immediate withdrawal of all US military personnel in Iraq. Bring the troops home, and mobilize the Arabs, now!
Scott Sullivan is a former Washington government employee. Petroleumworld not necessarily share these views. Petroleumworld does not necessarily share these views.Editor's note: All comments posted and published on Petroleumworld, do not reflect either for or against the opinion expressed in the comment as an endorsement of Petroleumworld. All comments expressed are private comments and do not necessary reflect the view of this website. All comments are posted and published without liability to Petroleumworld.
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Petroleumworld News 10/11/07
Copyright© 2007 Scott Sullivan. All rights reserved.
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