Op-Ed Commentary

 

 

Scott Sullivan :
US reinforces Iran-Syria axis; crisis looms

In a series of blunders beyond comprehension, the US is reinforcing an
Iran-Syrian Axis that is intent on destabilizing three governments - the
Palestinian Authority, Lebanon, and Iraq, as is evident this week by the
growing turmoil in all three. The result of US policy - intended or not --
is to unleash Iranian ambitions that are igniting a conflagration throughout
the Middle East that no one will be able to contain, least of all the US
itself. Such a conflagration would put at risk stability in world oil
prices, the lives of 140,000 US troops in Iraq, and the very existence of
the state of Israel. Moreover, thanks to US policy favoring Tehran, Iran is
now moving into role of the Superpower of the Middle East, taking over the
US role.

The major disconnect in US policy is that it is appears to be deliberately
designed to bring Iran and Syria into coalition, and with Iran in the
dominant position.

To this end, The US is encouraging Iran's leadership, as by providing visas
without political preconditions to Iran's president Ahmadinejad and former
president Khatami to visit the US earlier this year. No such encouragement
has yet been extended to Syria's president Bashar al-Assad.

In the realm of sanctions, the US has liberalized sanctions against Iran, by
approving the export of technology to upgrade Iran's Airbus fleet, even
though Iran is developing nuclear weapons. On the other hand, Syria, which
is not developing nuclear weapons, is routinely threatened with new US
sanctions.

On the issue of Iraq, the US encourages Iran to spread its influence there.
The US has even selected as its main Shia partner a pro-Iran political
party, the SCIRI, which pushed through Iraq's parliament this year a measure
designed to create an independent Shiastan that Iran could easily annex.

Moreover, the SCIRI-related Badr Brigades are Iranian-supported death squads
that dominate the leadership of Iraq's new police and military forces.
Meanwhile, the US cooperates with Iraq's Iranian-dominated security
institutions to suppress the anti-Iran Shia militias, especially Muqtada
al-Sadr's Mahdi Army, which is aligned with Syria.

Lastly, the US promotes Iran's projection of influence in Lebanon, as in
Iraq. The US encouraged Hezbollah, now loyal to Iran, to join Lebanon's
government, a step that may prove fatal to Lebanon's democratic
institutions, as shown by Hezbollah's hardball tactics this week of pulling
out of the government and refusing to return unless it is provided veto
power over government policy.

In contrast, the US is warning Syria against engagement in Iraq and Lebanon.
The US is saying yes to Iran, following through with substantial
accommodation in US policy, while saying no to Syria.

What is the price of US accommodation of Iran and confrontation with Syria?
The Washington Post's editorial today, "Lebanon's New Crisis" (15 November
06), accuses Hezbollah, now loyal to Iran, of launching a campaign that is
"even more dangerous" than its military campaign earlier this year. These
are strong words, but appropriate to the gravity of the situation.

Iran's own campaign, supported by the US, is now obvious. Iran wants to
break up as viable states both Iraq and Lebanon. The current crisis in
Lebanon is tantamount to an Iranian coup d'etat in Lebanon. Iraq will
certainly be next Iranian target, and then the Palestinian Authority. In
fact, the rough outline of Iran's new Middle Eastern Empire, now feared and
opposed by Syria and the Arab states, is coming into view. Is this what the
Bush administration wants? Is this what James Baker wants? If so, then it
is time for speaker-elect Pelosi to become involved.

Scott Sullivan is a former Washington government employee. Petroleumworld not necessarily share these views.

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Petroleumworld News 11/16/06

Copyright©2006 Scott Sullivan. All rights reserved

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