Opinion | Editorials
Al Maliki seeks a better option in Iraq
Iraq is more cautious and obviously wants to avoid direct confrontation with Iran. It has already suffered a 10-year war with Iran, with both sides being losers, so Iraq will want to find a peaceful solution to the problem.
- Gulf News
- Published: 23:56 May 9, 2008
For some time the US has been claiming Iran was secretly supplying munitions to Iraqi insurgents. Limited evidence has been produced by the US to support its charges, which are denied by Iran - but then their denial is a given. What is more important is that solid proof is supplied so the world can see whether the accusations made against Iran are correct.
There has been some Iran-made weaponry found in the possession of terrorists, or the remnants of munitions following a suicide mission or explosion, but that in itself is not sufficient to prove Iranian government involvement. The transfer and purchase of weapons from one country to another, from one group of ideologists to another, is so fluid these days that it becomes a task for officials to track down the original source of supply.
It is therefore not surprising that Iraqi Prime Minster Nouri Al Maliki should decide to set up a special commission to investigate and examine any and all evidence to support the claim that Iran is supporting Shiite militias in Iraq. Yet before the composition of the commission is even known, criticism has been made against Al Maliki that its formation is merely a ploy to give more time for diplomatic manoeuvring to come to a better understanding with Iran, before the situation gets so out of hand that the US feels obliged to intervene. It is common knowledge that the US is very keen to find an excuse to invade Iran, either through its own efforts or by proxy - through Israel.
But Iraq is more cautious and obviously wants to avoid direct confrontation with Iran. It has already suffered a 10-year war with Iran, with both sides being losers, so Iraq will want to find a peaceful solution to the problem.
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