OpEdNews » What's in it for Iran?

Support OEN
With Your
Tax-Deductible Donation

Tags for This Article:

Populum Tag Cloud Control Panel
	Fine tune your search to access content

Articles	Links
Diaries	Products
Events	All

All time
Last 6 mos
Last month
Last week
Last 24 hrs

From:
Month Day Year

To:
Month Day Year

Alphabet Popularity	Count ON Count OFF
This Level	Sub-levels

Tag(s): Bush Admin; Bush Admin; Foreign Policy Failure Iran; Foreign Policy Failure Iraq; Framing The Debate; Iran; Iraq; Neocon Military Aggression
Add to My Group

August 29, 2006 at 11:26:22

What's in it for Iran?

by John Rogue Page 1 of 1 page(s)

www.opednews.com

SAVE FAVORITES

VIEW FAVORITES

View Ratings | Rate It

What's in it for Iran? I'm speaking of the assertion that Iran is backing and encouraging the insurrection in Iraq. Since the Shiites dominate the Iraqi government and are sympatric to Iran, why would the Iranians want to create a civil war. They would be better off looking to stabilize Irag with a Shiite government in place. Therefore, I question the US-UK claims that Iran is behind the insurrection. While Iran might want to provide arms to some Shiite militias, I see no reason for them to want chaos in Iraq. Once the US is gone the Shiites can completely overtake the government and Iran will be in a more powerful position than ever.

I strikes me that a better approach for Iran in Iraq is to work to reduce the violence and do all they can to get the US to greatly reduce or remove it's troops. Once the US is gone, the Shiites with their Iranian backers could move with a free hand against the Sunnis and Kurds. This also reduces the number of US troops on their border. Reducing the violence seems to have more advantages then disadvantages for Iran.

This is a separate issue from the nuclear one. However, it could be the Bush administration is using the claim to bolster it's efforts to isolate or attack Iran.

I'm interested in hearing any thoughts on why Iran would want civil strife in Iraq. Seems counterproductive to me.

John Rogue is a concerned citizen. He is a lifelong Democrat.

	Contact Author
	Contact Editor
	View Other Articles by Author

Bookmark this page: (what's this?)

(More...)

3 comments

Rob Kall is executive editor and publisher of OpEdNews.com, President of Futurehealth, Inc, inventor . He is also published regularly on the Huffingtonpost.com and is a columnist with Northstarwriters.com. He is a frequent Speaker on Politics, Impeachment, The art, science and power of story, heroes and the hero's journey, Positive Psychology, Stress, Biofeedback and a wide range of subjects. He is a campaign consultant specializing in tapping the power of stories for issue positioning, stump s...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Rob KallRob Kall is executive editor and publisher of OpEdNews.com, President of Futurehealth, Inc, inventor . He is also published regularly on the Huffingtonpost.com and is a columnist with Northstarwriters.com. He is a frequent Speaker on Politics, Impeachment, The art, science and power of story, heroes and the hero's journey, Positive Psychology, Stress, Biofeedback and a wide range of subjects. He is a campaign consultant specializing in tapping the power of stories for issue positioning, stump s...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Chaos, Conflict

Apparently, some Muslims believe a similar "messiah" narrative that the "rapture" evangelicals believe-- that increased chaos , conflict and conflagration in the middle east will hasten the return of the Messiah. Ahmadinejead apparently believes he is personally playing a major role in accelerating the coming of the end time, when the Messiah will arrive. He is building the conflict intentionally, just as the rapture Christians support Israel's bellicosity and unrestrained violence in the hopes that the ultimate mideast conflagration will lead to return of the messiah, Jesus.

Also, the longer the US stays in Iraq, the worse it looks, the better Iran looks to the rest of the Muslim world. iranians are not seen to be of the same blood as most of the Arab world. Getting acceptance and support by opposing the "great Satan"-- the US-- is a way to build street cred on the Arab street.

by Rob Kall (858 articles, 3983 quicklinks, 343 diaries, 1821 comments) on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 at 11:32:53 AM

John Rogue is a concerned citizen. He is a lifelong Democrat.
John RogueJohn Rogue is a concerned citizen. He is a lifelong Democrat.

"Chaos, and Rapture"

I was unaware of any Islamic repture beliefs. But than again, I know little about Islam. All we need is another rapture based world leader. One is more than enough. It gets very scary when cult like beliefs can play a major part in regional and world politics. If what you say is the case, I guess reason isn't much of a factor. And with both Bush and Ahmadinejead holding these beliefs, it doesn't bode well for the realist of the world (or the world itself). For some reason I thought we were dealing with rational beings. For rational beings, it seems to me, continuing the violence makes no sense. For a rapturist, I guess it makes perfect sense. Compassion goes right out the window when religious nuts rear their ugly heads.

Some time back (3-4 years ago), I read a paper by Wolfowitz in which he discussed (I'd like to say advocated but I haven't locate the paper again) the aim of US policy should be creating havoc in the Middle East. To generate as much upheavel as possible. Ultimatly leading to a total collapse in the region with the US coming in to assert total hegemony over the entire region. (I wish I could find that paper again. So take this for what it is, unsubstantiated dribble. If I locate the paper I will post it.) This policy idea would dovetail nicely with Bush's apparent, but unstated, plans for the ME. Although, I'm sure Ahmadinejead would have other ideas on how to hasten the rapture.

Thanks for your comments,
John

by John Rogue (2 articles, 125 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 11 comments) on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 at 7:29:41 PM

'Hamish ' is an antiwar writer socialist- scientist and musician living in Scotland.
Hamish'Hamish ' is an antiwar writer socialist- scientist and musician living in Scotland.

Good one.

This is a gentle and wise article

They say that Iran could take BASRA with a loudspeaker van and two clerics. Chaos ??? They could cause mayhem on an unimaginable scale if they wished to.

Let's stop threatening this country ..force the leaders to drop the threats to Israel by example and concern not bullying.

Best wishes.

by Hamish (45 articles, 0 quicklinks, 68 diaries, 210 comments) on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 at 11:58:08 PM