USA and Britain Seeking Help from Syria and Iran on Middle East
I quite expected this, as I think that the Middle East region powers - Syria, Iran, Egypt, and few more nations, should play greater role in stabilising and bringing peace (if I can say so) to the region, including the Iraq and Palestine and Israel conflict. US, Britain and EU, though powerful and international powers, cannot resolve this on their own.
In later speeches though they, US and Britain, were back on their previous stance, which I found little contradicting to their earlier speeches, where they talked about co-operation with two neighbouring nations with Iraq:
“And at about the same time at the White House, following a meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, President Bush himself indicated that Syria and Iran would have to change first. In particular, he set the condition that Iran would have to suspend its enrichment of uranium.”
“Offer Iran a clear strategic choice: they help the MEPP [Middle East Peace Process] not hinder it; they stop supporting terrorism in Lebanon or Iraq; and they abide by, not flout, their international obligations. In that case, a new partnership is possible. Or alternatively they face the consequences of not doing so: isolation.”
- 2002: The Axis of Evil: Iran and Syria were demonised to justify the invasion of Iraq.
- 2006: The Peace brokers: Now Britain and the US want their help sorting out the mess…
Two reasons for bringing Iran and Syria into discussion about Iraq and the Middle East even being raised:
- The first is that Iraq has gone badly and the concept of bringing in the neighbours for a friendly talk about Iraq appeals to many.
- The second is that the Iraq Study Group’s perception is that it might recommend that Iran and Syria be indeed consulted, perhaps as part of a regional conference on Iraq.
In preparing the report, the panel has interviewed leading Iraqi politicians, current and former US government officials, as well as bureaucrats and experts from across the political spectrum. The Iraq Study Group’s members are veterans of Washington politics, with long experience of serving in the judiciary and legislature or government.
This all will need time, as you cannot expect 360 degree turn in what is happening in Iraq by simply bringing Syria and Iran. Still, all in all I think that they are moving in right direction and their decisions of seeking help from Syria and Iran will be only to benefit for Middle East region, and perhaps also good for international arena. So both the US and UK have to take positions on the possibility of engagement with Iran and Syria.