Iraq War Watch: The Iraq Talks
AP: U.S. and Iran hold rare direct talks
U.S. and Iranian envoys exchanged direct talks Saturday on efforts to end Iraq’s violence and bolster its government, opening limited but potentially significant contacts that could ease their nearly 28-year diplomatic freeze.
The discussions were confined to one session during a conference on Iraq stability, but they appeared to offer room for further interaction between the two nations — which find themselves increasingly drawn toward common issues in Iraq as the nation’s most influential allies.
The U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, said he exchanged views with Iranian delegates “directly and in the presence of others” at the gathering led by Iraq’s neighbors and the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.
He declined to give details of the contacts — calling them only “constructive and businesslike and problem-solving” — but noted that he raised U.S. assertions that Shiite militias receive weapons and assistance across the border from Iran.
Yeah, talking to the representatives of a country that supply arms to kill American soldiers help how?
Talking to Iranians who covet a nuclear weapon to threaten nuclear armageddon, wipe Israel off the face of the earth and to nuclear blackmail the world, helps how?
And whats does Iran want?
Well, how about the United States leaving the area so they can expand their hegemony over the region. This helps American interests how?
Iran continues to foment sectarian violence in Iraq in order to achieve their interests.
Negotiation with the Iranians serves no American purpose.
But, a blockade or seizure of Iranian oil facilities would.
Related:
Rumsfeld: Iraq bombs ‘clearly from Iran’ (CNN, August 10, 2005)
EXCLUSIVE: Iraq Weapons — Made in Iran? (ABC News, March 6, 2006)
Rumsfeld accuses Iran of troublemaking in Iraq (AP via Army Times, March 7, 2006)
Casey cites Iran hand in attacks by Iraqi Shiites (The Washington Times, June 23, 2006)
Barbero: Iran training Shiite insurgents (AP via Army Times, August 24, 2006)
Donkeys harboring weapons stopped at Iran-Iraq border (Army Times, November 2, 2006)
Iran involvement suspected in Karbala compound attack (CNN, January 31, 2007)
Iraqi insurgents using Austrian rifles from Iran (The Telegraph, February 13, 2007)
U.S.: Large Cache of Weapons Discovered in Iraq Traceable to Iran (AP via FOX News, February 26, 2007)
Military: more evidence of Iran-made explosives (Seattle Times, February 27, 2007)
Iraqi extremists trained in Iran: US intelligence (AFP, February 28, 2007)
Iran’s influence grows in Iraq, region (Chicago Tribune, March 7, 2007)