Unidentified members of Iran’s ‘Assembly of Experts’ – the body that is designated to elect and ‘oversee’ the Supreme Leader.
In some quarters of Iraq, there is growing alarm about the impending withdrawal of the United States and Iran’s ongoing effort, as Aziz Al-Hajj of Iraq’s Sotal Iraq newspaper writes, to “swallow up Iraq politically, economically and socially.”
Al-Hajj writes in part:
“We believe Iraq will need American forces beyond the previously agreed date, not just for training, but for actual combat against the remains of al-Qaeda and all potential terrorists – and to address other threats, most importantly that of Iranian expansion. … The U.S. military presence disturbs Iran, not because American forces might attack from Iraqi soil, but because the Americans are a great obstacle to Iran’s ambition to swallow up Iraq politically, economically and socially, and to convert it into a follower of the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists [Iran’s form of government].
Then, writing about the extent of Iranian meddling, Al-Hajj writes:
“Iran’s interference in Iraqi affairs began after the fall of Saddam, and its influence has since expanded at all levels: intelligence, the arming of terrorists, its support of the [Shiite] militias and even al-Qaeda, as well as commercial, religious and economic interference – even linguistic interference. … Iran’s appetite for expansion is more evident than ever these days, from claiming ownership over Bahrain to guardianship of the Palestinian cause; from seeking to intimidate Egypt and veiled threats to Syria to Khamenei’s warning to [Iraqi] President Maliki about the likelihood that the Americans would renege on their agreement to withdraw. All of these warnings are nothing but thinly disguised threats.”
By Aziz Al-Hajj
Translated By James Jacobson
March 4, 2009
Iraq – Sotal Iraq – Original Article (Arabic)
Successive visits of Iranian officials to Iraq cannot be ignored. These visits are tied to President Obama’s remarks that the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq will not significantly differ from plans outlined in the Status of Forces Agreement, although Obama has said more than once that he would continuously consult with commanders on the ground. For our part, we believe Iraq will need American forces beyond the agreed date, not just for training, but for actual combat against the remains of al-Qaeda and all potential terrorists – and to address other threats, most importantly that of Iranian expansion.
The U.S. military presence disturbs Iran, not because American forces might attack from Iraqi soil, but because the Americans are a great obstacle to Iran’s ambition to swallow up Iraq politically, economically and socially, and to convert it into a follower of the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists.
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