US and Iraqi leader at odds

Dallas Blog | Tom Pauken:

“On 9-12 of this year (one day after Mr. Bush praised him in a speech to mark the anniversary of 9-11), al-Maliki was cordially greeted by Admadinejad in Tehran. The genial host declared that 'Iran and Iraq, as two brotherly neighbors, will stand by each other, and unwanted guests will leave the region,' while al-Maliki stood smiling and nodding approvingly.”

Ed Cognoski responds:

Tom Pauken of the Dallas Blog approvingly quotes Srdja Trifkovic of Chronicles magazine in his story about the recent disagreements between the US and Iraqi governments. Mr Trifkovic is a paleoconservative. Take his reporting on Islam with a large grain of salt. Here are two other quotes from Mr Trifkovic:

"Islam is akin to fascism and bolshevism."
"For a Christian the real task is to help our fellow humans who are trapped in Islam and to help them become free."

Mr Pauken is forever concerned about monolithic, global Islam overrunning Christian Europe (and eventually America). From his viewpoint, al-Maliki and Ahmedinejad, both Muslims, are indistinguishable and equally evil.

It's enlightening to compare Mr Pauken's characterization of the meeting between Iraqi and Iranian leaders with the report of the meeting published in Iraq's own press. Here is what Alsumaria Iraqi satellite TV network said transpired:

"Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki conducted his first official visit to Iran since taking office. He delivered a blunt message that Tehran should not interfere in Iraqi affairs."

No indication of smiles, nods or winks. No grand alliance of Iran and Iraq against the US. In fact, anyone who thinks that Iran and Iraq, two countries that recently fought a bitter war against each other, suffering millions of casualties on both sides, might suddenly develop brotherly love, is guilty of simplistic thinking. In fact, the Middle East is a cauldron of conflict... between Sunni and Shiite, between Arab and Persian and Turk, between Bedouin tribespeople and oil sheikhs and slumdwellers and a rising middle class, between autocrats and theocrats (and maybe even a few democrats). Americans, always wanting to divide the world into black and white, good and evil, with us or against us, could benefit from a little study of the region and its internal complexity.