Comes as a surprise, doesn't it?
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and his visiting Syrian counterpart, Bashar Assad, both called yesterday for the rapid departure of foreign troops from Iraq. âThis crisis was predictable, and its source was the aggression and occupation of Iraq by the United States,â Khatami told reporters after he greeted Assad, who arrived here earlier for a two-day visit. âThere is no ambiguity between us and Syria where Iraq is concerned. The solution is the quick end to the occupation, the installation of a government comprising all elements of the Iraqi people and the cooperation of the international community to bring stability and reconstruction.â
| I'd say the crisis was definitely predictable. In fact, we predicted that Iran and Syria would try and snatch Iraq after we'd beaten up Sammy, which they were impotent to do... |
For his part, Assad said âIraq is on the top of our list of preoccupationsâ although he said the two would also discuss âPalestine and the halt in the peace processâ.
| Ain't that a coincidence? Syria's somewhere near the top of our list, too... |
âRegarding Iraq, we have always been in agreement with Iran on the need for Iraqâs territorial integrity, a representative government and the departure of the occupying forces,â he added. Both Syria and Iran have been accused by the United States of supporting anti-coalition insurgents inside Iraq. And according to a British newspaper report yesterday, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said his government had gathered information from intelligence services showing support for the insurgents from some neighboring countries. Zebari did not name the foreign powers, but the Sunday Telegraph quoted âsenior Iraqi officialsâ as indicating âthat Iran and Syria were the worst offendersâ. |