The Iran/Iraq Military Pact

Interesting...an oil swap is underway between Iran and Iraq. In exchange for 380,000 barrels per day of oil, Iran will provide oil derivatives along the same pipeline.

"We are planning to export kerosene and diesel to Iraq," [Iran's Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh] said, adding that the oil swap project has to be conducted via the key port of Basra, in the southeast of the war-torn country.

Also noted, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice mentioned recently that "The Iraqis have relations with their Iranian neighbor and we think that it is a good thing." Previously she had been talking tough to the Iranians. During her first trip abroad as Secretary of State she let it be known that she was ready for Iran to be brought before the UN Security Counsel. Following the Iranian elections, however, she has been doing little talking whatsoever.

The foreign policy of the U.S. and the diplomatic initiatives of the Secretary of State are at odds with the development of strengthened ties between the current Iran regime and Baghdad. A cross-border alliance means that we may eventually be expelled from the Mesopotamian valley by threatened aggression from an allied Iraq and an atomic Iran.

Iran is renewing ties to Pakistan and Armenia. They won big by having our military conveniently take out the hostile regime of Saddam Hussein and they are quickly coalescing strength within the region; strength that was paid for by U.S. and allied blood. Meanwhile, the British, who freed Basra so the port could ultimately deliver oil to Iran, deal with terrorists on their own soil.

The West has for centuries indulged itself with interferences into Mideast affairs only to suffer cruel twists of fate, and so it remains. We delivered a pacified Iraq to Iran and it cost them nothing. A tragically failed foreign policy.