Iran's growing presence in Iraq
The US, Iran, and Iraq agreed Tuesday to form a subcommittee on stability in Iraq.
from the July 25, 2007 edition
Page 2 of 3
But that stands in contrast to the growing allegations from the US military, and ample evidence seen by officials and analysts, that the Iranians are arming, funding, and supporting Shiite militias that are targeting both US forces and other Iraqis.
"Roughly two months since our last meeting, we have actually seen militia-related activity that can be attributed to Iranian support go up and not down.... So I was as clear as I could be with the Iranians that this effort, this discussion has to be measured in results and not in principles and promises, and that thus far the results on the ground are not encouraging," said Mr. Crocker at a press conference after the meeting with the Iranians in Baghdad.
He said the parties discussed the formation of a security subcommittee that would address issues relating to violent militias, border security, and Al Qaeda.
The talks, he said, were limited to "security in Iraq, and we made it clear that that's the agenda ... there is not a broader agenda. This is not a forum to address other issues in the Iranian-US relationship," although it appeared that the Iranians were much more interested in a broader conversation.
But that narrow approach will only go so far, says Mr. Kahwaji. While he said the second round was "a good confidence building measure," they will go nowhere if the negotiations do not move to a much higher level, for instance involving direct talks with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
The Iranians view themselves as a superpower, he says, and want to discuss "a basket of issues," such as the standoff over their nuclear power program.
An Iraqi official who attended the first round in Baghdad on May 28, which broke a 27-year diplomatic freeze between both countries, hoped these latest talks would go beyond exchanging statements and messages as happened in the first one.
"I do not think this method or manner of talks will lead to any results that might be beneficial for Iraq. It's simply an opportunity for the Americans to say what they have to say to the Iranians and for the Iranians to do the same, and that's it and goodbye," said the senior official on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the talks. "That's what happened at the last meeting. I [had hoped] this second round would go beyond that."
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