AP Interview: Diplomat says Iraq looks for better ties with Iran

[Kadie]

AP Interview: Diplomat says Iraq looks for better ties with Iran

KEN GUGGENHEIM, Associated Press Writer
Monday, July 19, 2004

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(07-19) 13:55 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --

Iraq's new government expects to have good relations with neighboring Iran despite President Bush's branding of Iran as part of an "axis of evil," Iraq's top diplomat in the United States said Monday.

Iran so far has had a positive role in Iraq, and the Iraqi government recently asked it to cooperate even more on security, including sharing more intelligence, Rend al-Rahim Francke, chief of Iraq's diplomatic mission in Washington, said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Al-Rahim said she believes these overtures prompted Iran recently to capture 200 Afghan fighters who were trying to enter Iraq from Iran. She offered few details about the detentions, which had not been previously known. Last week, Iraq's human rights minister said only one Afghan was in custody -- one of 99 foreign fighters held in the country

The United States has hostile relations with Iran, which it alleges supports terrorism, harbors al-Qaida members and is pursuing nuclear weapons. On Monday, Bush said the United States is exploring whether Iran had a role in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks -- a scenario discounted by the CIA.


more... http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/07/19/national1655EDT0632.DTL

[iconoclastic cat]

1. If we aren't careful, they'll soon be able to commiserate over recent wars

[Fridays Child]

2. Gee, do you suppose the people will fall for it a second time, George?

Wanna know if they'll swallow an Iran-9/11 story? Do yourself a favor, Junior, and ask someone who DOESN'T send money to Jim Robinson.