US asks Iran for help in Iraq
April 15 2004 at 8:00 AM
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operation12 (Login operation12)
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US asks Iran for help in Iraq
Gerard Aziakou | Baghdad, Iraq
14 April 2004 14:25
An unsteady truce was extended in the flashpoint town of Fallujah on Wednesday despite sporadic clashes and casualties on both sides, as Washington sought Iran's help to ease the violence in Iraq.
United States President George Bush said he has authorised troops to use "decisive force" to maintain order in Iraq, but insisted the US-led coalition is determined to hand over power to the Iraqis on June 30 as scheduled.
Faced with dogged resistance by Sunni and Shiite Muslim insurgents Washington has sought help from Iran, a country Bush has branded as part of an "axis of evil" alongside North Korea and Iraq's ousted Saddam Hussein regime.
Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi said Washington has made a formal request for assistance and Tehran is taking part in mediation efforts.
Tehran's director for Gulf affairs, Hossein Sadeghi, has gone to Iraq for talks with US-led coalition officials, Iraqi politicians and religious figures, the Irna news agency reported.
"Naturally, there was a request for our help in improving the situation in Iraq and solving the crisis, and we are making efforts in this regard," Kharazi said after a Cabinet meeting.
Bush said more US forces would be sent to Iraq if needed and called for a new United Nations Security Council resolution to try to convince more nations to contribute contingents to the US-led coalition.
In the beleaguered Sunni bastion of Fallujah west of Baghdad, an Iraqi mediator said both sides had agreed to a 48-hour truce extension from 9am local time on Wednesday to allow the reopening of two hospitals.
"It is mainly meant to allow the reopening of the Fallujah General hospital and the Jordanian hospital, which had been forced to close because of the siege imposed by the marines," said Fouad Rawi, a senior official of the Iraqi Islamic Party.
But hospital sources in the city said five Iraqis were killed and three others wounded in renewed clashes between US troops and the rebels who exchanged grenade and machine-gun fire in the city.
Earlier on Wednesday a US military aircraft strafed two Fallujah buildings used to fire rocket-propelled grenades on marines the previous day. The marines denied the strikes marked an end to the coalition's suspension of offensive operations, declared on Friday.
US forces suffered more casualties elsewhere, with four US marines reported killed in attacks over the past 48 hours in the al-Anbar province, which includes Fallujah.
The latest fatalities brought to about 80 the number of US soldiers killed in action in Iraq since April 1, the bloodiest two weeks for the US military since the fall of Iraqi president Saddam Hussein one year ago.
US forces were massing near the Shiite city of Najaf, south of Baghdad, poised to capture radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and eject his banned Mehdi Army.
Local residents were seen stocking up on fuel and food as they braced for an expected assault, although al-Sadr told journalists on Tuesday he was ready for outside mediation to end the standoff peacefully.
Al-Sadr is wanted for the alleged murder of a rival cleric last year, and US commanders have said their mission is to kill or capture the firebrand cleric.
His banned militia forces launched a major uprising in Baghdad as well as central and southern Shiite cities 10 days ago, sparking fears of a broad revolt among Iraq's Shiite majority.
Foreign nationals were meanwhile urged to flee Iraq as anti-occupation insurgents stepped up a campaign of hostage-taking designed to break the US-led coalition's resolve.
Russia announced on Wednesday it would begin to evacuate more than 800 workers with Moscow's contractors in Baghdad, while France said its citizens should leave after a French journalist became the latest kidnap victim.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan warned that because of the deteriorating security he could not promise a large UN team would be sent back to Iraq.
US television reported that four bodies believed to be those of American contractors missing since an ambush on their fuel convoy west of Baghdad last week had been found in a shallow grave near the site of the attack. Eight Americans, including two US soldiers, are listed as missing from that attack.
Civilian contractor Thomas Hamill was captured in the attack, becoming one of about 40 foreigners from at least 12 countries held by Iraqi militants.
The governments of Italy and Japan have pledged to keep their troops in Iraq despite the kidnapping of their nationals, but the Philippines and New Zealand have said their troop contributions are under review.
Fears grew for three Japanese hostages who have been under an execution threat since Monday afternoon. Japanese officials refused to comment on whether any progress had been made in securing their release.
In the northern city of Mosul, four Iraqi civilians, including two women, were killed and six others wounded on Wednesday when a mortar round fell on a market, police said. -- Sapa-AFP
http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=34128
This message has been edited by operation12 on Apr 15, 2004 8:00 AM
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Gyrene
(Login Gyrene)
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Re: US asks Iran for help in Iraq
No score for this post April 15 2004, 2:22 PM
Sadr has already sued for peace, I wouldn't be suprised if Iran had a hand in that. (as well as Sistani of course)
The American Marine Division has the highest combat effectiveness in the American armed forces. It seems not enough for our four divisions to surround and annihilate its two regiments.
---Mao Tse Sung to General Song, prior to Chosin Reservoir
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dan
(Login hajaji)
Untitled
No score for this post April 15 2004, 2:30 PM
I dont now if U notice to it, but while Sadar were interview in TV , it was
to Al-Manar TV station - own by the terror group Hisbulla in Lebanon.
It seem to me that this guy is trying to be second Nasaralla(The head of Hisbulla)
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Hadi
(Login raghfarm)
moderators
Re: US asks Iran for help in Iraq
No score for this post April 15 2004, 4:39 PM
LOL, Iran has gone from being the "biggest terrorist sponsors in the world" to being a peacemaker??
I wonder what's behind the change of heart in Tehran, I would have thought that the government would have been more than happy to see the Americans' falling flat on their face in Iraq!
I guess there are allot going on behind the scenes that we don't know about!
Besides the fact that Iran won’t want to see a destabilised Iraq, maybe they want to have the Americans indebted to them! Or maybe it's a diversionary tactic, saying one thing in public, and doing another thing in reality!!
I guess we’ll jut have to wait and see!
“THE WORLD IS A BRIDGE, CROSS IT, BUT BUILD
NO HOUSE UPON IT!”
CHURCHILL: "If Hitler invaded Hell, I would at least make a favourable reference to the Devil in the House of Commons"
Donald Rumsfeld: "There are known knowns…are there are known unknowns. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don’t know we don’t know"
CIA agent Geoffrey Kemp talking about Saddam Hussein:
“WE KNEW HE WAS A SON OF A BITCH, BUT HE WAS OUR SON OF A BITCH”
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operation12
(Login operation12)
Re: US asks Iran for help in Iraq
No score for this post April 17 2004, 12:34 AM
To: Hadi
i know it sounds bit weird as well
frist the US was enemies with Iran and now they as their worst enemy for help
ha shame on the US
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Pax-Sinica
(Login Mao_Zedong)
not shameful, because...
No score for this post April 17 2004, 1:36 AM
because iran can already sucessfully inavde and occupy iraq after the americans leave, the USA believes it wise to offer the olive branch to Iran so the US's $80 billion war-bill will not have been COMPLETELY wasted...
East is Red
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operation12
(Login operation12)
Re: US asks Iran for help in Iraq
No score for this post April 17 2004, 1:53 AM
oops
This message has been edited by operation12 on Apr 17, 2004 1:56 AM
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Pax-Sinica
(Login Mao_Zedong)
Re: US asks Iran for help in Iraq
No score for this post April 17 2004, 1:58 AM
To: Pax-Sinica
well i am not surprise i mean the only way britain can mantain some influence in this world is following America
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stop poretneding you cant speak english. you go to an english school. youre not fooling anyone. also, britain have far more power than most countries but those little puppies, blair and howard, have yet to realise their power. Britain could quite easily take half of asia and hold it but they choose not too. dont underestimate them, they could kick malaysias ass anyday.
BTW youre banned and if you use this IP, it will get banned too so please phuck off.
East is Red
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operation12
(Login operation12)
Re: US asks Iran for help in Iraq
No score for this post April 17 2004, 2:08 AM
u know just because i am banned doe snot mean u have to act as my enemy
i never acted like that to u when u were banned from lunatic's forum so why are u taking it out on me now
This message has been edited by operation12 on Apr 17, 2004 2:13 AM
This message has been edited by operation12 on Apr 17, 2004 2:09 AM
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Pax-Sinica
(Login Mao_Zedong)
Re: US asks Iran for help in Iraq
No score for this post April 17 2004, 2:14 AM
u know just because i am banned doe snot mean u ave to act as my enemy
i never acted like that to u when u were banned from lunatic's forum so why are u taking it out on me now
______________________________________________________________________________
i found out i was not even banned as i told you yesterday on MSN, maybe you couldnt understnad. i WAS NOT BANNED, they just limited my time there but i thought i was banned because since i prefered to come to this froum instead i didnt bother to try go there. and you did make fun of me being banned but i quite frankly dont give a sh*t about lunatic and his crappy forum...
BTW you know what my reasons are, just read the chat logs... or would you like em to post them here for everyone to see?
East is Red
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operation12
(Login operation12)
Re: US asks Iran for help in Iraq
No score for this post April 17 2004, 2:20 AM
To: Pax-Sinica
oh so u hate me for copying your login names
look i know that u are upset of me copying your logins ok
fine i will change my login if that is the case but by me doing i will just make mike even more pissed off
This message has been edited by operation12 on Apr 17, 2004 2:27 AM
This message has been edited by operation12 on Apr 17, 2004 2:22 AM
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Pax-Sinica
(Login Mao_Zedong)
Untitled
No score for this post April 17 2004, 2:27 AM
more than that, i also hate your attitude and your way of doing things. also your lack of respect for rules is also another factor.
BTW take this to the flamers forum. NOW, see your ass there.
East is Red
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Pax-Sinica
(Login Mao_Zedong)
Untitled
No score for this post April 17 2004, 2:28 AM
more than that, i also hate your attitude and your way of doing things. also your lack of respect for rules is also another factor.
BTW take this to the flamers forum. NOW, see your ass there.
East is Red
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operation12
(Login operation12)
Re: US asks Iran for help in Iraq
No score for this post April 17 2004, 2:29 AM
To: Pax-Sinica
oh so u want to flame me
god and speaking of me being banned for using insulting words
fine then as u wish
This message has been edited by operation12 on Apr 17, 2004 2:29 AM
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