The military pact between Iraq & Iran was unlikely to come
about while Saddam Hussein was President of Iraq. Deposing
him facilitated the pact, which will ultimately allow Iran
to invade Israel. It is much easier to go through Iraq than
to go around.

===========================================================

July 08, 2005

Former enemies look to future with military pact
By James Hider

IRAQAES US-backed government has agreed to a military and anti-
terrorism pact with its neighbour Iran. The deal is likely to ring
alarm bells in Washington, which regards Iran with extreme hostility
and as a backer of terrorism.

Sadoun al-Dulaimi, Iraq's new Defence Minister, also promised during a
visit to Tehran that his country would never be used as a springboard
to attack its neighbour, with which Iraq - under the rule of Saddam
Hussein u fought a bloody war in the 1980s that left an estimated
million people dead.

"Iraq will not be a source of insecurity and instability for any of
its neighbours. Nobody can use its soil to attack Iraq's neighbours,"
Mr al-Dulaimi insisted, reassuring Iran, which worries that US forces
to its east in Afghanistan and its west in Iraq could one day invade.
Washington has refused to rule out the option.

Iran is also worried that US forces could resort to military action 
if it refuses to scrap its nuclear programme. Mr al-Dulaimi, a Sunni
member of Iraq's Shia-dominated government, which enjoys close
historical ties to Shia-led Iran, said that the two countries would 
co-operate in military and anti-terrorist operations. Washington wants 
to see Iran isolated diplomatically and militarily.

Mr al-Dulaimi said that the pact would include military training 
of Iraqi forces, a deal also likely to raise concerns among Iraq's
Sunnis, who are increasingly suspicious of Iranian Shia involvement 
in the country.

Mr al-Dulaimi bridled when asked whether closer security ties with
Iran could anger the United States, which provides much of the
training and equipment for his troops. "Nobody can dictate to Iraq 
its relations with other countries," he said, in a response echoed 
by his Iranian counterpart.

[...]

Full article at "Times Online"
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7374-1685402,00.html

Cheers, Steve..

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