It was obvious from the beginning that Iran would be the main
beneficiary of the Iraq war - it is a lot easier for them to
attack Israel by way of Iraq, rather than having to go the 
long way round, when the time comes.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Russia key to Tehran's cockiness
ANALYSIS
Bronwen Maddox
August 25, 2006

IRAN scored one clear success yesterday in the long-running wrangle
over its nuclear ambitions when Russia made clear that the US and
Britain would struggle to get its support for sanctions, even if
Tehran continued to offend.

At the same time, a new report from Chatham House, a leading London
think tank, argues that the strength and complexity of Iran's links
with Russia and its neighbours underpins its new confidence.

The report's most striking observation grabbed headlines yesterday,
because of the embarrassment it implies for Britain's Tony Blair and
US President George W.Bush.

Iran, it says, has been the "main beneficiary" of the Iraq war. But
that is mainly because there is little competition for that title.

Iran has benefited, the authors say, because the US removed Saddam
Hussein in Iraq and the Taliban in Afghanistan, both hostile to Iran,
and nothing much has filled the gap. Iran is now more influential in
Iraq than the US.

The authors warn the US off conflict with Iran, lest it force the
coalition to quit Iraq abruptly. They say the US's predicament in Iraq
is why Iran seems so sure-footed in spinning out the nuclear saga to
its advantage. 

[...]

Full article at "The Australian"
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20244985-601,00.html

Cheers, Steve..

---