I’m not sure it’s worth commenting in much detail on Rumsfeld’s warnings to Iran not to interfere with Iraq, and the utter irony of such a statement. It probably wouldn’t make any difference to point out to Donald that his troops accidentally bombed Iran during the recent conflict. Or that Iran is the only shi’ite regime in the area and so whether they like it or not, the shi’ite majority in Iraq will feel some affinity with their neighbours.
He’s probably forgotten that Iran has every right to be wary about the security of its Iraqi border. You’d think that Rumsfeld’s bank balance would remind him of the mass slaughter he encouraged in the first half of the 1980s. It sadly seems too much to expect his conscience to do the reminding.
The time has surely come for someone to ask whether the Bush administration has any interest in the regional security they spout about so much. Regional stability would surely require discussion with neighbouring powers rather than accusations, exploration of the different ethnic groupings and their allegiances, and some measure of give alongside the take. With the streets of Baghdad reportedly more divided every day, and extremist Islamic groups increasingly vocal perhaps neighbouring regimes could be a source of much needed advice?
[the Guardian’s Iran coverage is drawn together at this location and is well worth reading]