Israel Matzav

Iraq warns Israel: This is not the way to Iran

With Iran within a year of bringing a plutonium-based nuclear reactor online - in addition to its efforts to use uranium to develop nuclear weapons - Iraq is warning Israel that the road to Iran does not pass through Iraqi airspace.

"The (Americans) have assured us that they will never violate Iraqi airspace or Iraqi sovereignty by using our airspace to attack any of our neighbors," [Hussein al-] Shahristani [Iraq's deputy prime minister responsible for energy affairs] told AFP.

"We have also warned Israel that if they violate Iraqi airspace, they will have to bear the consequences," he added.

Shahrishtani said that Iraq, which does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, passed the warning to the Jewish state through a third country. He failed to elaborate on what the Iraqi response to an Israeli incursion of its airspace would be, saying, "Obviously, Iraq wouldn't be disclosing its reaction, to allow Israel to take that into account."

The comments marked the first instance in which Iraq has issued a public warning to Israel over a potential attack against Iran. Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is a Shi'ite who has increased economic ties and cooperation with Iran in recent years.

The New York Times reported in August that Iraq had been helping Iran skirt financial sanctions imposed because of its nuclear program.

4,000 American soldiers died so that Iraq could have solidarity with Iran, and the United States could meekly promise never to violate Iraqi airspace to attack its enemies. Aren't you glad Bush isn't President anymore? Oh wait... it wasn't Bush who gave up all the US gains in Iraq, was it?

Labels: Arak heavy water production plant, Barack Hussein Obama, George W. Bush, Iranian nuclear threat, Iraq, Israeli attack on Iran

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:48 PM