iran 'n iraq

This is for those who think that US troops must stay in Iraq to keep it stable and out of the grasp of Iran's influence.

from Juan Cole's Informed Comment (09/13/06):

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad had something of a lovefest at their press conference on Tuesday. Ahmadinejad expressed his complete support for the Iraqi parliament, political process and government. The Iranians always sound just like the Bush administration when they talk about political progress in Iraq. Ahmadinejad also offered help with security affairs.

Al-Maliki declined to associate himself with American charges that Iran is fomenting turmoil in Iraq, saying that there were no obstacles to security cooperation between the two countries.

Iran and Iraq will cooperate in pumping petroleum from oil fields traversed by their common border, and in its refining. One such project could be online within a year. These fields are far from the Sunni Arab areas, and Iran would help with security, so that they could help the government escape the economic blockade the guerrilla movement has placed on the northern Kirkuk fields, which generally cannot export through Turkey because of pipeline sabotage.

So let's see, Iran is cooperating, helping, or supportive when it comes to Iraq's: parliament, government, political process, security affairs, pumping of petroleum, and securing oil feilds. Oh, and in a Sept. 14 post, Cole notes that "Iran and Iraq have announced cooperation in agricultural projects."

Remind me again, why are we in Iraq?

*emphasis mine