Stakes high as Iraq, Iran officials meet

[alexey]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/11/27/iraq.main/index.html

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The search for solutions in Iraq moved to the international stage Monday as Iraqi President Jalal Talabani traveled to Iran and President Bush began a trip that will take him to the Middle East to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

Talabani's meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, originally scheduled for Saturday, was delayed when Iraq closed Baghdad International Airport and imposed a curfew after more than 200 people were killed Thursday in the capital's Shiite slum of Sadr City. Police called it the single worst attack since the war began.

Iraq's government and the Bush administration are under pressure to look beyond the country's borders to bring an end to the ongoing violence. (Watch why pressure is mounting on Bush and al-Maliki )

The United States has refused to negotiate with Iran and Syria about helping to bring stability to Iraq, accusing both Tehran and Damascus of aiding insurgent groups in Iraq.

Buta draft report by the Iraq Study Group, which is considering Iraq strategy, urges an aggressive regional diplomatic initiative that includes direct talks with Iran and Syria, according to The New York Times on Monday.

Iraq restored diplomatic relations with Syria during a visit last week to Baghdad by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem. Ties had been cut in 1982 when Damascus backed Iran in its war with Iraq.

On Sunday, Iran's president said his country was willing to take a more active role in Iraq's future.

....

[Sarge]

Too bad we couldn't get the Iraqi president to wear a suicide belt

Oh the irony

[Johnny Punani]

Look for Iran, Iraq, Syria, and some other Muslim countries to form an alliance. It is already in the works.