Two things are very uncertain going into the next few years regarding US relations with both Iran and Iraq. Will the United States allow Iran to continue to develop nuclear technology? If not, that will be the US plan to stop Iran? Further economic sanctions? Military strikes? What is the United States trying to do now to avoid a confrontation? Since 1979 we have refused to have so much as a conversation with the top head of state in the Iranian government. We're begining to see an obvious shift though under current US President Barack Obama. In fact, just a few weeks ago, President Obama sent a video message to Iran regarding a "new beginning" in relations with Iran. You can read the BBC analysis of that message and watch the actual message by clicking here. Just yesterday, Iranian President Ahmadinejad announced a "nuclear package" deal that he wants to discuss with the West (you can read about that by clicking here. There probably will be no agreement reached because Ahmadinejad has already said that this deal will not end Iran's nuclear program. The dialogue is interesting to watch however.Then there is the ungoing Iraq situation. Will stability finally be achieved there? What is the US government's current plan for withdrawal? Would US withdrawal leave an unstable mess behind? Should the US withdraw anyway? What does victory even look like in Iraq? Those questions and MANY more can be explored by navigating through the BBC News' on-going Special Report "The Struggle for Iraq" which you can access by clicking here.
What are your feelings about current US relations with Iran and Iraq? What are your predictions regarding the future of US relations with both countries? Your thoughts...
8 comments:
I feel like the relationship between the U.S., iran, and iraq is very fragile. I also think that its great that President Obama has decided to try and talk to Iran about there relationship and not just ignore it. I just hope that this doesn't take a wrong turn. . In the future im not really sure what is to become of this situation but after the lesson today i really hope that it turns out alright. One question, Was that all of his speech? It was only a little over a minute...
yeah, very short
In President Obama's video on reopening relations between Iran and the US, and furthermore, helping Iran take its rightful position in world relations, I think he was very sincere in dealing with Iran, being strict but at the same time, giving them credit on their abilities. He clearly mentions not to seperate the nations based on differences, but to realize the similarities, which he defines in his quote at the end. President Obama is smart to try and reconstruct relations with Iran, but I agree with Ali Akbar Javanfekr that the US should realize the past mistakes, as we should do with other Middle Eastern countries. We should stop this Cold War mentality of "Our enemy's enemy is our friend" and stop taking sides on issues, but instead try and coordinate peaceful relations as best we can, and be an intermediate(This is important with our choice during the Iranian Revolution, the War on Iraq, and our involvement of Israeli-Palestinian Affairs).
Iran, under Mahmud Ahmadinejad, is obviously becoming very rebellious in its continuing nuclear programme. Of course they say it's for peaceful purposes, but nuclear weaponry is a high level of possibility, and it can be assumed that the US has CIA in Iran, keeping track of this. However, despite "accusations" made by the US and the UN, Iran doesn't look like its willing to let up on its goal for nuclear technology.
The US-Iran situation is indeed a fragile one. One that should be taken care of in a well-fashioned manner. I trust President Obama will take a lesson from past mistakes in the Middle East and plan this well, and plan it to cooperate. I believe it was in the "No End in Sight" trailer that someone said "When we were first starting the reconstruction, there were 500 ways to do it wrong, and 2 or 3 ways to do right. I think what we didn't understand was that we were going to go through all 500 ways." This is so true with the situation in Iraq. In Iran we need to be more careful in doing ground research and making sure we can gather people who have experience in the field and in studies that can help the government to chart out the right movements, and the right methods to repair relations, not only with Iran, but the Middle East as a whole.
"Shia crowds decry US role in Iraq" really shows how the Shia are angered at the US for their involvement in Iraq. I'm quite certain as 60% of the population that makes up a majority on its own, but I'm quite certain that the nearly 40% of Sunni are none too glad about the US interference. Making this majority more of a pressing matter when you consider the unstable situation this creates in US-Iraq relations. There was a picture of George W. Bush being burned in effigy, and in the video, one Shia Muslim was burning a US flag, obvious signs of an Anti-American stand in society.
"Bombers Challenge Iraqi Progress" shows that Iraq is at no point of lasting peace with the insurgencies and bombings that continue, and I was surprised to see anyone to think that the situation in Iraq had went from unstable to stable...I personally see it going from relatively stable to unstable to incredibly unstable. Before US tried to link Iraq to terrorism, Al Qaeda had no business in Iraq, leading into an unstable state with the "War on Iraq", which poured over into incredibly unstable when we removed their leader, and main political party, plunging them into an insurgency civil war. To think that Iraq is stablizing is incredibly arrogant and, well, let's face it, idiotic at best. The situation in Iraq is no closer to being resolved since the minute the US CREATED a terrorist identity in Iraq.
Some very recents topics also include "Suicide Blast hits Iraq army base," "Suicide bomber kills Iraqi Sunnis," and "Iraq blast kills 5 US troops." All of these articles have been very recent, within the past 7 days. April 10, April 11, and April 16, yesterday. All of these exemplify the continuing insurgencies, the violence of civil war, and the Anti-Americanism that brought about the attack on US troops. None of this can be assumed unprovoked, and I would encourage you to read these documents.
I can only conclude that the situation between the US and Iraq is a very fragile situation. We took the 500 wrong ways, and hopfully there won't be another 500. We cannot afford to continue making impulsive and ill-prepared decisions on the situation in Iraq. Present and Past dictates that these won't be easy roads to success, and it can't be predicted whether it will continue on a road to success. In both Iraq and Iran, I mean look at how similar their names are spelled. You obviously should take them both seriously, and I find it ironic that we could say "Iran into Iraq." Of course saying "Iraq in Iran" doesn't make sense, but the other makes perfect sense.
Well the situation i would say is that of little children as Mr. Prill had put it. I have no possible predictions, anything could happen, after all it is the middle east. Because it is fragile, i love Obama's position: taking it slow, and negotiating with Iran. Much better foreign policy than Bush's.
its really weird to go through the whole ap world class(almost) and actually come into the future. its like we are already becoming history.
I agree with that president said about responsibilty and no terrorism, just peace. I really hope we can settle this situation fast becuase there's no violence needed in this case, just some words.
i think that if we tried to even become friends with them again that it would be nothin but lies and they wouldnt trusst us and we wouldnt trust them..i am glad that Obama is trying to make us friends again with them cuz u cant have too many enemies in the world or your in danger. i just have a feeling that they might take it the wrong way or something and war will break out
personally i am having a hard time swalloein the fact that we are gunna talk to iran. dont get me wrong i think it will end up helpin us but i have a feelin its gunna be tough. especially if iran wants us to stop our nuclear power production and not theirs. i do have a theory though tied to a question... i think that if iran ends up making the nuclear bombs they have been talkin about, that isreal will end up bombin them before they have a chance to use them
is that logical or am i way out in left field?
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